YYC/LRT: Celebration of Collaboration, Community and Creativity
Wednesday, July 26, 2023 | 7-9 PM
Come join us as we celebrate the incredible YYC/LRT project! It all started over two years ago when Contemporary Calgary, the University of Calgary, the City of Calgary, and artist Bryan Faubert came together to bring the YYC/LRT studio to Downtown West as part of the Future of Stephen Avenue project. After more than 20 events and workshops that involved hundreds of participants in art and discovery, we will be bidding farewell to YYC/LRT at the end of August.
During this special evening, we have a lineup of fantastic presentations from Bryan Faubert, program leaders, participants, community partners, as well as representatives from the City, UCalgary, and Contemporary Calgary. It's an opportunity for you to hear firsthand about the journey we embarked on, the reasons behind it, and the incredible things we achieved. We also invite you to engage in an open forum for questions, discussions, and sharing your thoughts.
To make the evening even more enjoyable, we will be providing light refreshments for everyone to enjoy. So mark your calendars and attend this event to learn, connect, and be a part of the conversation. We value your opinion and want to know what you think about our project. Don't miss out on this exciting celebration of YYC/LRT!
Wednesday, July 26th 7:00-9:00 PM
FREE with registration. Let us know you’re joining!
Speakers
Josh Taron
Associate Dean, Research, School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape, UCalgary
Josh Taron is the Associate Dean of Research + Innovation and an Associate Professor of Architecture at the University of Calgary’s School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape (SAPL) where he also co-directs the Laboratory for Integrative Design (LID). His current research focuses on the intersection of inclusive climate action and digital design. He also oversees the full suite of Future of Stephen Ave Activate + Experiment Urban Alliance research projects in partnership with the City of Calgary. His work is done in partnership with a variety of disciplines such as computer science, sociology, medicine, transportation engineering and city planning. He earned his undergraduate degree in architecture from the University of California, Berkeley and holds a Master of Architecture degree from the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc).
Kate Zago
Planner, Downtown Strategy, City of Calgary
Kate Zago is a Planner on the Downtown Strategy team at the City of Calgary. Her work is focused around increasing vibrancy in the downtown through the support of programming and activations. She leads the Activate + Experiment program for Stephen Avenue/8thAvenue, a project that works with partners to test out streetside concepts along the Avenue, to help inform its final development.
Jennifer Eiserman
Project Lead, YYC/LRT: Community-Based Art as Community Engagement
Jennifer Eiserman is an Associate Professor in the Department of Art and Art History, University of Calgary. She has been engaged in community-based art and collaborative practice for over 30 years. The importance of making together, learning together, and understanding together are the driving force of her teaching practice and research. As a result, her students are engaged in collaborative, community-based inquiries through practical experiences in diverse settings in both the public and private sectors. Eiserman is actively engaged in community-based arts groups in Calgary, including Adult Education chair, Temple B’nai Tikvah Board of Trustees and co-curator of the TBT Gallery. This engagement with community has led her to inquire into issues involving ethnicity and identity in art/art education, including research into the nature of the contribution of Canadian artists of Chinese and Jewish descent to Canadian art and most recently, the community-building potential of contemporary art.
Bryan Faubert
Collaborator, YYC/LRT: Community-based Art as Community Engagement
Bryan Faubert received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Nova Scotia University of Art and Design and his Master of Fine Arts from the University of Calgary in 2020. In 2014 he opened Studio 34, a sculpture studio, where he taught workshops and classes and conducted his own studio endeavours. This space was about accessibility to the public to experiment and learn, creating shared knowledge. Bryan is a member of the Wolf-Sheep Arthouse Collective in Victoria and an artist at the nvrlnd. Arts Foundation in Calgary. Faubert’s exhibition history stretches from Nova Scotia to Toronto, down to Mexico and back up to Vancouver and is comprised of graffiti expositions, installations, pop-ups, artist-run centres, public sculpture and commercial venues. In spring, 2020, Bryan travelled to New York to apprentice with internationally acclaimed sculptor Cal Lane. This endeavour inspired NYC/ MTA: YYC/LRT, his masters thesis project and the home of the YYC/LRT: Community-based Art as Community Engagement project
Aditi Sharma
Manager of Active Aging, Unison at Kerby
Aditi is the Manager of Active Aging at Kerby Centre. She is from Nepal and moved to Canada with her family in 2013. She comes with a bachelor’s degree in Humanities and Social Science and over 7 years of experience working with older adults. She is experienced and dedicated with a strong passion for improving the lives of older adults through the development and implementation of innovative programs to empower older adults to lead fulfilling and independent lives. With a proven track record of success in program development, implementation, and evaluation, she is dedicated to making a positive impact on the lives of older adults and helping them age actively.
Sophie Garcia
Research Assistant, BFA/BEd Student, UCalgary
Sophia Garcia is a budding Filipinx artist-educator based in Calgary, Alberta. Born and raised in the Philippines, Sophia translates her childhood and immigrant experience using visual symbols and language from her Filipino heritage and culture. She draws a community focus in her creative practice, participating in non-profit community organizations and projects, such as art workshops and events, youth programming, and museum work. Sophia aims to provide people with the tools to create art through a storytelling lens. Sophia is currently completing her BFA and BEd with a minor in Museum and Heritage Studies at the University of Calgary. She hopes to build a career in community or museum education.
Rabita Islam
Participant, Land Acknowledgement Project
Rabita Islam, is currently finding their space in Moh-kíns-tsis, carrying the Bangla name ক্রান্তি (Kranti) with them. Having graduated from the University of Calgary with Bachelors degrees in psychology and anthropology, Rabita is currently working with the Distress Centre of Calgary, specializing in crisis management and community resource navigation. Though they feel a strong urge to grow and transform at all times, many of ponderings hover around space and time, and sometimes overflow in the form of writing or visual media. When not pondering, they are often found curating playlists or planning picnics with friends.
DOKtoeR
Participant, Street To Studio Project
DOEKtoeR Wilson's first taste in the world of art came at an early age. In grade six he noticed someone had grafittied the school he was attending, it was in that moment his interest was peaked leading to an array of art forms which he refers to as organized chaos. His passion progressed from painting cars to street art throughout not only Calgary and Medicine Hat but, also Australia. DOKtoers work is recognized worldwide and his abundance of techniques include spray paint, acrylic, oil, ink stenciling using a vast variety of upcycled materials obtained throughout his progressive journeys. His work, sparked by his never ending fire, enables multiple layered compositions based on his mood and environment. His latest works have the masses lined up as he has been commissioned exclusively for major events, people and projects to come.
Johanna Plant Donnelly
Development Associate, Contemporary Calgary
Johanna Plant Donnelly is a Calgary-based art historian who brings over a decade of experience in the arts to Contemporary Calgary. She has worked and taught in a variety of Canadian cultural and educational institutions, including artist-run centres, universities, and international-calibre museums. In her current role, she advances Contemporary Calgary’s vision by securing grants to support operations and capital projects.
Johanna holds a PhD in Art History from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, along with an MA from University College London (UK) and a BA from the University of Calgary. When she’s not writing grants, Johanna can be found on urban adventures with her family or taking in Calgary’s rich artistic culture.
