Casa
230 8th Street South T1J 5H2 Lethbridge, AB, Canada

Starting a career as an emerging artist is difficult - there are lots of aspects to consider: How do I format a CV? Where are places I can exhibit my art? Do I need an artist website? What makes an application successful? Join us on April 1st at 6 PM on ZOOM to learn some tips and tricks from Kasia Sosnowski @bad.bucket, local artist and manager of AAC Works @aacleth. Whether you're a recent grad or been at it for a couple of years we'd love to see you - bring your questions... or comment below with what you'd like to see discussed! This ART/WORK Zoom webinar is free to attend but registration is required. Click this link to register: http://bit.ly/ARTWORKNow Thursday April 1st, 6:00pm MST If you have any questions please contact Tara Gillanders, our AAC Projects and Membership Manager at [email protected] or call 403.320.0555 #yql #yqlarts #pdsession #professionaldevelopment #artist #emergingartist #tipsandtricks

*Update: All kits have been claimed!!* Easter Kits are available! Give Casa a call at 403.327.2272 to reserve your free kit for curbside pick-up before April 1! Then join us for online lessons perfect for kids 6-12 years old from April 5-9 (or whenever suits your schedule lessons are prerecorded for your convenience), available on our YouTube channel. Each kit contains supplies for two children to participate in five different activities. First kit is free, subsequent kits are $10 + GST.

Spring is near and Easter Camps are going online! Starting next Monday, you can call Casa (403.327.2272) to reserve an Easter Kit which contains all the supplies needed for two children (ages 6-12) to participate in the daily art activities we’ll be posting to Casa’s YouTube channel. Similar to our Family Fun Day kits, the first one is free (additional kits are $10 + gst) so it’s first come, first 100 served! We’ll be decoupaging planters (wildflower seeds included), mak...ing pinch pot animals, crafting springtime sculptures, ceramic bowls, and a larger-than-life portrait! For big kids and adults looking to foster some creativity at home, we encourage you to check out our 6 different Creativity Kits available on @aacleth’s AAC Works website or by curbside pick-up at Casa

AAC Artist Spotlight! Get to know the artists in Lethbridge! Who? My name is Kazumi Marthiensen. Instagram: @gomablue333 and @kazum1studio. I am originally from Okinawa. I have been living in Lethbridge since 1999. When I was 33-years old I went to the University of Lethbridge and majored in Fine Arts (Art Studio) as I just could not give up my childhood dream of becoming an artist. ... My Practice: I have been creating work mainly using screen printing. I love all the processes involved in this medium. My work is based on factual and historical events regarding the mistreatment of the island of Okinawa and its people by both Japanese and U.S. governments. Why this work? This work, its title is June 30th, 1959 10:40 AM, was a part of my first solo exhibition at Casa in 2016. The prints are images of backpacks, which are used by elementary school students in Okinawa and Japan. I spent the majority of my time researching and creating this particular work for the exhibition. Okinawa is a small island, but U.S. military bases are heavily concentrated there. As a result of the presence of the military bases, there have been so many U.S. aircraft and vehicle-related tragedies and near misses. On June 30th, 1959 at 10:40 am, a fighter jet crashed into Miyamori Elementary School, which resulted in the death of 11 elementary school students and 7 civilians. As long as the military bases continue to exist in Okinawa, a similar disastrous incident could occur. I never want to forget about the people who lost their precious lives on that day. Calling all Lethbridge ARTISTS! Would you like to be in the Spotlight? Email your answers to the above questions with an image of your work and social media handles to [email protected] Support free, accessible arts content in Lethbridge and the Allied Arts Council here: https://bit.ly/AACD #ABArtists #YQLArtist #LethbridgeArtist #YQLArt #YQL #printmaking #print #silkscreen #screenprinting #screenprintart #printmaker

Do I need to start collecting GST on my pottery? I donated an artwork and now I have to report it? Is my clarinet a liability or an asset? What’s the difference between a fee and an honourarium? My studio is in my apartment can I claim that? Back by popular demand and just in time for tax season, Andrea Harper, CPA, with Avail Professional Accountants will be joining us on March 4th for our next ART/WORK webinar! Andrea will give artists advice on preparing and submitting ta...x returns. Bring your questions, not your receipts! This Zoom webinar is free to attend but registration is required! Click here to register: http://bit.ly/ARTWORKTaxTips Thursday March 4th, 6:00pm MST Questions? Please contact Tara Gillanders, AAC Projects & Membership Manager at [email protected] or call 403.320.0555 #YQLArts #YQLArtists #LethbridgeArts #ArtConnectsUs

One More Hour! Make sure you tune in at noon for our 3D Family Fun Day Portrait! And if you’re out sledding, enjoying this slightly warmer day don’t worry! It’ll remain up on YouTube for your creative convenience! http://bit.ly/CasaFamily

