Ascension & artists

Ascension & artists, a photo by Wanderfull1 on Flickr.

Ascension is a pair of tripod statues in front of the Avatamsaka Monastery (Buddhist) near 10th Street bridge. During the tour the sculpting team, INCIPIO MODO (composed of two sculptors, Danira Miralda and Edward Beltran), were there to discuss their work.

I asked Danira if she or her partner had ever seen H.G. Well's War of the Worlds. The answer was a blank stare and "no." I got a few snickers from tour participants, though.  I wasn't trying to be funny.  I really wanted to know. 

When I first saw the statues (which are supposed to be spiders), looming next to the monastery, my first thought was that they were the invading tripods from the War of the Worlds.  Then I wondered why they put something so sharp, so violent, and kinda phallic in front of a Buddhist monastery.  A friend of a friend who prays at the monastery told her that it took quite a bit of convincing to get the monks to accept the piece and that some still don't like it.

Part of a free ArtBus tour held Sunday, September 29, 2013. All part of Alberta Culture Days.

Links:

• Ascension - City of Calgary
• Avatamsaka Monastery  
• Incipio Modo: The creation of "the Insect" - YouTube video shown during the ArtBus tour
• Alberta Culture Days
• ArtBus - a few more tour photos posted on Flickr

Alberta Culture Days 2013 - Kick Off Party

Alberta Culture Days 2013, a set on Flickr.

Alberta Culture Days -- Communities all over Alberta are celebrating local art and culture. Calgary held a small but energetic kick off party in Olympic Plaza Saturday night (Sept 27, 2013).

A dancer in the crowd was invited onstage by Makeshift Innocence's lead singer (much to Securities disapproval).   Love how he is totally in love for the dance.

Makeshift Innocence

A scarf performer hanging out at the entrance way to the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) 

The Bitterweed Draw

The Sidney York Band.

Champion hoop dancer, Dallas Arcand (Dancing Buffalo Man).

Alberta Culture Days