Fort Macleod has a rich history of art and culture, from the music and arts festival South Country Fair that has been hosted annually for over 30 years, to the Empress Theatre, a site of live music and theatre for more than 100 years, and more.
Alberta Art Days officially begins on Friday, Sept. 23, however Fort Macleod is lucky enough to also have Roots rocker Leeroy Stagger playing Wednesday, Sept. 21 at the Empress Theatre at 7:30 p.m,
On Thursday, Sept. 22 from 1:30 – 9 pm there is an Alberta Culture Day event at Fort Macleod Library.
On Friday, Sept. 23 the two-day Allied Arts Art Days festival begins.
“The beauty of the downtown makes it an enjoyable walking location, with the opportunity to support a wealth of quality, local businesses that fill the attractive storefronts,” Loralee Edwards, programming director for Fort Macleod Allied Arts, said in a news release.
The self-guided Art Walk component is on Sept. 23-24 in several businesses on Main Street who have opened their doors to share the art of local artists and artisans.
Individuals, families and groups will be able to visit as many or all of the sites exploring what artists in their communities are creating.
Maps are available at the Allied Arts Office at 2113 Second Ave., at participating downtown businesses and will be posted on social media.
The exhibiting artists are both emerging and established, and art is 2D, sculpture and even an installation in Fort Pharmacy and the Allied Arts Office.
If you visit every space on the map you have a chance to win an original piece of art.
“The Allied Arts Council of Fort Macleod office and studio is located around the corner from Main Street,” said Gordon Perret, president of Fort Macleod and District Allied Arts Council . “On Saturday, Sept. 24 we will host a series of art demonstrations on-site throughout the day, for the public to experience new art mediums: clay, painting, and stained glass.”
The schedule is on Facebook.
Participating businesses are: Digbee’s, Fort Pharmacy, Greenery on Main, Homestead Bakery, Library, Macleod Living, Next Home and Garden and Twisted Hummingbird. T&G Properties hosts the Hallway Gallery.
“I am particularly excited to see emerging Indigenous artist Bryce Singer Many Fingers who will be exhibited in the Hallway Gallery at the Allied Arts Office,” Edwards added,
Many Fingers is an emerging Niitsitapi artist from Kainai.
“Bryce will share a series of 2D works in our hallway gallery space,” Edwards said. “Singer creates intricate drawings and paintings, both analog and digital, that explore traditional Blackfoot stories.”
“He often depicts this through detailed portraits of people and animals, landscapes of recognizable local forms, and stylized plant renditions.”
Allied Arts encourages the public to come by after they have done the Art Walk, and to attend the opening for all the artists Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
