NEWS PHOTO CHRIS BROWN
As part of Culture Days this weekend and the Art Walk, the Medicine Hat Public Library invites people to visit Kai Hodgson's gallery work on the lower level.
mcranker@medicinehatnews.com@MHNmocranker
Hatters will be treated with a number of things to do and attractions to see during this weekend’s celebration of Culture Days.
Events are held around the country every year in September as a way of celebrating Canadian arts and culture and Medicine Hat takes part every year.
One of the biggest events of the weekend will be taking place Friday evening downtown, with the Esplanade hosting an Art Walk.
“This is our last Art Walk of the season,” said exhibitions and collections coordinator Joanne Marion. “All of the regular venues will be open with music, food and of course art.
“We have seven or eight pop-up locations on top of the regular venues – it’s going to be really busy. People can grab an Art Walk map here at the Esplanade along with information on all of the pop-ups.”
The Art Walk kicks off at 7 p.m. and there is a reception being held that evening for a number of different exhibitions including, the Medicine Hat College visual communications faculty, Sarindar Dhaliwal and a Refugee Canada exhibit.
On top of the Art Walk, the Esplanade will be hosting a reception tour at 10:30 a.m. Saturday for Dhaliwal, whose gallery is running until Oct. 12.
The Esplanade is also hosting a pay what you will performance Saturday at 3 p.m. and is showcasing Terzetto, a unique professional clowning show.
To wrap up the evening, the Esplanade will be playing host to Pecha Kucha Night Volume 23 at 8:20 p.m. on the main stage, it’s biggest stage to date.
“It’s a really great lineup of speakers for Saturday,” said Medicine Hat Public Library marketing director Gillian Reimer, who helps organize the events. “With the event being at the Esplanade’s main stage, we can fit hundreds into the show – we’re hoping to fill it up.”
Presenters include Dan Kammerer on volunteering and decreasing food waste, Marianne Reeder (A New Way to Brighter Smiles), Pam Robertson (A Day in the Life of a Writer), Abby Czibere (Just a Regular Ol’ stem Cell Donor), Joel Bosch (Net-Zero Tomorrow) Starts Today), Kerry Bennett (Why Write? The Writer in All of Us) and Tammy Ellis (The Mighty Himalaya).
Reimer says the public library will also be taking part in the Art Walk with a gallery of Kai Hodgson’s work on display for the Saturday event.
On Thursday, the library is hosting an Author Talk as part of Culture Days.
“We’re hosting author Ashley Little and we’re really excited,” said Reimer. “Ashley actually used to live in Medicine Hat and she is an award-winning author for adult and young adult books.
“That’s going to be at 7 p.m. at our theatre on Thursday. On Friday she is speaking at the college at 2 p.m.”
The Miywasin Centre is hosting a demonstration powwow at the Saamis Tepee on Saturday from 1-3 p.m. More information can be found by searching for the event on Facebook.
The Medicine Hat Fibre Arts Society will be taking part in an open house and sale event from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Cultural Centre. The event will feature work from a few groups and people can expect a variety of women, knitted and crochet garments, wall art, pottery, paintings and more.
Framing and Art Centre has partnered with The Medicine Hat Potters Association for a show and sale of handcrafted beersteins.
More information on Culture Days can be found online at culturedays.ca.
