I like art. I like figure skating. So it was with kind of a gleeful smile that I attended the opening night of Calgary’s first exhibition of acclaimed artist (and Canadian figure skating legend) Toller Cranston’s latest collection, held at the newly opened Artevo Gallery.
The art itself was a sea of colour, bright and playful in its various depictions of winter scenes, as well as several florals, and variety of multi-coloured characters. In-between glasses of wine (yes, after some struggles, I am now somewhat unofficially indulging in wine!) I personally fell in love with Cosmic Garden (pictured). But at $9000 for the 60”x60” canvas, I parted with it, and left our one-night love affair to the recesses of my mind reserved for things like couture Valentino gowns, and Hermes bags. But as usual, I indulge in silly digressions…
Those digressions aside, I was lucky enough to chat one-on-one with the now 61-year-old skating icon, who flew in from his home in San Miguel, Mexico, for the occasion.
After much distaste for our weather was noted (Cranston touched down in Calgary as our first snowstorm hit, prompting him to exclaim ‘Is this really winter here?’), he talked about his love for art, Mexico, and passing on his knowledge.
“Art is meant to be shared,” he said, noting that while owning art is typically an extravagance reserved for the wealthy, it should be viewed by whoever wants to see it.
Having taken in the Bottero exhibit at the Glenbow Museum just the day before, Cranston also remarked at the changes in Calgary since he had last visited many years before. “All the businesses downtown are just jammed with people,” he remarked somewhat surprised. “There is definitely something very much alive and bubbling here.”
I tried to explain--us Calgarians are much like the art: full of life, colour, and always interesting.
Even if we're covered under a foot or two of snow.