Get to know the Southern Alberta Art Gallery (SAAG) as the second annual SAAG social returns to the gallery Nov. 3 from 7-10 p.m.

 there will  live music and the return of the Owl Acoustic Lounge poutine bar, ice cream samples from Milkman Milk Bar, Flamingo Floss cotton candy courtesy Urban Studio Interior Design, beverages from Last Best Brewing and Distilling,  a silent auction, 50/50 raffle and more.

“ We really enjoyed seeing Festival square across the street from us during the summer. It brought a lot of energy back to the downtown, which we’re hoping to carry forward into the Fall and Winter,” said SAAG communications co-ordinator Jeremy Franchuk.

“ We started it last year in the wake of the pandemic. It’s a fundraiser for the SAAG, but it\s also about bringing the community together,” he said.

Word On The Street returned as a live event outside the Lethbridge Public Library, Sept. 17.

Word on the Street a had beautiful weather and a laid back feel as throngs of people threaded their way through assorted tents and booths featuring a plethora of authors promoting their work.

 The music matched the laid back feel.

 I caught the end of Calgary country musician Carter Felker’s set

 He sang a solid set of original solo work, focussing on the more literature inspired songs.

Local country/ folk band Starpainter continued in the same vein, playing a song inspired by John Steinbeck.

 They played their usual strong, laid back set.

— by Richard Amery, L.A. beat Editor

Every day is arts day, but September is arts month.

“ September is the month of the artist,” said Allied Arts Council Communications manager Kelaine Devine who is excited about another ArtsDays.

 “ THere’s lots of events happening this week,” Devine said, noting Word on the Street is the  unofficial kickoff to Arts Days.

 This year, there is a focus on murals and painting, though there will be plenty of buskers  performing all week from Sept. 23 - 30  and outdoor events  at Rotary Square outside Casa and  in Festival Square.

“It’s more fun to have events out doors. But All of them can be moved indoors ,” she continued, adding  the Allied Arts Council started moving towards outdoor events during Covid and continued. 

Alexis Bialobzyski will be poetry busking in the streets, writing spontaneous poems by request.

 Most of the fun begins on Friday. Artists will be at work at he Casa kiosks and outside local businesses.

Check out the new exhibits at Casa and the SAAG while you’re downtown. And a lot of new murals are being created in back alleys. So there will be a public art walk from 5-6 p.m. taking a tour of them.

The AAC pop up gallery opens Friday Sept. 23  from 6-8 p.m.

There will be a public art bus tour, Saturday. Sept. 2 which leaves from Casa at 2 p.m.. using the culture bus that was operating all summer.

 One of the highlights is an exhibit on the roof of the Helen Schuler Nature  Centre.