Author Archives: Laurel Lapointe, Next Generation committee volunteer

Meet the 2013 Next Top Artist!

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After months and months (okay an exaggeration, it was only two months) of searching through photos from our incredibly talented city, the Next Top Artist (whose paintings will decorate the walls of the 2013 Stampede Rotary Dream Home) has been decided by the design crew at Homes by Avi and Gibson Fine Art.

I’d like to introduce you to Caroline Stanley – a young, talented artist who with her trusted side kick (a very cute dog named Sisquo (pronounced sisco, who granted spends most of his time sleeping, but is helpful nonetheless) is currently putting the finishing touches on 30 pieces to hang on the walls for over 100,000 people to see. With four paint brushes in her hand (she can hold as many as six) and a palette of oil paint, she took the time to give me a brief tour of her studio and a sneak peek at the art for our Frank Lloyd Wright inspired Dream Home.

1)  What is your educational background?
I always took any and all art classes in school and enjoyed it so much that I took extra classes at an art studio during junior/senior high school. After graduation I went to the Alberta College of Art + Design in 2003 to do a 4 year bachelor of fine arts degree, majoring in painting.

2)  What inspired you to become an artist?
I can’t think of one thing in particular that really inspired me to be an artist; it’s just always something I’ve done, enjoyed and been good at. Growing up I had an abundance of smelly markers and crayons, and when I was about 10 or 11 I was obsessed with The Lion King and had a binder full of free-hand drawings I did of all the characters! After high school, I didn’t really know what to do besides art so art school just seemed like the right place to go.

3)  Who has been your biggest influencer as an artist?
There have been different teachers and artists at different stages along the way. One teacher I took classes from around age 15-18 helped me understand a few essential things about being an artist; that we are a little unique and see things differently than most (like staring at a glass of water, studying how the light reflects off it) and also that making and showing a work of art to the public or other artists can feel like you’re exposing all your secrets to the world.  His influence helped me see that I wasn’t alone in the way I thought and felt.  His encouragement helped me believe I had a talent I could do something with.

4)  How would you describe your style of painting?
Haha people always ask me this and I don’t really know! Maybe I just don’t want to restrict myself to a labeled box. I like to play so given the chance I feel like my art can take on different styles. But I guess if I had to pin it down for now I’d say something like saturated realism, saturated being that I tend to intensify colours. I love patterns and colours and design so when I’m out and about these are the types of things that catch my eye that I want to capture. While most people would be looking at the big picture of beauty, the mountains and the lake and the sky, I would be fascinated by small details like the colour of bark on a tree or the way the water moves over rocks. (Side note about Caroline’s studio – there is a wall of inspiration that contains close up photos of nature that depict the small details of colour and beauty that is often overlooked)

5)  If you could purchase one piece of art to hang in your living room – who would it be by?
Hmm…This is a really hard choice; I really enjoy Jon Hartman’s paintings. The huge cityscapes from a bird’s eye view, I love his use of colour and line and how they have a playful ease to them.

6)  How will winning the Next Top Artist change your career?
Winning this competition still seems crazy to me, unreal, even though I’m working on all the paintings for it. It was such a shock to even make it into the top 5, not a change of direction I was expecting so suddenly. Since graduating ACAD in 2007, I’ve been doing a lot of pet portrait commissions (except for the 2 years I spent traveling). This has been my main source of income and what many now know me as; “the girl who paints dogs!”. It’s great to actually be functioning as a fulltime artist and painting a subject that I love (dogs) but there’s been an itch in my fingers for a few years for a way to expand into something else, but with my lively hood depending on sustaining the commissions and some fear about “well what else can I paint? and once I do, what do I do with it?” it’s been hard to seriously branch out into anything else. Winning this has essentially provided a huge switch in the tracks!

Having only 3 months to complete an entire body of work has forced me to put all the dog paintings on hold and focus on painting nature, a subject I’ve been taking close-up pictures of for years. It’s been a nice change of scenery, reminding myself that I’m more than a painter of dogs, and hopefully others will see that too.

The representation at Gibson Fine Art will also be huge, my art hanging in a gallery?! It’s kind of something I wasn’t sure would ever happen! Honestly I didn’t really have an aim or goal in mind for my art. I was just doing what I do, taking things as they come, keeping my eyes open for potential doors and I guess just having faith that something would come when it was meant to. Then this opportunity falls in my lap. Just nuts! So being given this opportunity will definitely change my art career, to what extent I’m not sure (I still have maaannnnyy people waiting for dog portraits!) but it’s given me an outlet for another avenue of my art which I’m very thankful for. Overall I’m excited about the chance to capture nature through paint, having my art seen by thousands of people during the Stampede and after, and just being able to express the beauty of intricate designs, colours and patterns for the viewer to experience. It’s an unbelievable honour.

