Contemplative Arts Festival of Saskatoon
Special Events
2024 Festival Events
Opening Celebration
Photo: Five sculptures by members of the Prairie Sculptors Association. Top left “Reg and Ethyl” by Paul Constable. Top right “Bison” by Kevin Quinlan. Lower left “Jumpin Juniper” by Lee Fuller. Lower centre “With In” by Patricia Oderkirk. Lower right “Bird Bath” by Zoltan Markan.
Thursday May 23, 2024, 7:00 to 8:45 pm
The 2024 Festival opened with a series of speakers and performances.
Readings by Kent Allen, actor.
Dance by KSAMB Dance Company.
Lorne Deighton, guitar,
Paddy Tutty, folk singer,
Brett Graham, vibraphone.
Opening of the Prairie Sculptors Association exhibit, introduced by Paul Constable, PSA Chair.
Reception followed at 8:45 pm
Location: Sanctuary.
Free admission.
Learn more about the Artists.
Many thanks to the Saskatoon Musicians Association Local 553, and the Music Performance Trust Fund for sponsoring these performances.
Sacred Smudge Ceremony
Photo: Tipi at Grosvenor Park United Church in Saskatoon in 2019.
Lyndon J Linklater raised a tipi on the church lawn on Thursday May 23rd, 2024.
Lyndon offered a traditional sacred Smudge Ceremony to open the Festival in a good way, on Friday May 24, 2024, at 10:00 am, outside at the tipi. All were welcome to attend, and to receive the smudge if desired.
Lyndon offered a second sacred Smudge Ceremony at the tipi on Sunday May 26th, 2024, at 5:00 pm to give thanks, as the Festival prepared for the final concert.
Saturday: Free Flow
Guitar player, by Gabriel Gurrola on Unsplash.
Saturday May 25, 2024
7:00 to 8:45 pm
Free Flow:
Free Flow is a unique experience as it allows the audience to “absorb” the work of artists as a meditation rather than a performance. There’s no emcee, and applause is held to the end of our time together so that the artists’ gifts can flow from one to the next without interruption.
Chris Lindgren performed on harp beginning at 6:30 pm, as the audience arrived.
Featured at 7:00 pm:
Knowledge Keeper Lyndon J Linklater, writers dee Hobsbawn-Smith and Belinda Betker,
pianist Ken Neitz,
harpist Chris Lindgren,
and the festival’s Artist-in-residence, singer-songwriter Coco Love Alcorn.
A reception followed at 8:45 pm in the
Sanctuary, as participants stayed to chat and meet the performers.
Learn more about the Artists.
As much as possible, this is a free Festival. Donations are welcomed at all events.
Sunday Service
Grosvenor Park United Church, by Rob Phillips.
Sunday service
at Grosvenor Park United Church.
Sunday May 26, 2024,
at 10:00 to 11:30 am.
Our Sunday morning service at 10:00 am at Grosvenor Park United Church was led by Rev. Nobuko Iwai, with special music by Coco Love Alcorn.
All are welcome.
Coco Love Alcorn
in concert
Photo - Coco Love Alcorn
Concert: Sunday May 26, 2024 at 7:30 pm.
As the Festival’s Artist in Residence, Coco Love Alcorn presented a full concert on Sunday night at Grosvenor Park United Church. Coco was joined by a choir of local singers. This event was a fundraiser to support the Contemplative Arts Festival of Saskatoon.
Winner of a CFM Award for Best Contemporary Singer Of The Year, Coco combines diverse influences including jazz, R&B, pop, folk, and Gospel.
Learn more about Coco on her website.
Ticket sales are closed.
Location: Grosvenor Park United Church, sanctuary. Visit the Festival home page or church website for accessibility and parking information.