NORTHERN REFLECTIONS
​DECEMBER 2017
​Calgarians now have the unique opportunity to engage with an immersive art experience unlike any other. In partnership with Downtown Calgary, we are debuting the first ever urban art gallery through a series of painted windows, called the Northern Reflections Window Exhibition that incorporate Augmented Reality (AR) technology. The series is painted by a variety of local artists along Stephen Ave downtown, showcasing many participating local businesses by turning the city streets into a grand urban art-walk. 

ABOUT
This exhibition is a celebration of past winter-time stories told by Calgarian artists. The stories all come to life through animation, paint and sound. Never-before seen window displays play memories, traditions and impressions of the snowy season.

GOALS

1. PROMOTE LOCAL BUSINESSES >> The Northern Reflections Window Exhibition is a showcase of media-displays created by artists for business owners.
2. SUPPORT ARTISTS >> Artists of diverse cultural backgrounds and skill sets are provided with the opportunity to build their career, showcase their work and earn artists fees.
3. HIGHLIGHT THE HOLIDAY SEASON >> A magical and engaging experience of what the holiday season is about in Calgary.
4. PROVIDE AN ACCESSIBLE URBAN GALLERY >> The exhibition will foster place-making in the city streets, reaching all people regardless of ability to access traditional galleries, museums or other gated cultural centres.

THE APP AUGLE
Augmented Reality (AR) adds graphics, sounds, touch and feedback into what we already see in front of us, through our app called AUGLE. We developed our app AUGLE specifically to view artwork in and around Calgary. Use this app to help you navigate the window mural locations and see the paintings come to life with animations and sound! It's fun for the whole family.

​BUSINESS-ARTIST PARTNERSHIPS
The partnership between the artist and the business owner is a key catalyst for community building during the exhibition. Each artist works closely with their paired business owner to determine their windows artwork. The artists and the business owner share an official NRWE vinyl sticker that is placed in their window. Exhibition goers use the sticker to vote for their favorite window. The artist and the business owner work together as a team to receive votes for their window. Creativity is encouraged.
​
ARTIST WORKSHOP
All participating artists receive a training workshop from experienced window artists. This workshop teaches the artists about window painting techniques, offers the artists tips and gives the artists the chance to practice painting on glass.

​Patrons//

• City of Calgary
• One 18 Empire
• Telus Convention Centre,
• Downtown Calgary
• Marriott Hotel
• Bankers Hall

Artists// 

• Michelle Ku
• Alyssa Koski
• Mike Hooves
• Brian 'Bunny' Batista
• Kristen Carleton
• Mateusz Napieralski
• Michelle Wiebe
• John Gerrard
• Christina Stein

Photography// Kuni Kawashima
Partnership// Downtown Calgary

TOUR ALONG STEPHEN AVE