Contemporary Calgary's transformation of old planetarium ready for the new year

Contemporary Calgary has finished phase one of transformingthe old planetarium into an art gallery, and announced it has lined up a series of exhibitionsfor the new year one of which features art by Yoko Ono and John Lennon.

The iconic 1967 landmark at Seventh Avenue and 11th Street S.W. underwentmodernization,renovation and expansions this year.

David Leinster, CEO of Contemporary Calgary, hopes Calgarians will check out the new space.

"They can learn about contemporary art. Dip their toe and comefor the first time and hopefully come back," he told the Calgary Eyeopener on Monday.

Rather than focusing on a collection,Leinstersays Contemporary Calgary will bemade up of traveling exhibitions that's"fresh and changes all of the time."

"It invites people to come back again and again and with the lineup of programming that we have this year that's important to sort of celebrate."

2020 lineup

Some of the exhibitions in the gallery's first year include:

• Planetary, an exhibition featuring more than 36 Calgary-based artists will be on fromJan. 23toApril 26.
• Museum of the Moon, by Luke Jerram, will be featured on Jan. 23 to March 15.
• Yoko Ono'sGROWING FREEDOM: The instructions of Yoko Ono and The art of John and Yoko, will be featured onMay 21 to Aug.23.
• Same Dream andEverywhere We Are by Omar Ba.

"We're excited about our 2020 programming," said Ryan Doherty, Chief Curator ofContemporary Calgaryin a news release.

"In conjunction with rigorous and diverse public programs we hope this inaugural line-up at the planetarium ignites excitement in our community for what's to come."

Contemporary Calgary'sfirst exhibition, Planetary, offers a nodto the history of the building being a science centre, which Leinstersays will be nostalgicfor many Calgarians.

It also includes Luke Jerram'sexhibition, Museum of the Moon, and features a scale model of the Moon that will be suspended from the top of the dome.

"The team has been working so hard over the past year with our sights set on reaching for the stars," said Doherty. "And on January 23, we are excited to deliver the moon."

Calgarians can also look forward to the collection by Yoko Onocoming at the end of May whichwillinvitethe community to participate in the artwork.

"One piece, for example, is called 'Mending piece' where there's a series of broken pieces of pottery cups, saucers and plates.The idea of the piece is that you sit down and mend them back together and put them on a shelf as if it was part of a dream," said Leinster.

It will also featurean exhibition ofart by Ono and John Lennon.

"It really looks at a series of collaborative art projects that she and John undertook and really exploring peaceand the 'War is Over' peace campaignat the Montreal bed-in in 1969 which we just celebrated the 50th anniversary of," said Leinster.

Contemporary Calgary's new home will be unveiled to the public Jan.23.Their house of operation are Tuesday to Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6p.m. and 9 p.m. on Thursdays. Regular admission will be $10or $20 for anannual membership.

With files from theCalgary Eyeopener.