Alberta Culture Days is a three day event that celebrates arts and culture within the province, and across the country. This year, Alberta Printmakers got involved by hosting a workshop in partnership with the City of Calgary on Sept. 27.
Gathering along Stephen Avenue, participants used printmaking techniques and the guidance of experts to press a manhole cover design onto a t-shirt or tote bag.
Tracy Wormsbecker is the executive director of Alberta Printmakers, a local not-for-profit gallery and fully functioning studio. She supports many art forms — both contemporary digital art, as well as the more traditional techniques.
Her work also gives creatives a platform.
The recently revealed three manhole cover designs were created as part of the public art program and are already starting to pop up around the city. Photo by Alaina Shirt
“We support artists in the community as well as the community at large,” Wormsbecker said.
When it comes to the community, this event was a way to expose the public to something new.
Michelle Wiebe saw this first hand.
Wiebe is an artist who specializes in printmaking. She believes the event was a great way to draw attention to an unknown art form.
“Printmaking is one of those art forms that people don’t necessarily understand, so this is a really neat chance to engage the public in a way that maybe they’re not expecting,” she said.
“And getting ink on your hands is really fun.”