7)  What’s your favourite Stampede memory?
My favourite Stampede memory is going as a little kid: they use to have duck and pig races that were awesome! The ducks would race waddle around the track and then climb up a little ramp and go down a slide into a kiddy pool full of water at the end. And the little pigs would just run like crazy! It was great! Come to think of it, I wonder how they got the ducks to ‘race’?

8)  What Stampede Midway food do you love?
Stampede food has got to be mini doughnuts. Corndogs are also delicious!

Looking for more information on Caroline’s artwork – browse her website or follow her progress on the Stampede artwork on Facebook.

Want to purchase tickets to win the Rotary Stampede Dream Home or other amazing prizes? Buy advance tickets and get:

  • 11 tickets for the Rotary Stampede Dream Home
  • 9 tickets for the Kinsmen Wheels
  • Entry into Early Bird Prize draws on June 11 (if purchased by May 24!)
  • Park admission
  • 50% off Calgary Stampede Rodeo or Evening Show Tickets (limited quantities available)

Check out the Great Stampede Lotteries website for information.

Countdown is on to the 2013 Calgary Stampede!

 

Are you Calgary’s Next Top Artist?

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Are you an artist with undiscovered talent? Why not take advantage of this year’s next top artist contest to have your paintings viewed by over 100,000 visitors from around the world during the ten days of Stampede!  After all, what would a home be without artwork on the wall?

In partnership with the Stampede Lotteries, Homes by Avi and Gibson Fine Art, Calgary’s Next Top Artist Contest is now open for submissions. The inspiration behind this year’s home is Frank Lloyd Wright, if you feel your work complements the style we encourage you to enter.

The winner of Calgary’s Next Top Artist Contest receives:

  • Art displayed in the Stampede Rotary Dream Home for the duration of the Stampede (over 100,000 people walk through the home)
  • Art exhibited at Gibson Fine Art following the Calgary Stampede
  • Promotional article in Swerve magazine
  • Bragging rights to all your friends

All you need to do is submit 5 or 6 images and contact details to topartist@homesbyavi.com before Friday February 22 at 5:00 pm (Mountain Standard Time).

Entrants must be able to produce or supply 30 to 40 pieces of varying sizes two weeks prior to the start of the Calgary Stampede. Please see full contest rules at Homes by Avi.

Photo Courtesy of Homes by Avi

Photo Courtesy of Homes by Avi

#Stampede100 Memories

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It’s been over a month and still everywhere I go people are talking about how they celebrated the Centennial of the Calgary Stampede. Every time they ask me – What was your favourite part?

Do I really have to pick just one?

I absolutely loved the Grandstand show. Watching Paul Brandt on the back of the truck as it flew through the air was exciting. Having acrobats in the opening scene being performed over head with all the sparkling costumes of the Young Canadians performing on stage, I was in awe of all the talent. And finally the fireworks that followed the performance, always a favourite for myself and the crowd. But then I remember watching the final heat of the Chuckwagons – so much energy and anticipation to see who would be the big winner.

I had a blast at the rodeo with my co-workers – watching the Cowboys and Cowgirls ride, rope and wrestle their way through the ten day competition. Then heading out to the grounds to grab myself an amazing gluten free treat (yep, I was extremely happy that I could partake in many of the delicious midway delicacies) before heading to Nashville North for some two-stepping.

Lastly I loved volunteering – seeing how many people pour their time and effort into making sure that  the Calgary Stampede is an amazing experience for all who attend and for other volunteers. It’s great to be a part of a team that is so energized and friendly.

Picking one favourite is just too hard – the Stampede has so much to offer, so my favourite part…The entire 10 Days!

NGC Twitpic Contest: Day #10

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It is day TEN of the Calgary Stampede and that means it is day ten of our Next Generation Committee Stampede contest.

Today you could win a Centennial Prize Pack! This pack includes Calgary Stampede blanket, men’s belt buckle, and a copy of “The first Stampede of Flores LaDue” (the true love story of Florence and Guy Weadick and the beginning of the Calgary Stampede)

How?!

Well it’s easy!

Today we are asking for your twitpics of The Fireworks. They can be from any of the ten days including the finale tonight. We will also include your twitpic in the NGC’s Time Capsule.

