Earlier this year, the Art Gallery of Hamilton announced a big step in the evolution of the annual Festival. This change grew from the hope of intensifying the regional and multi-disciplinary connections which made past Festivals resonate most with our local multi-arts community. With this came the decision to expand this year’s Festival beyond film to practices such as visual art, dance, performance, craft, and other creative genres!
Festival season is in full swing here at the Art Gallery of Hamilton! This year we are shaking things up in a big way. Be prepared to be amazed as our familiar Film Festival is transformed into the first ever #AGHFest: a 10-day multi-arts and culture extravaganza.
Join us in celebrating the unique talents of our community with local artisan markets, film screenings, pop-up concerts, parties, family gatherings, art tours, and more from October 14-23! Whether you are a frequent patron of the AGH, or somebody who is new to our programming: there is something for everybody. We have a schedule packed full of creativity, exploration, and fun.
During the day on Monday, October 17, catch me touring the Gallery in brand new ways during our Art and the Senses event. After that, I’ll be learning how to make movies on my phone with our awesome Media Producer, Ty Tekatch! At night, you will find me front and centre at the Film Screening & Panel Discussion of Alice Street (2020).
On Tuesday, October 18, I’ll be joining in the fun of the all ages PechaKucha Party, featuring the stories and artworks of 6 Hamilton artists from our brand new The Bigger Picture exhibition! The lovely, local singer-songwriter, Ariana Fig, is giving a pop-up concert at 5:00 pm, and then I’m off to The Westdale Theatre to watch Okay! The ASD Band Film at 7:00 pm.
Wednesday, October 19 is going to be jam-packed with hands-on art activities. Between Artful Moments: Creative Experiences at 1:00 pm, and two super cool workshops, both starting at 7:00 pm (Mental Health Zine Workshop & Movement Workshop): I’ll have my hands full… of art supplies!
After a Thursday morning Story Time at 10:00 am on October 20, with local children’s author, Nicola Winstanley, I’ll be popping over to express my creativity through self-reflection at the FREE Mindful Drawing studio at 1:00 pm. With my needle and thread in hand, the Stitching Workshop at 5:00 pm will be the perfect chance to practice my craft. At 7:00 pm, I am really looking forward to attending Speakers of Truth: Art and Appropriation. I am honoured to have the chance to listen, learn, reflect, and deepen my understanding of topics essential to Truth and Reconciliation.
Friday, October 21 at 3:00 pm allows the opportunity for those with no prior art experience to explore & create during Artful Moments: Connections. At 5:00 pm, I’ll be swaying along to the acoustic tunes of Matt Paxton at his FREE pop-up concert. Oh, but it doesn’t end there! 7:00 pm is time to celebrate the legacy of Teenage Head with a free film screening and panel discussion!
Looking ahead to this weekend, on Saturday, October 22, James N. Wilson will be giving a FREE pop-up concert at 2:00 pm, followed by a really exciting Youth Art Tour with exhibiting artist Nathan Eugene Carson, and our CEO & President, Shelley Falconer. I am also so excited to attend our Celebrate: An Afro-Caribbean Extravaganza from 6:00 pm – 11:00 pm. This event commemorates Gatherings, a brand-new exhibition highlighting the works of Hamilton-based father and son artists Roger Ferreira and Kareem-Anthony Ferreira. Here’s what you can expect from this event:
- A sit-down dinner provided by Saltlick Smokehouse, owned by Kyle Ferreira (brother of Kareem, and son of Roger!)
- Rum tastings and cocktails provided by Bar Sazerac, also owned by Kyle Ferreira!
- A dancing lesson (and plenty of time to show your skills on the dance floor!)
- Live music performances by The Hamilton Youth Steel Orchestra, and singer Andrea Henry (of the group Sugar Jones)
- Performance by dub poet Klyde Broox (a.k.a. Clyde Durm-I Brooks)
- … AND THE CHANCE TO WIN A TRIP FOR 2 TO BARBADOS!
Tickets are $50 and include everything listed above. Senior/Student tickets are $45, and AGH Member tickets are $40. Spaces are limited, so save your seat today!
I’ll also be popping over to our Artisan Market the very next day, between 4:00 pm – 11:00 pm on Sunday, October 23, to pick up some locally-crafted gifts to give to my family and friends for the Holidays! Afterwards, make sure to stick around and join me, and our awesome AGH staff, at our FREE Closing Night Celebration! Jam out to Wax Mannequin and Born In The Eighties as you sip on a drink and dance with your friends. There is no better way to wrap up the AGH Festival.
I know, there is a lot going on… but that is exactly what makes this brand-new #AGHFest amazing; nobody is left out. There are events for everybody: seniors, families, kids, working professionals, art lovers, music lovers, film buffs, educators, dreamers, and doers!
Thank you to everybody who has made the #AGHFest possible: staff, performers, artists, volunteers, community sponsors, and YOU: our patrons. Everything we do, we do for you.
See you at the Festival!
Click here to learn more about the AGH Festival.
Sedona Micale is this year’s Digital Content Creator for the AGH Festival.
