Edmonton, AB (July 7, 2015) – The Winspear Centre for Music is livening up its front patio space facing Churchill Square with a lunchtime summer performing arts series. Beginning today, July 7, this series will run over the lunch hour on most Tuesdays and Thursdays from now until late August. The Winspear Centre will host arts and community partners as they showcase and workshop unique art and performances. The series will draw connections between the day-time visitors to Churchill Square with the people and services that reside in Edmonton’s downtown core and beyond.
By bringing the arts outdoors, and placing their artists front and center facing Churchill our partner organizations will have an opportunity to strengthen their connections to the downtown community. By entertaining visitors of all ages and backgrounds, we hope to promote and celebrate the arts district and the many arts and service organizations whose work is less visible to the general public.
The first performance will take place on Tuesday, July 7 from 12:00 pm until 1:00 pm. Local artist Ryan Wispinski, fresh off his engagement in Churchill Square for The Works Art and Design Festival.
Edmonton-based artist, Ryan Wispinski has been making art for 27 years. What began as drawing images from nature evolved into elaborate and intricate designs carved in found wood. Ryan’s works are transformed through the process of creating as the goal in and of itself. Ryan says “I carve to be carving, not to have a carving.” And we are delighted that he’ll showcase that process for visitors to our Summer Patio. Most recently on display in the Winspear Centre vestibule for the thirteen days of The Works Art and Design Festival, Ryan worked concurrently at the Works Festival’s main site in Churchill Square as Artist-in-Residence. His work on that series, a set of seats and a table, were designed as a way to invite people to “make space for compassion”.
The following organizations have signed on to support this initiative:
- iHuman
- Canadian Native Friendship Centre
- Folklorical Ballet Mexico Lindo
- Edmonton Mennonite Centre for Newcomers
- Skills Society
For more information on this day as well as a schedule of performers set to take the stage on our patio for the remainder of the series, please visit winspearcentre.com/patio.