Include our Twitter handle, @CS_NGC and the hashtag #CSTimeCapsule with your photo and you will be eligible to win.

Winners will be notified Monday morning by direct message (so make sure you’re following us!). From there we will ask for your email address (so make sure you check your messages!).

Good luck cowboys and cowgirls!

For more about the Time Capsule Project check out our website

For more information about the contest check out this blog

The Way we Ride – Midway Style

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The bright lights, the sounds of people yelling to go faster and the excitement of the anticipation of being the next in line to enjoy the thrill. The midway is a large part of the Stampede experience, when I was a kid I spent hours dragging my Dad from ride to ride, eagerly waiting to be tall enough to ride. Now I am tall enough to ride and still love to go from ride to ride to experience the thrill. It’s one of the ways We Ride Together.

*Photos courtesy of Eileen Hopkins

The way we dress for Stampede!

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Every year we dust off our boots, brush off our hats and smooth out our western shirts in preparation for Stampede. Everyone has their own style and traditions when celebrating our western heritage, below is a montage of The Way we Dress Together for Stampede!

*Photos courtesy of Eileen Hopkins

Stampede Corporate Style

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For 10 days a year, Calgary transforms from a typical urban centre into a city decked out in hay bales, wooden fences, painted windows and cowboy hats. I like to think of it as Christmas in July – it’s an event that everyone can partake in (who hasn’t gone to a pancake breakfast!). One part of that Stampede frenzy that I love is not only does it unite the city it brings the corporate world together.

I had the opportunity to head down to the Rodeo on Tuesday with my sales team – it’s a fun environment to interact with the team outside the office and take a bit of time to relax in a festive environment. And you can’t get much more festive then down at the Rodeo. The excitement of the crowd as they cheer on the Cowboys/Cowgirls and waiting with fingers crossed that they stay on that bull for 8 seconds.

You can walk anywhere in our city and see offices hosting breakfasts, BBQ or dinners or head down to the grounds and join the team at the Chuck Wagon races (it’s always fun to pick your favourite wagon and see whose wins!).  It really is the Greatest Outdoor Show – it’s the show that reaches out to the far corners of the city and gives everyone the opportunity to strap on a pair of boots and join in the fun!

Stampede – the Gluten Free Route

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Golden deep fried food…. The trade mark of most visits to the Stampede grounds, everyone raves about the deep fried Oreo’s, Those Little Donuts and Churros, but for those of us that cannot indulge in gluten ridden treats it can be a bit difficult to find delicious midway food.

This Centennial Year there are some options and I took it upon myself to test the Gluten Free meals out.

First stop, Fresh Cut Fries.  Golden, delicious fries. As they are made from fresh cut potatoes they offer a great snack and were served hot – straight from the deep fryer (I never said anything about Stampede food being healthy!). Smothered with ketchup (the only way to eat them in my opinion) they hit the spot!

Favourite gluten free meal would have to be the Naaco Bites (not recommended for celiac or those with a serious allergy as they are cooked in the same oil as the samosas). It’s not very often that I get to indulge in battered deep-fried food so I jumped at the opportunity to test out the chicken sausages coated in corn and chick-pea flour. I wasn’t disappointed – crispy on the outside and perfectly cooked chicken on the inside.

And last but not least you can’t leave the Stampede without trying something  sweet – Mackay’s ice cream on a hot day helps cool the system down and provide some much needed relief from the heat. Vanilla is my favourite treat, but the mint chocolate chip tasted amazing too! So many flavours to choose from…wonder how many I would have to eat a day to try each one?

Los Compadres

One of the Gluten Free options on my list to try

Naaco Truck

Where to taste test the Naaco bites – Located near the dreamhome!

Tacos!

Just another option to indulge gluten free style

As always, please exercise caution when ordering, the vendors do their best but cannot guarantee that the food has not come into contact with an allergen.

The Invention of the Time Capsule

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When I think of a time capsule I think of a big, metal container filled with artifacts that people thought future generations would find interesting. Items like personal notes, photographs, movies, and artifacts that may not be in existence anymore. In actuality, most Time Capsules weren’t in boxes or metal tins but ancient tombs or shipwrecks. The modern idea of the Time Capsule was created by Thomas Jacobs when he created the Crypt of Civilisation in 1936. A sealed room at Oglethorpe University filled with 800 articles including a script to “Gone with the Wind”.

