Glenbow Museum
130 - 9th Avenue SE T2G 0P3 Calgary, AB, Canada

Here’s another object that caught our eye this week - in the Mavericks gallery on the fourth floor. This tiny bear was one of the toys photographer Lena Gushul used to attract children’s attention and distract them from their starched and itchy dress clothes. She captured impulsive smiles and unselfconscious gestures in between the fidgeting. In many of Lena’s photographs of children, there is a particular teddy bear who shows up clutched their arms. Perhaps the honour of hol...ding it was used as a bribe to encourage sitting still. Thomas and Lena Gushul took thousands of photographs of the landscape and life in the Crowsnest Pass. They ran their photography studio for over 50 years. Thomas was borne in Ukraine in 1889 and immigrated to Canada in 1906. He turned his hobby of photography into a career in 1914, and his wife Lena took studio portraits and managed the commercial aspects of the business. The Gushuls were dedicated to their profession, often working until 2am in their darkroom They call [good work] good business, Lena Gushul said But they don’t know how long it takes to do good work and we never spared our time. We were proud we did good work and people said we were the best. All the photos detailed here are from 1915. The final photo is of Thomas and Lena Gushul in 1914, the year they were married.

Today is #LouisRiel Day: Métis leader, founder of Manitoba, executed by the Canadian Gov't on Nov. 16, 1885 for high treason. From Glenbow's collection: A beaded vest - at some point it was damaged by fire. Written on the back....."Le Gilet de Louis Riel" And, also in Glenbow’s collection, a lock of Louis Riel's hair kept by Dr. Augustus Jukes, a NWMP surgeon who became friends with Riel while he was in prison in Regina awaiting trial. Dr. Jukes was one of the doctors who de...clared Louis Riel to be sane, and attended his execution. Louis Riel Day is also a day to celebrate and learn more about the rich culture and heritage of #Métis people across Canada. Nov 15 - 21 is Métis Week - you can celebrate with the Métis Nation of Alberta. Events are happening online at albertametis.com

New blog post to mark Remembrance Day! Both John George Pattison and Mike Mountain Horse served with honour and exceptional courage in the First World War, and their legacies continue to resonate in 2020.

As we count down the days to the 3rd & 4th floor galleries closing on Nov 22, we’re highlighting artworks & objects to seek out when you visit. Today we feel like gazing at the pleasantly soothing colours and shapes of the display cabinets in Treasures of the Mineral World on the fourth floor of the museum. All Access Week starts Saturday November 14! Visit Glenbow for FREE all week thanks to our friends at Servus Credit Union... Reserve your tickets now before all the spots get booked: http://museumvisit.ca/ See more

UPDATE! All Access Week has been rescheduled to Saturday November 14 to Sunday November 22. Sorry for the inconvenience! We'll update everyone who has already booked a visit for the coming week. Thanks for weathering weird times with us, friends! We'll see you on November 14th. Exciting news! We’re starting Phase 1 of our building renovation, and some classic exhibitions are closing on November 22. Say farewell to some of your favourites with FREE ADMISSION during All Access ...Week November 14 -22, thanks to our friends at Servus Credit Union https://www.glenbow.org/exhibitions/all-access-week/

TGIF. We hope you can take a moment this weekend to relax. Choose a special glass to toast absent (or present!) friends. These Bohemian crystal goblets (once part of a larger collection) are friendship glasses, ca. 1900, and were acquired by Georg Kariel around 1920 or 1930. An owner of a chain of dime stores around Dresden, Germany, Georg probably acquired the goblets in Prague or Vienna while on a buying trip. A friendship glass would traditionally be purchased as a pre...sentation gift for special occasions, such as a wedding or anniversary. Georg collected a range of traditional European decorative arts; these glasses were prized for their aesthetic appeal. The goblets were part of a collection of fine and decorative art that Georg Kariel took with him when he and his family fled Germany in 1938, just prior to Kristallnacht when thousands of Jewish homes, shops and synagogues were destroyed. Georg’s son Herb was eleven when the family left Germany; he later donated the goblets and many other items to Glenbow. See more

Coming up at 3pm today! Join us for a LIVE tour of the Porchraits exhibition with photographer Neil Zeller.