We notice there will be an opening party for the 5 Artists 1 Love: 20 Years of Fierce Art & Soul exhibition at the Art Gallery of Alberta on Feb. 14. The All Black Wear Gallery Affair includes live performances by acts such as DJ Kwake and Nehoreka Productions, bites and beverages from Afrocentric restaurants, a photobooth by Be My Guest Portraits, and more. Tickets are pay-what-you-can, with a suggested contribution of $20. Guests are encouraged to wear all black and dress to impress.
Despite the name, the 5 Artists 1 Love exhibit features 20 artists with African and/or Caribbean heritage, curated by Darren W. Jordan in honour of the organization's two-decade history. One is AJA Louden, the 2024 artist-in-residence for KDays, whose Piney P character can be seen on walls around the city and at the Balwin Playground. A few more are Raneece Buddan, who won The Eldon and Anne Foote Edmonton Visual Arts Prize in April, Keon Courtney, who captures pop culture icons in media ranging from street art to tattoos, and Faisa Omer, whose portraiture caught Edify's attention in June.
Can't make it to the party? The exhibition is on until April 19. Admission to the AGA is free on Feb. 16 for Family Day, a "tours for tots" event takes place on Feb. 18, a tour for parents of infants is on Feb. 25, and a seniors' tour is scheduled on Feb. 27. Plus, 5 Artists 1 Love organizers have events planned for outside the AGA to celebrate their 20th anniversary.