It’s no surprise that Stampede breakfasts conjure images of pancakes and sausages being doled out to hungry lines of Calgarians by cheerful volunteers in cowboy hats.

That image is something that has been built into the fabric of the city for more than a century, but what it means as a form of art is probably less omnipresent in conversation than where the coffee might be.

For the past three years, Contemporary Calgary’s Stampede breakfast has been inviting visitors to not only partake in a few pancakes, but also to take in very Stampede specific art shows.

“The Stampede has many definitions, and we decided as an arts organization to really just lean into the Stampede,” said David Leinster, CEO of Contemporary Calgary.

“We decided intentionally as an organization to curate exhibitions that relate to the Stampede, and it’s been really well received by the community.”

Year one saw the art of saddles and saddlemaking, including that of the Stampede’s founder Guy Weadick. Year two an exhibition of Stampede posters and a showing of Terrance Houle’s Wagon Burner.

Leinster said that this year will be a showing of Kenneth Tam’s Silent Spikes. That show examines the mythology of the cowboy, along with the entangled history of Westward expansion and Chinese immigration.

He said that the first Stampede breakfast was a bit of an experiment for Contemporary Calgary, but has grown to be one of the highlight events of the year for the gallery.

“The first time we did this, we had like, over 800 people. I think we had 795 forks, so we were pulling utensils out of drawers. So, we thought, we’re gonna do this, but next year we’re going get enough for 1,200 people. Well, we had 1,205 people again—knives and forks out of the drawer,” he said.

Leinster estimated that some 75 per cent of visitors to the breakfast have never been to the gallery to view an exhibition.

“It’s an opportunity to say ‘hey, come as neighbours, look at this space.’ The galleries are open and free, and we have people who pick up memberships on the way out because they think ‘I just didn’t know that the planetarium had turned into this,’” he said.

“All of the reasons and the goodwill of doing an event like this, of course, it’s also about awareness of the vision and what we’re doing here at Contemporary Calgary, which is bringing local, national and international artists to this amazing, historic space. We’re just so proud of events like this that really bring the community together.”

Making contemporary art accessible to the public

That sentiment was echoed by Ward 7 Councillor Terry Wong, who alongside Cowboys helped to put on the breakfast.

“I want people to recognize that downtown west is just as vibrant as the downtown core and the east side,” said Coun. Wong.

“Contemporary Calgary, Arts Commons, Theatre Calgary, all of them are a vital aspect of what Calgary’s culture is all about. And by celebrating Stampede with them, as well as the Cowboys Music Festival, we really demonstrates what a cultural city we really are.”

Mayor Jyoti Gondek, who also attended the breakfast alongside Alberta’s Minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women Tanya Fir and MPs Greg McLean and Corey Hogan, praised the gallery’s efforts to make art accessible to the public.

“This is such a great way to bring art to the community. Contemporary Calgary really has upped our game in making sure that art is accessible to the public, that it’s engaging and it’s something that really offers things to everyone who comes to experience it,” she said.

“This is an institution, the stampede breakfast, as well as this organization—it’s really just amazing to see so many folks out today.”

Contemporary Calgary was presented at their breakfast a recognition plaque by the Calgary Stampede for their celebration of Western heritage.