CASA  celebrates the body with a new exhibit combining the talents of guest curators  Jorge Sandoval and Brenda Brandley in their new exhibition “Mapping the Body: Wearing the Other” which opens tonight, Saturday, Nov. 3 at Casa.
“Mapping the Body is the third iteration of  a continuously evolving project combining  the efforts of students, and faculty of the Lethbridge College Fashion Design and Sustainable Production department and the University of Lethbridge drama department.

“It is the culmination of a three year project,” said Brenda Brandley, Lethbridge College lead instructor, fashion design and  sustainability.

The 20 works in the  were created through a variety of mediums using found items like plastic bags, textiles, digital photography and computer graphics.
The first exhibit was two years ago at the Penny Gallery downtown and at Lethbridge College the next year.
“ There are 20 different artists involved in this  exhibit. there were 40 at the beginning. Some of these pieces were in the last one and some of have been in all three. They‘ve evolved a lot since then,” Brandley observed.

“So it‘s been a really interesting process to be involved in,” she said.

“We wanted people to get a chance to express themselves and think about sustainability and to be able to visualize the body in their own way,” she continued.
“ I’m really passionate about sustainability,” she said.

Children aged 6-10 can take a journey into the depths their imagination and creativity with the miniSAAG program at the Southern Alberta Art Gallery.
“While the program, for kids age 6-10, officially began Sept. 7, it runs every Friday until Dec. 7 and drop ins are always welcome.

“The program allows children how to express themselves by creating an environment of freedom through abstract thinking,” summarized SAAG Public Engagement Co-ordinator Emily Promise Allison.

 She noted there are a a variety of colourful blocks, fabrics and accoutrements for the kids to create their own innovative environment to play in.
“I have three dimensional larger than life blocks and fabric of all kinds,“ she described.

“Every session involves a wide range of ways for them to engage with these objects. It is also dependent on the group dynamic,” she said, noting they must work with each other to create their own worlds and environments and costumes through the project.

 Mortar and Brick offers a new spaces for southern Alberta artists to display their work.
 They had a special pre-opening at their location ( at 20 316 7th street South), this week just in time for Arts Days with live music and a new exhibit “On Solid Ground.”

“It’s not specifically for Blackfoot artists but for  all contemporary  artists in the area,” said co-owner Cheryl Baxter.
“Though we have an exhibit coming up with a local curator  of Blackfoot artists,” she said, adding she has a lot of experience running an art gallery.
“I’ve been involved with Galleries for 30 years,” she said.
“I ran a  gallery in Canmore and Banff then my husband got a wonderful job halfway across the world. When I moved here I wanted to find an art community,”  she said, noting she joined up with partners Tim and Andrea Sandul, who have owned the Port Coworking space for the past two years, to incorporate a public workspace into Mortar and Brick.
“So we’ll also be holding events, weddings and corporate events here,” said Andrea Sandul.