December 10, 2020 Allied Arts Council and Casa Casa Casa will be closed beginning Sunday, December 13 as per provincial mandate (December 8, 2020). Studio access, Art Education Programs and The Gallery at Casa will not be available to the public until 2021. During this time, phones at Casa will still be staffed Monday to Saturday, 10am to 6pm, and closed Sundays until December 23. Registration and inquiries will not be available December 24 to 27 and January 1 to 3. From Dec...ember 28 through December 31, Casa will be available for phone inquiries between 10am and 4pm. Registration for winter classes is currently on-going for 2021. Please call us at 403.327.2272 to register. Class descriptions can be found online at casalethbridge.ca Casa Creativity Kits with 6 different all-ages projects are being assembled and will be available for purchase through curbside pick-up at Casa and AAC Works from December 16 onwards. Please call 403.327.2272 to purchase and book a pick-up time. You can also purchase these through aacworks.ca. Curbside firings and pick-ups can be arranged as well as clay and clay canvas board sales. Watch for information about the Gallery by Mail project coming from The Gallery at Casa. AAC Works will be open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. We encourage customers to shop online at aacworks.ca as only 2 visitors at a time may visit. Curbside pick-up is available Monday through Friday. Curbside pick-up can be arranged on Saturdays at Casa. Our December Saturday hours have been cancelled due to AHS staffing restrictions. AAC 7 Street Office is closed as staff work from home. For membership and marketing services for AAC Members until December 23, please email or call as staff are working from home at 403.320.0555 or [email protected] After December 23, AAC Works & 7 Street Offices will be closed until 2021. All visitors will be required to maintain a social distance of two meters. As per City & Provincial bylaw, masks are required in all public spaces. Enhanced cleaning measures of our facilities will be taking place daily. For further information please call Casa at 403.327.2272, Monday through Friday, 10am to 6pm; or the 7 Street Office at 403.320.0555, Monday to Friday; 9am to 5pm.

This year Christmas at Casa is going online! Starting on November 20th (at noon) you can shop virtually and support local. We have over 40 amazing artists this year! The Christmas sale will run from November 20th until December 1st. That’s 12 whole days of online shopping! There will be pottery, prints, paintings, jewellery, fibre arts, soaps and so much more. Local pickup and delivery will be available. Shop local - and support local! Visit christmasatcasa.ca starting Nove...mber 20th! #yql #Lethbridge #ChristmasMarket #ChristmasAtCasa #FineArtAndCraft #shopyql #supportlocal #DowntownYQL

Registration for Winter 2021 started last week and classes are filling up quickly. In October, we hosted two Tea Light Lantern evenings and these were some of the pieces that came out of the first workshop (thus the bat). Polar-ice porcelain clay can be made thin enough for light to pass through making for the perfect level of diffusion for projects like these! If you’re curious about hand-building or just want to try getting your hands in some clay, we are offering a series of one-night workshops, starting with Sweet Heart Mugs on February 6th and 13th, followed by Tea Light Lanterns in March and Decorative Planters in April. Check out our website for full class listings; call 403.327.2272 to register. #yql #yqlart #handbuilding #artclass #ceramics #polarice #clay #workshops #2021

AAC Artist Spotlight! Get to know the artists in Lethbridge! Who: My name is Katie Marie Bruce. You've probably seen me around -- I've been haunting Casa on and off for the last four years and Lethbridge more generally for over a decade and a half. I didn't grow up here, but Lethbridge has had a large role to play in getting to know, abandoning, and rebuildingmy relationship with self. Whats your practice: Even when I dabble in sculpture and textiles, my practice is rooted ...in the process, labour and vocabulary of printmaking. "Printmaker" is perhaps the first identity I inhabited that was roomy enough to encapsulate my whole expression. Which is probably why my subject matter is increasingly intimate and vulnerable. If you're curious about print, you should probably join me over at@kmb_artist on IG since I frequently get nerdy and technical over there. Why this piece? "self soothe" is a good example of how a print often evolves for me. My initial ideas were based on somatic holding that can help to calm the nervous system -- something I was relying on to help combat pandemic exasperation. In June, as our collective attention shifted to whose ability to breathe was considered sacred and whose could be denied, my focus narrowed towards the universal cage that is our ribs; one that protects but also restricts, wrapped in a tender embrace. Calling all Lethbridge ARTISTS! Would you like to be in the Spotlight? Email your answers to the above questions with an image of your work and social media handles to [email protected] Support free, accessible arts content in Lethbridge and the Allied Arts Council here: https://bit.ly/AACDonate #ABArtists #YQLArtist #LethbridgeArtist #YQLArt #Printmaker ##YQL #Printmaking #etching #printmakersofinstagram #drypoint #intaglio

