artsPlace opens 2025 with emerging artist gallery, host of new workshops

CANMORE – artsPlace is ringing in the new year with a host of new programming and workshops for the winter season. The Canmore-based community art centre is hosting its RISE emerging artist exhibition until Feb. 8, featuring Palimpsest by Chris Lukas Maier. “We kicked off this year with a Calgary-based artist, a part of our Rise emerging artist program. It is a different kind of artwork in our gallery, but it is more of a commentary on urban, city kind of art,” said Katie Leaf, associate manager of child, youth and gallery programs with ArtsPlace. “He focuses on human-made markings, both intentional and unintentional that we often overlook in our day-to-day lives. For example, graffiti or maybe building markings with spray paint, and how those are added and taken away over time and how that describes our story.” Leaf explained part of the appeal of this gallery is presenting something often overlooked being taken out of an urban setting, and being observable in a gallery, encouraging viewers to more deeply consider their surroundings. The ArtsPlace gallery is the first time Maier has been hosted as an individual showcase. Leaf added as an additional aspect of Maier’s gallery, ArtsPlace is aiming...