Do you think an art history degree is required to enjoy Calgary’s art galleries? Not so with the Ghost Stories YYC exhibit, a spooky and inclusive art event.
Ghost Stories Volume 4 delves into the “ghosts” that haunt us: childhood fears, deceased loved ones, whimsical imaginings, spirit stories, and a wide range of folk tales. Founded in 2019 by childhood friends Mat Martel and John Ross, this narrative art exhibit combines visual artwork with short stories to create an accessible environment.
The event is hosted by the Ruberto Ostberg Gallery. “It’s been a pleasure partnering with John and Mat and witnessing the event’s growth over the years,” says gallery owner Anna Ostberg. “This is a unique exhibition and certainly not what one would expect to see in a commercial gallery. Between the stories and the artwork, there’s something for everyone.”
Where Stories Meet Art
This year’s exhibit features thirty-five pieces, with artists exploring stories in different ways. Some write and illustrate their own work, while others collaborate with writers across media.
To support this creative approach, writing teacher, novelist, and playwright Laura Swart coaches participants in crafting and editing their stories. “It’s so fun to work with them because they understand the creative process,” she says. “They’re very teachable — like kids in a sandbox of words. For instance, with a sculptor, it’s like teaching them to sculpt with words.”
Sara Mattsson & Jacqueline Huskisson
Swedish-born writer Sara Mattsson makes her Ghost Stories debut with a tale about a woman meeting her husband as a shapeshifting fiddle player named Näcken. Mattsson teamed with Jacqueline Huskisson, a visual artist who divides her time between Calgary and Berlin.
They met for the first time through the project and collaborated to bring the story to life. “It was amazing to see Jacqueline take my story and create such a stunning painting,” says Mattsson. “It’s an excellent idea to pair stories with artwork and have the two inspire each other.”
Bruce Watson & Allison Bajt
Bruce Watson’s mechanical sculpture, A Machine for Drinking Tea, stretches Steinway piano strings across a teacup, producing an eerie ring. He worked with writer Allison Bajt, whose story Socrates’ Nightmare explores society’s declining ability to seek truth. Together, their work forms a haunting meditation on modern disconnection. Watson calls Ghost Stories one of Calgary’s standout exhibits: “It attracts great emerging artists, and the talent level increases every year.”
Mariella Villalobos & Kes Radford
Chilean-Canadian illustrator Mariella Villalobos returns to Ghost Stories to collaborate with fiction editor and writer Kes Radford. Radford’s story, B. Corbeau’s Puppet Theatre, pairs with Villalobos’ hand-drawn, cut, and folded miniature Victorian paper theatre. The tiny paper puppets are mounted on sliders, allowing the puppeteer to move figures across the stage.
Villalobos appreciates the exhibit’s inclusive energy and multifaceted nature, which includes a physical book featuring all the artworks and stories. “The social events and collaboration are great,” she says. “Artists and writers mostly work alone, but Ghost Stories brings us together.”
Exploring Perspectives
The exhibition showcases the diverse experiences of artists, welcoming both newcomers and long-time contributors. This mix fosters a space where artists can experiment, learn from one another, and receive guidance along the way.
Roberta Binotto
For artist and writer Roberta Binotto, Ghost Stories is the perfect space to explore the intersection of writing and sketching. “Writing and sketching have always been part of who I am, but only recently have I taken them seriously to explore the beautiful complexities around love, loss, interiority, and motherhood,” she says.
Binotto describes Ghost Stories as unlike anything she’s experienced. “At their ‘Drink and Draw’ and ‘Story Sharing’ events, I was surprised by the strong sense of community, and the talent in the room was remarkable,” she says. Her own piece, a sketch of a gentle hand holding an urn, paired with the story Black-Eyed Susan, draws readers in immediately with the opening line: “The door closes behind the last mourner.”
Gary McMillan
Calgary artist and writer Gary McMillan has been part of the exhibit from the inception. This year, he presents The Stralk, a playful, grayscale painting of a monster caught in headlights while carrying its prey.
The accompanying story follows a farming couple who are “test growers of Crabbit seed embryos for the first commercial crop of plant/animal hybrids.” McMillan appreciates how the exhibit brings people together: “I love how the narrative aspect lets newcomers easily mix with those with art history or fine arts backgrounds.”
Ghost Stories opens at 5 p.m. on October 17 and runs through early November. For more galleries, visit Galleries West at gallerieswest.ca.
