Crawlspace is Inglewood’s newest public art gallery, located in the basement of a condemned building. What began as a pop-up funded by the Calgary Arts Development Association has evolved into a place where emerging artists exhibit, develop, and share in the community.
The public is invited to locate the secretive entrance and ring the doorbell during available hours.
“We are so lucky, in Inglewood, we get random people, and people think it’s fun! They are like, ‘Oh my god I get to ring a doorbell, and someone comes to get me’, it’s like a little speak-easy,” say co-directors May Jones and Nicole Miller.
Day to day, Crawlspace can be a reclusive art experience, but during opening events, the gallery transforms into a crowded destination.
“Most of our receptions, we get a good turnout. I like to think it’s really chill — every reception feels like a party,” says Miller.
Crawlspace was founded by nine 2024 Alberta University of the Arts graduates. The location was originally scheduled to be demolished.
“It was on Kijiji and had been vacant for three months… It was a really amazing space, but the last people had left in a hurry, so there was a lot of debris,” says Miller. So far, the building hasn’t been demolished, and the founders have transformed the project into a sustaining gallery and studio collective. Crawlspace’s development has been a story of resourcefulness. Gallery materials have been salvaged, donated, and acquired on a thrifty budget.
Jones highlights the challenges faced by emerging artists to find space to exhibit their work. “I understand how hard it is to get a show as an emerging artist, so enabling that is a number one goal.”
Jones emphasizes that “a big part of the space is learning,” reflecting that the process has been inspiring. She jokes honestly, “I’m happy with my time at AUArts, and I am very pro art school, but starting this space, I learned so much more than I ever did during my degree.”
Jones continues to share gratitude for the support they have received from local institutions and individuals.
“It wasn’t until we started doing the space [that] we started learning how important what we are doing really is … and I feel like I’m still understanding how important it is.”
Find the right door and go check out Not To Do, featuring the work of Zoë Wallace. The opening event is on August 16, starting at 7 p.m.
Crawlspace is open Fridays 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. 1336 9 Ave. S.E., crawlspacegallery.ca.
Editor’s Note: The date of the Not to Do opening reception is incorrect in the print version of the magazine.