As part of the Calgary Stampede’s Centennial celebrations, we are putting together a Time Capsule filled with memorabilia of past Stampede’s and artifacts from the 2012 celebrations. If you have an idea or donation of something that would be interesting for future generations to see please email us at calgarystampede.ngc@gmail.com with your contact information, a photo of the item and the story.

References

knell63 (1939) History of Time capsules. [online] Available at: http://knell63.hubpages.com/hub/History-of-Time-Capsules [Accessed: 26 Jun 2012].

Greatest Stampede Memory

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Being from a small town outside of Calgary, I grew up with the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth being a huge part of my summer. Every year my Dad would round up us kids, head to the grocery store to purchase a large sheet of tickets for the rides (all day ride passes did not exist – am I dating myself?) and head into the big city for an entire day of fun!

Dragging my father from one ride to the next – if I was tall enough I was going on it – stopping only momentarily to eat a hot dog or watch the SuperDogs! My favourite ride was the Enterprise –I’m sure more so for its brightly coloured cars than the thrill of the ride, plus I got to sit with my Dad so that made it all the more fun. Being one of the few “scary” rides that I was tall enough to ride I’m pretty sure my father had to endure the experience multiple times throughout the day.

Although I may be tall enough now to ride every ride, and still make my way to the grounds every year – I’ll always cherish the days of excitement from one year to the next of climbing into my Dad’s Truck and heading to the grounds to discover what rides I could try this year.

Do you want to join the winner’s circle?

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I know I do – especially if it means winning my dream home, $100,000 in cold hard cash or maybe a Camaro to zip around in this summer!

Every year the Calgary Stampede partners with the Rotary Club of South Calgary, Kinsmen Club of Calgary and Calgary North Lions Club to create a fundraiser that not only helps the community (check out the Great Stampede Lotteries website to see just how much and where it helps!) but it makes a few lucky winner’s extremely happy as well!

I’d have to say that my personal favourite is still the Stampede Rotary Dreamhome and today I got to be one of the lucky few to see the home before anyone else! The home looks amazing with design and architectural elements that reflect Calgary’s roots plus some added history of the Stampede with over 60 photographs from the last 100 years of Stampede.

Every year 100,000 people walk through the Dreamhome – and the number one question, “How does it get from the Stampede grounds to its final destination?” (Although convenient parking for Flames games or Stampede, you don’t get to live on the grounds).  Well now there is an answer – it comes apart into pieces and is driven from the grounds to its resting place in Walden at 2 am. According to Tracy Oman, Design Manager at Homes by Avi, “The House is designed to be moved to another location and incorporates the additional walls, joists, and beams needed to keep each section intact while being dismantled and re-assembled”.  There is a video that explains how the house is disassembled and moved – take a quick look at www.homesbyavi.com/dreamhome, there are a few videos outlining the process of the dreamhome.

There are 2 days left to purchase pre-sale tickets from Calgary Stampede Lotteries (includes a gate pass and 50% off rodeo tickets) or you can purchase tickets at the grounds during the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth – The Calgary Stampede!

Now where do I pick up my keys?

PSST! Don’t forget that we are still looking for great items for our time capsule – send your ideas to calgarystampede.ngc@gmail.com …..Maybe I can add a copy of my winning ticket stub

Soaker Tub in DreamHome

Soaker Tub in Master Ensuite

Wine Tasting Room

Wine Tasting Room

Spring is Here!

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Spring has arrived and as part of the tradition, the 4th street Lilac Festival will kick off the season in Calgary this Sunday from 10  to 6. 13 blocks will transform and open up to over 125,000 visitors, 500 craft and food vendors. This festival has something for everyone – you can join in the dancing in the street, delicious food samplings from around the world and numerous forms of entertainment.

Once again the Calgary Stampede is going to be joining the Calgary’s best free festivial to provide information to the public on what’s new for 2012 and where they can participate in centenial celebrations.

This year our team has added a twist – we are putting together a Time Capsule to feature items from the last 100 years (got an old pair of boots that have a great Stampede story? email us at calgarystampede.ngc@gmail.com) and predictions of what the Stampede will look like in another 100 years.

Swing by our booth at Lilac Festival and tell us your favourite Stampede memory and predict what the future holds for the Stampede (what foods do you think they will have in 2112?). These videos are going to be added to the time capsule for future generations to marvel on how much has changed from the view of Calgarians!

The countdown is on and the party already in full swing for the Calgary Stampede!

