'The Works' - June 21-Jul 3, 2012

IanO · 18-06-2012, 01:35 PM

The Works International Visual Arts Society produces The Works Art & Design Festival which attracts artists and patrons from around the world, boosting the energy and imagination of Downtown Edmonton at the start of every summer. The Works is a free event that draws an audience representing all ages and interests, offering over 200 exciting exhibits and special events to the public.

http://www.theworks.ab.ca/festivalfo.../festival.html

edmonton daily photo · 18-06-2012, 01:50 PM

^ I think the works is one of Edmonton's most understate festivals.

Over teh last 4-5 years it has become very exciting.

Replacement · 23-06-2012, 10:11 AM

Went on Friday. A peaceful night with beautiful weather. Sitting outside with cold brew listening to half decent band. I was surprised how few people were in attendance. Not even 100 people in the beer gardens area. Few people buying food and no lineups. Not many works vendors and several for some reason were not open on a Friday night. The venders were getting burned. A miserably bad night. Couldn't give food away. Its quite simple, don't support it and they just can't put this on.

A few comments. The Art Gallery was once again closed all night for a private gathering (this being about the 3rd time I've wanted to check it out where its been closed to the public. jmo that this shouldn't be happening regularly) Then some comedian from some show, corner gas, at the Winspear. Whats this got to do with either Jazz City or the Works? Um, nothing. No tie in, no real concerted event happening. Just some horrible random scheduling. Ironically more people attended Brent Butt then anything going on at Churchill.

Then at Shaw they have some boxing card on. Such is life at downtown Edmonton festivals. All the venues could have some major happenings and make a world class event but every single venue running in its own direction and with entertainment that has nothing to do with the festivals running. On a Friday night.
Should mention that we tried to check out the "Steele" exhibit at Enterprise Square at 9pm and its closed. Closed, on Friday, at the Works. Go figure. If the Fringe festival was like this it would've had a brief where is it now song and dance in the 1980's.

No big vision here with either Jazz City or The Works and its as if two festivals few people appear to care about have been combined to try to make it something. Only with the half hearted efforts that end up failing. I wonder if either of these events survive the decade.
If you were there on Friday it had to look like the festival that nobody cares about. The band on stage, "British Columbians" had to avoid doing a sarcastic double take each time a song ended to a few handclaps in the very sparse attendance. At times there was one table for every person. 2 was a crowd.

Walking around I couldn't help but notice some busy restaurants and clubs but Jasper ave of course a ghost town due to the construction and RHW being a sad old lost intersection. A ghost town now inhabitated by street urchins.

I have to ask. Are downtown patrons more interested in supporting wine bars and bistros then going out to the festivals? Kind of a sad commentary.

IanO · 23-06-2012, 04:55 PM

I know about 20 things happening last light so it night have been just one of those things... But that said, many people don't know what the works is really about and probably don't associate food vendors and live music with it.

That said, shame more were not out checking it out,.

Koi · 24-06-2012, 05:02 PM

I checked it out on Friday afternoon, but to be honest there didn't seem to be a lot to see. There were a few people in the beer gardens and I found the main exhibit tent very hot and, to be honest, not very interesting. I'm waiting for the Street Performer's Festival, myself.

Replacement · 25-06-2012, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IanO

I know about 20 things happening last light so it night have been just one of those things... But that said, many people don't know what the works is really about and probably don't associate food vendors and live music with it.

That said, shame more were not out checking it out,.

Not sure what else was going on other than what I mentioned. Its inexcusable imo for downtown supporters and arts goers to not support either of these festivals. Priorities used to be different in Edmonton when it started to grow into a festival city. Now theres some bigtime dropping of the ball. The next thing I'm waiting for is cancellation of these festivals due to abject lack of interest. Which the city and inhabitants are seemingly wanting. I'm sure its hard right now to justify the expense, effort, and putting anything on. These 2 festivals are just dead. On life support I imagine.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Koi

I checked it out on Friday afternoon, but to be honest there didn't seem to be a lot to see. There were a few people in the beer gardens and I found the main exhibit tent very hot and, to be honest, not very interesting. I'm waiting for the Street Performer's Festival, myself.

This is front center what I think is happening. people check it out, note how underwhelming it is and make a mental note not to try it again. I've been a Works patron for years, but this is just sad. Its nothing. Its something thats being allowed to evolve into a non entity. Really I wouldn't make the effort twice and I always liked this festival.

ajs · 26-06-2012, 09:50 AM

I concur with your assessment, Replacement, at least in the broad strokes. One innovation this year: The kids art/craft tent has a different craft every day making it worth coming back for from a family perspective.

Question: if the city hall pool is such an attraction why not involve it somehow in the festival?

The feature tent is poor this year. That is not the place to be challenging people with capital "A" Art. This should be pretty pictures and nicely designed furniture. Put the challenging stuff where those who seek it out will find it.

IIRC, last year there was a much tighter link with the Jazz Fest in terms of mainstage programming. This is a good idea and should have been maintained. The attempt to tie in with National Aboriginal Day this year was poor and clearly slapdash.

Overall, there is a distinct lack of Art or Design obvious anywhere around Churchill Square. Jewellery vendors? Lemonade stands? huh?

I like the Works, my daughter likes the Works but it really needs to work on it's presence at Churchill Square -- fewer french fry options, more hands-on art stuff, people making art/music etc.

