Esplanade brings all the colours out this spring

Medicine Hat – The Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre announces two new exhibitions in the galleries including the colourful School Art 2022 and Brick by Brick: Absence VS Presence by Heidi McKenzie. There are also a number of experiences to take in this spring.

School Art 2022
Runs until August 20

Welcome spring with the School Art 2022 exhibition. Full of colour, energy and talent, let it lift your spirits this spring and summer. Our display showcases the creativity and skill of Medicine Hat and region’s students, from kindergarten to grade 12, and has been a Medicine Hat tradition for the last 44 years. This annual exhibition has grown from 50 works in 1978 to more than 800 from 41 different schools. Paintings, drawings, collages, sculptures, ceramics, photographs, animated and live action video fill the gallery and will awe, amaze and inspire you.

Brick by Brick: Absence VS Presence
By Heidi McKenzie runs until August 20

Brick by Brick: Absence VS Presence, by Toronto-based artist Heidi McKenzie, is a multifaceted installation featuring historical and contemporary photographs, augmented reality, ceramic sculpture, video, and sound projection. The daughter of Indo-Trinidadian and Irish American parents, Heidi rooted this new body of work in sentimental, ancestral exploration sparked by her 2019 residency at Medalta’s International Artists in Residence Program in Medicine Hat. During her residency, she toured the former I-XL factory, which brought to the surface memories of her father’s experience working the brick furnaces at Stelco in Hamilton, Ontario, in the 1950’s. These personal memories ignited inquiries into whether local Indigenous people or immigrant persons of colour worked at the brick and clay factories in Medicine Hat, and if so, what was documented regarding those experiences? The findings of this research were the conceptual foundation of this work, which thoughtfully combines historical and contemporary content into a visual manifestation inspired by Heidi’s familial past and Medicine Hat’s industrial history.

Admission to the galleries is Pay What You Will, which means visitors decide what they pay for their visit. The galleries are open Tuesday to Friday, from 12 pm to 5 pm.

Gallery Play!
Runs Saturdays from 1 to 3 pm until June 11

Come play in the galleries on Saturday afternoons this spring. This Pay What You Will experience is open for drop-in, no booking required. Guided activities start at 1 pm and repeat again at 2 pm so you can jump in and start at anytime! Gallery Play! consists of a mix of guided and independently led games and activities for you to choose from. Learn how to engage your kiddos in the galleries with confidence with our brief interactive tours, play gallery games, try dress-up, take-in story time and art activities in our brand-new Discovery Zone or go your own way with one of our scavenger hunt options. Gallery Play! is recommended for all ages, however all children must be accompanied by an adult caregiver.

Hysterical Research Improv Jam in the Archives
Runs Thursdays from 7 to 9 pm on April 28 and from May 12 to 26

Get your dose of spontaneity and laughter at this drop-in improvisation experience. Improv (think Whose Line is it Anyway?!) is a fun way to get out of your head, stop overthinking, and spark your creativity while connecting with others. Experienced teacher and improvisor, Richard Grafton makes Hysterical Research easy and fun. Sit and watch until you feel ready or jump right in, this is a stress-free experience. Learn by doing, as you are guided through improv techniques and exercises as a group. No prior experience is necessary, and Improv Jam is open to all ages.

Laugh Locally Improv Show
Runs May 5 and June 2 at 7 pm

In true improv comedy fashion, this showcase of local talent is entirely unscripted. Don’t just attend the show, be a part of it! At Laugh Locally audience members are invited to shout out ideas that our performers will turn into skits. With a word from the audience, scenarios turn on a dime and unexpected hilarity ensues. Watch as these class clowns think quick on their feet to bring you laughs from the comfort of your seat. Make sure you get here early to grab your preferred table, take advantage of pre-show gallery admission, and enjoy refreshment at the bar. Please note that Laugh Locally is an all ages show.

Art Box
Runs May 19 at 6 pm for families and 8 pm for adults

Get out of the box and get inspired with unconventional and experimental art activities. This experience is about the journey, not the destination, so get bright, get bold, get messy and have some fun! This season let your creativity bloom with a selection of floral inspired projects. Collage with pressed flowers to create your own unique composition. Then explore the print making process with silk foliage and our gelatin plates. Pick your favourite resulting artwork and mat it so that it is ready to pop into a frame and beautify your space with a touch of spring.

Sip and Create
Runs June 9 at 6 pm for families and 8 pm for adults

Join Janelle Buye, owner/designer of Sweet Stems for a flower arranging experience. Sign-up for the adult experience and create your own flower arrangement or register for a family experience and create a flower crown. In honour of Sustainability Week, both adult and family experiences will incorporate sustainable materials and attendees will learn a little more about the importance of this practice.

Stay up to date on all exhibitions, events and programs by following the Esplanade on Instagram and Facebook, and visit their website. Also for tickets or spots in the Pay What You Will experiences, visit tixx.ca.

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media@medicinehat.ca