Art

A !Pleasant Afternoon: Public Workshops at the Esker Foundation

Drop Squad
Story by Christina Wong. What do a park bench, a bathroom stall, and a retaining wall have in common? To most people, not too much, aside from the fact that these are common structures that allow us to go about our day to day lives. But what if these structures had an ulterior motive, one that allows us to use these objects for their intended purpose, while also restricting our ability to do anything else with them?

Amy Webber

Drop Squad
Story and photos by Max Foley Amy Webber’s relationship to art is fairly archetypal. Her natural talent – discovered at a young age – combined with conflicting aspirations, experimenting with mediums, and a healthy amount of serendipity, has resulted in an aesthetic that is equal parts unique and approachable. What sets her apart, then, is her love of physical media and her gravitation towards subtlety in a world obsessed with the bright impermanence of digital.

Joshua Makorto

Drop Squad
Story by Holly Maller. Photo by Aidan Campbell. “Many people who excel are self-taught.” This quote, spoken by the late American fashion photographer Herb Ritts, implies that those with the ability to teach themselves often turn out to be successful. Joshua Ray Makorto has never attended an art class. Yet, with an Instagram following of almost ten thousand, it is clear that he is making an impression by using his self-taught skill of painting.

Paradise, Painted Walls, and a Whole Lot of Pink: New Art at the Esker Foundation

Drop Squad
Story by Christina Wong Located on the fourth floor of an eclectic brick building, the Esker Foundation is a contemporary art gallery that strives to sate Calgary’s ongoing desire to experience exciting new art. Occupying 15,000ft of space in Inglewood, the Foundation “reflects on current developments in local, regional, and international culture; creates opportunities for public dialogue; and supports the production of ground-breaking new work, ideas, and research.”

Stephanie O’Handley

Drop Squad
Story by Laurel McLean. Photos by Max Foley. From symbols of strength and social power to a form of deviance or self-expression, tattoos are historically rooted within centuries of traditions from countless cultures. The diverse background of this art form significantly predates the 1890s invention of the electric tattoo machine that has become the industry standard today.