Dialog · 26-06-2012, 09:56 AM

The Works is not a SWC-centric festival. That said, I was really bored with SWC big-tent 'sex'-oriented show (west side). Whatever goes in that location should be splashier.

18-06-2012, 01:35 PM	#1
IanO Addicted to C2E Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Edmonton	'The Works' - June 21-Jul 3, 2012 The Works International Visual Arts Society produces The Works Art & Design Festival which attracts artists and patrons from around the world, boosting the energy and imagination of Downtown Edmonton at the start of every summer. The Works is a free event that draws an audience representing all ages and interests, offering over 200 exciting exhibits and special events to the public. http://www.theworks.ab.ca/festivalfo.../festival.html __________________ inspiration or mediocrity www.decl.org Ottawa-Edmonton-Vancouver-Edmonton

18-06-2012, 01:50 PM	#2
edmonton daily photo Addicted to C2E Join Date: May 2008	^ I think the works is one of Edmonton's most understate festivals. Over teh last 4-5 years it has become very exciting. __________________ "Do you give people who already use transit a better service, or do you build it where they don't use it in the hopes they might start to use it?" Nenshi

23-06-2012, 10:11 AM	#3
Replacement Addicted to C2E Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Edmonton	Went on Friday. A peaceful night with beautiful weather. Sitting outside with cold brew listening to half decent band. I was surprised how few people were in attendance. Not even 100 people in the beer gardens area. Few people buying food and no lineups. Not many works vendors and several for some reason were not open on a Friday night. The venders were getting burned. A miserably bad night. Couldn't give food away. Its quite simple, don't support it and they just can't put this on. A few comments. The Art Gallery was once again closed all night for a private gathering (this being about the 3rd time I've wanted to check it out where its been closed to the public. jmo that this shouldn't be happening regularly) Then some comedian from some show, corner gas, at the Winspear. Whats this got to do with either Jazz City or the Works? Um, nothing. No tie in, no real concerted event happening. Just some horrible random scheduling. Ironically more people attended Brent Butt then anything going on at Churchill. Then at Shaw they have some boxing card on. Such is life at downtown Edmonton festivals. All the venues could have some major happenings and make a world class event but every single venue running in its own direction and with entertainment that has nothing to do with the festivals running. On a Friday night. Should mention that we tried to check out the "Steele" exhibit at Enterprise Square at 9pm and its closed. Closed, on Friday, at the Works. Go figure. If the Fringe festival was like this it would've had a brief where is it now song and dance in the 1980's. No big vision here with either Jazz City or The Works and its as if two festivals few people appear to care about have been combined to try to make it something. Only with the half hearted efforts that end up failing. I wonder if either of these events survive the decade. If you were there on Friday it had to look like the festival that nobody cares about. The band on stage, "British Columbians" had to avoid doing a sarcastic double take each time a song ended to a few handclaps in the very sparse attendance. At times there was one table for every person. 2 was a crowd. Walking around I couldn't help but notice some busy restaurants and clubs but Jasper ave of course a ghost town due to the construction and RHW being a sad old lost intersection. A ghost town now inhabitated by street urchins. I have to ask. Are downtown patrons more interested in supporting wine bars and bistros then going out to the festivals? Kind of a sad commentary. __________________ Making being wrong an artform since 2006.. Last edited by Replacement; 23-06-2012 at 10:49 AM..

23-06-2012, 04:55 PM	#4
IanO Addicted to C2E Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Edmonton	I know about 20 things happening last light so it night have been just one of those things... But that said, many people don't know what the works is really about and probably don't associate food vendors and live music with it. That said, shame more were not out checking it out,. __________________ inspiration or mediocrity www.decl.org Ottawa-Edmonton-Vancouver-Edmonton

26-06-2012, 09:56 AM	#8
Dialog Addicted to C2E Join Date: Apr 2010	The Works is not a SWC-centric festival. That said, I was really bored with SWC big-tent 'sex'-oriented show (west side). Whatever goes in that location should be splashier. __________________ ‘I am nervous about ideologies, whether it’s the ideology of business or the ideology of Bolshevism. I get nervous in the presence of absolute certainty’ —Milton Glaser

24-06-2012, 05:02 PM	#5
Koi First One is Always Free Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Downtown-ish	I checked it out on Friday afternoon, but to be honest there didn't seem to be a lot to see. There were a few people in the beer gardens and I found the main exhibit tent very hot and, to be honest, not very interesting. I'm waiting for the Street Performer's Festival, myself.

26-06-2012, 09:50 AM	#7
ajs Addicted to C2E Join Date: Nov 2009	I concur with your assessment, Replacement, at least in the broad strokes. One innovation this year: The kids art/craft tent has a different craft every day making it worth coming back for from a family perspective. Question: if the city hall pool is such an attraction why not involve it somehow in the festival? The feature tent is poor this year. That is not the place to be challenging people with capital "A" Art. This should be pretty pictures and nicely designed furniture. Put the challenging stuff where those who seek it out will find it. IIRC, last year there was a much tighter link with the Jazz Fest in terms of mainstage programming. This is a good idea and should have been maintained. The attempt to tie in with National Aboriginal Day this year was poor and clearly slapdash. Overall, there is a distinct lack of Art or Design obvious anywhere around Churchill Square. Jewellery vendors? Lemonade stands? huh? I like the Works, my daughter likes the Works but it really needs to work on it's presence at Churchill Square -- fewer french fry options, more hands-on art stuff, people making art/music etc.