What's a place in Calgary that is significant to you?

I've been asking local artists this question as I commission work for the Pop-Up Press—and I'm always curious to see what they'll come up with. When I asked cartoonist Teresa Wong, she chose Hing Wah Imports in Chinatown, a favourite shop from childhood.

When I asked illustrator and designer Tori English this same question, she chose the Calgary Folk Music Festival—also a favourite spot of hers from childhood. More specifically, she chose dancing in the grass at folk fest.

Tori writes:

My first folk fest was at three months old. My love for it was then re-ignited in the sixth grade, then university, and now I have been going every year. I love the wide range of ages, which is why I wanted to include a momma goose and her babies (which also feels very Calgary/Prince’s Island Park at this time of year).

The Sprawl will be set up in the folk fest family zone from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. And Tori will be there in person Saturday to sign prints from 2 to 3 p.m.—so if you're on the island, that's a particularly good time to swing by and make a print!

Fittingly, after we hauled most of our gear to the island on Thursday, a pal snapped this photo by the Sprawl tent later that night. 

The geese are taking over!

In addition to letterpress printing of Tori's new illustration, we will also have our button press going, which is always a big hit with the kids.

Folk fest is our biggest pop-up of the year. THANK YOU to everyone who helped us get ready by folding Sam Hester's Curious Calgary zines at Good Cheer Brewing on Wednesday night.

Some called it a "party," others called it a "sweatshop."

I'll let you be the judge.

I remain deeply grateful for the many ways that Sprawlers step up to support this project—with their time, with their dollars (you can support us here), and with their encouragement.

Also, make sure to check out Historic Calgary Week, which kicked off yesterday and runs until August 3! There are more than 90 different events happening all over the city as part of the festival—walks, talks and more.

Topics range from streetcars in Calgary to an Indigenous Walk ‘N’ Drum on Nose Hill to a walk through Imperial Oil's former refinery land (full list of events here).

If you're into local history at all—and if you read The Sprawl, you probably are—you'll want to check it out.

That's all for now. I'm off to Prince's Island Park with the Pop-Up Press. Swing by if you're on the island and have a lovely weekend!

Jeremy Klaszus is founder and editor of The Sprawl.