Prepare to be Amazed at the Calgary Motorcycle Show

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Most of my memories of motorcycles revolve around my Dad’s 1980 Honda Goldwing. When I was really little, I got to sit on the bike in anticipation of being old enough to go on a road trip – just my Dad and me on the open road! When the time came I got all the gear on, my bags packed into the tiny compartments and we headed off. My Dad driving and me sleeping, yes sleeping on the back of the motorcycle. Guess the bike was a little too comfortable for me!

This weekend I headed down to the Calgary Motorcycle Show at the BMO Centre on the Stampede grounds to check out all the new “toys” (I was sure they had changed drastically since 1980). Drifting from one shiny bike to another and then through the historical parade – one thing caught my eye….Evolution of Extreme Show. I figured this ought to be entertaining!

I was fully expecting the Freestyle Motocross – but did not expect to a Quad doing Freestyle nor did I expect Sled Freestyle (Is it just me or don’t those things typically need snow to operate?). These boys truly put on an amazing show – flying through the air pulling tricks like the Superman, Side Winder and one handed back-flips. This show definitely added a side to riding that I hadn’t experienced before. Although I do have to ask – how many times does one fall learning how to pull stunts like that?

I’m excited for the show next year– Think they’d let me take one for a test ride….

Flying High

Freestyle Through the Air!

 

Stunt Riders

Stunt Riders

 

Teaching kids to Ride

Teaching Kids to Ride….Wonder if they would let me try?

Dreaming about winning the 2011 Rotary Dream Home

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The Stampede Lotteries is a huge part of the Stampede experience– with so many different prizes available it’s no wonder it is a Stampede favourite. My favourite prize is always the Rotary Dream Home. Since I was a kid I have toured the home and dreamed of what I would do if I was ever lucky enough to win such a big prize! 

This year was no exception with a total of 2308 square feet of innovation built by Homes by Avi up for grabs by one lucky winner. Departing from the classic tradition, the 2011 Rotary Dream Home celebrates indoor and outdoor living with a modern approach and features an abundance of natural light plus an outdoor dining area complete with a double-sided glass fireplace.

The best part of this dream home is the floor to ceiling glass wall separating the hotel-inspired ensuite from the master bedroom. That huge tub would be fun to take a swim and the floating cabinets really show the innovation behind this home.

The winner of the Home isn’t the only champion -  all of the Calgary Stampede Lotteries support various community projects in southern Alberta, as well as five not-for-profit organizations – the Calgary North Hill Lions Club, the Kinsmen Club of Calgary, the Rotary Club of Calgary South, the Calgary Stampede Foundation, and the Calgary Marching Show Band Association.

I don’t know about you but I have my fingers and toes crossed that my phone will ring on July 20 to tell me that I’m the proud owner of a fantastic new home!

Want a chance to win the 2011 Rotary Dream Home? You can still purchase tickets on the Stampede grounds! See y’all down there!

Photos Courtesy of Homes by Avi

Dream Home by Homes by Avi

Living Room with Dual Sided Fire Place

Dream Home by Homes by Avi

Kitchen with Viking Appliances

Dream Home by Homes by Avi

Ensuite with Floating Cabinets and Soaker Tub

Dream Home by Homes by Avi

Dining Room and Patio

Becoming a Beer Connoisseur

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Every year Coop Wine & Spirits challenges the people of Calgary to come down to the Big 4 building on the Stampede Grounds and sample over 200 types of beer. I attended on May 28, 2011. Like most – I only made it to a fraction of the booths. I had a strategic plan to decide which beers to taste and which to pass; I tried them if they had an interesting name that I’d never heard of. I figured there was really no other way to decide between all of the samples!

The Calgary International Beerfest offered much more than tasty beer – there was delicious food, seminars to increase your Beer-Q, live entertainment and a conservative selection of other beverages for those who (gasp!) don’t like beer. One of my favorite benefits of attending was the food pairing guide we received. It provide helpful tips on which beers can help bring out certain flavors in food – like wine beer should not over power the taste of the food nor should the food over power the beer.

There was also an opportunity to vote for your favourite beer. The 2011 People’s Choice Award winners were:

                Gold: Mill Street Lemon Tea Beer
                Silver: Great Western Original 16
                Bronze: Brewster’s Rig Pig Pale Ale

For a list of all other winners check out the Beerfest Website!

Who did I vote for?  Fernie Brewing What the Huck Huckleberry Wheat – it won the heart of my friends and I!

There are many great events at the Stampede grounds all year round – but our favourite will always be the Calgary Stampede, only 32 more days to go!