The Artist Lounge is a cocktail bar and tapas restaurant located at the front end of the Ruberto Ostberg Gallery, a well-known gallery that’s been a lively hub for the visual arts in the northwest neighbourhood for the last 20 years. Here, guests are welcome to socialize in an art-forward setting with a lively atmosphere.
This Valentine’s Day, the Artist Lounge will host a three-course tasting menu. Saturday evenings feature live music, making it an especially good time to wander around the gallery.
The art in the gallery changes monthly, and the exhibits extend into the restaurant space, animating it with a regular decor refresh.
During February, the walls and plinths of the gallery and restaurant will feature artworks in an annual exhibit called From the Vault.
Owner Anna Ostberg explains that the show will feature artworks by artists the gallery has presented over the past 20 years. And there is, in fact, a vault. Apparently, the building was once home to a furrier and the vault provided storage.
Coming up, you might see work by a wide range of artists who live and work in our region: painter Chris Cran, woodblock artist Lisa Brawn, potter Connie Pike, glass by Phillip Bandura, or paintings by Anna Ostberg herself, who is also an artist.
Osberg says she has always wanted to help make a social space for people who enjoy art and want to learn more about art or artists.
“The space has evolved considerably over the past 20 years,” she says. “We always wanted it to be somewhat community-based. I do realize that ‘community’ isn’t always the sexiest word. But we wanted to get… general people to come in to meet artists and hear their stories.”
The gallery represents a wide range of artists with diverse studio practices. As a painter herself, Ostberg welcomes friendly conversation and diverse opinions about art.
She’s planning a future salon-style event inviting people to critique artworks. The idea grew out of her belief that it is helpful for artists to hear the opinions of people without fine art or art history degrees.
“I think it’s important for artists to hear what someone with no art background says when they are just looking at the artwork and assessing what they see,” she says. “I want people to see that because of someone’s background, they view artwork differently. A professor [for example] might be interested in whether an artist is expanding their horizon or stretching what they do. The general public is more often asking, ‘Is this aesthetically pretty; is this something I could live with?’ An artist might look at the art in a more technical realm.”
By running the Artist’s Lounge, Ostberg says she hopes to decrease the “intimidation factor” often associated with art galleries. And she is good at that. “We want everyone, not just creative people, to come share food, have some drinks, and meet like-minded people.”
The Artist’s Lounge is open Wednesday to Friday, 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturdays, 2 p.m. to 11 p.m.; and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Learn more at theartistlounge.ca
In the Galleries This Month
Contemporary Calgary
Paola Pivi: Come Check it Out, until March 2
The exhibition includes sculptural installations that question the authenticity of iconic landmarks and symbols like the Statue of Liberty and the Polar bear.
Esker Foundation
Hangama Amiri: Parting, until April 27
Intricately layered textile compositions that muse on home, kinship, and memory.
Herringer Kiss Gallery
Kristine Zingeler: Portraits of Time and Place, until March 1
Photographic collages and ceramic sculptures explore ideas of the passage of time.
Illingworth Kerr Gallery
Knowledge Made Concrete: 100 Years of Teaching and Collecting, until March 8
The Art Gallery of Alberta celebrated its centennial last year and AUArts will celebrate its next year. This exhibition is one in a series of joint celebrations of those centennials.