Have you stopped by Casa to see April Matisz’s exhibition in our Project Space? The Gatherers will be up until December 21st. Here are a few photographs of the beautiful installation! #YQL #YQLArtist #YQLArt #DowntownLethbridge #Lethbridge #LethbridgeArts #AAC #AlliedArtsCouncil #Casa #CasaLethbridge #TheGalleryAtCasa

Today’s the day! Christmas at Casa is online and the website is now live! We have so many local southern Albertan artists and artisans selling original fine art and craft. Items for sale include pottery, prints, fibre arts, jewelry, soaps, woodworking and more! Our Christmas sale will run from November 20th to December 1st! https://www.christmasatcasa.ca

Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden Community Centre Public Art Project In May of 2020, the City of Lethbridge invited professional artists to submit proposals for a permanent public artwork to be situated in the new Community Centre currently under construction adjacent to the Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden. A public art selection committee reviewed 35 applications in early July 2020 and short listed three artists to submit more detailed proposals. This display includes the final detaile...d submissions from the shortlisted three artists. The selection committee has reviewed these proposals and a recommendation from the committee regarding the successful artist will be presented to City Council for approval on December 14, 2020. The three proposals and full didactic are currently available for viewing at Casa and will move to City of Lethbridge- City Hall on December 8. #YQL #YQLArts #PublicArt

December 1 is Giving Tuesday! When you donate $20 or more through Canada Helps, AAC & Casa will receive an extra $2*! Supporting the AAC and Casa provides for accessible art education, free community programming and arts events in Lethbridge. https://www.canadahelps.org//allied-arts-council-of-lethb/

This Saturday (November 21st) we will be streaming the art documentary WRECK CITY with a Q&A with artist Caitlind r.c. Brown and director Ramin Eshraghi-Yazdi. Followed by a screening of PARIS TOWER 13. These documentaries and subsequent conversation bring up conversations around public art, impermanence, progress, gentrification and gate-keeping. If you were creating an ephemeral piece of public art, what would you create and what would it say?... This event is co-sponsored by The Gallery at Casa, Allied Arts Council of Lethbridge and AMAAS. Check out the event details to access the link for the live stream!

These wonderful ceramic creations are from the Youth Clay Intensive that took place in August check out the amazing work created by 12-15 year olds! Why share them now? Well... the Youth Clay Club is coming back in January 2021! If these can be made in just four days, think of the marvellous work possible over 8 classes! The Winter 2021 programming is now up on the Casa website and registration will open on December 1 at 10:00 am. With reduced class sizes to keep us all saf...e, early registration is deeply encouraged to avoid disappointment. Paper guides will be available at Casa later this month! #yql #yqlarts #lethbridgealberta #youthclasses #ceramics #ceramicclass #sculpture

AAC Artist Spotlight! Get to know the artists in Lethbridge! Who? I’m Grace Wirzba, an emerging artist based here in Lethbridge. I graduated with a Bachelors of Fine Arts from the University of Lethbridge in 2018. Instagram: @hot.little.hands Website: https://gwirzba.wixsite.com/grace-wirzba... What’s your practice? I am definitely a multidisciplinary artist, my practice is currently rooted deeply in textiles. Though I have a history with installation, printmaking, painting, drawing, and soft sculpture. Why this work? This is the most recent installation I did for Casa’s POPup gallery entitled Couldn’t Be More Golden Today. This work was a special mediation on repetition as a coping mechanism for anxiety. In the last year I have returned again and again to my sewing machine in moments of intense anxiety. For me, it is the perfect combination of physical, mental and creative to set my mind at ease. I have become attached to the checkerboard pattern, and am curious about its references to caution signs, board games, race cars, order, wonkiness and play. Calling all Lethbridge ARTISTS! Would you like to be in the Spotlight? Email your answers to the above questions with an image of your work and social media handles to [email protected] Support free, accessible arts content in Lethbridge and the Allied Arts Council here: https://bit.ly/AACDonate #AACLethbridge #ABArtists #YQLArt #YQLArtists #LethbridgeArts

Casa will be open on Monday, Nov 9 from 10am until 9pm.Casa will be open on Monday, Nov 9 from 10am until 9pm.

Here’s a sneak peek at Robert Bechtel’s exhibition titled Recollect in our main gallery! Our exhibitions open (tomorrow) Saturday November 7th. Come on down to Casa to escape the cold snowy weekend and enjoy some art! There’s so much to see! #DowntownLethbridge #LethbridgeArt #LethbridgeArtists #YQL #YQLArt #TheGalleryAtCasa #CasaLethbridge #AAC