Here is a sampling of previous workshops at AX, listed in reverse-chronological order.
2023
March 4 – 8 March Break Workshops
November 4 Stone Mosaics with Carole Lulham Saturday, November 4, 10:00 – 4:00 p.m. Location: In person, AX Cost: $85 Ages 16+ Please register here by November 1 Register for more than one workshop and receive 10% back when you arrive for your first class. Come and learn to make your own custom stone mosaic, designed to work in our tough Canadian climate! In one day, you will learn about mosaic materials and tools. You will design your one-of-a-kind concrete stone mosaic, designed for stepping on . You will have ample opportunity to handle mosaic cutting tools, learn about mosaic bases and adhesives. We will have hands-on demos and lots of supervised workshop time. Participants have the option to create an additional mosaic made on a local cobble. All tools, substrates, adhesives and mosaic material provided, however we encourage you to bring any personal materials (stones, glass, porcelain, jewelry, or crockery). A wide range of materials will be on hand for you to create a plaque uniquely your own. Most of the day will be spent cutting, shaping and adhering the mosaic pieces to your plaque. Most will have a completed plaque by the end of the day, and everyone will have the knowledge to make their own in the future. What to bring: Apron, a few recycled yogurt containers Carole Lulham has practiced contemporary mosaic art for twenty years. She has taught students aged 6 to 80+. She works in glass, natural stone from New Brunswick, and repurposed items. As a professional horticulturist, she enjoys combining mosaics with garden art. Her classes run from one day and weekend workshops, to week-long art camps. In all cases, she encourages individual creativity as much as technique, so no two student pieces are the same. Carole has received extensive mosaic training nationally and internationally, including Mosaic Master from Scuolo Orsono in Venice. She is a certified Adult Educator and teaches in French and English.
About the Workshop
About the Artist
July 8 Foraged Fibre Basketry with Ralph Simpson Location: In person, AX workshop room Cost: $150 (Includes instruction and materials.) Register online, by phone at (506) 433-8351, or in person at 12 Maple Avenue, Sussex. Please register by July 1 This is a basketry workshop designed for beginners yet with the scope to accommodate the interests of intermediate basket weavers as well. Ralph will be introducing locally collected plant fibres namely, common rush (Juncus effusus), as well as daylily, iris blades, and some grasses. Participants will learn about foraging for fibres, processing and storage techniques, and how to prepare the fibres for use in weaving. Ralph will provide all necessary materials for creation of a small basket and will attempt to equip participants with the knowledge to continue on their own in this age old practice, after completing the workshop. To Bring -Participants should bring kitchen scissors, tape measure, spray bottle, and a hand towel to work on. They should also bring any weavable fibre that they think would embellish their basket such as ribbon, yarn, plant fibres from their garden or other. Participants should also plan to bring a lunch or plan to go out to eat. If you have any questions, or if you need help filling out the online form, please contact us at ceramics@axartscentre.ca or 433-8351. Ralph is an award winning artist and holds an MSc. from UNB in Forest Research Biology, and a Diploma in Fine Craft from NBCCD. Informed by the sciences and technical expertise his intricately woven pieces reflect the fields and forests around him. He currently works full time in his studio in Fredericton, New Brunswick exhibiting his work locally and internationally, attending residencies and giving workshops. Ralph forages his own plant fibre employing principles that support environmental sustainability. 
About the Artist
Nationally acclaimed Canadian plant fibre artist Ralph Simpson has developed an innovative method of weaving, bending and sculpting plant fibre to create three dimensional artwork. His graceful work blends bold colour and innovative materials with ephemeral fibres to achieve a most satisfying balance.
May 13 Felted Landscapes with Margaret Anne Smith Location: In person, AX Workshop Room Cost: $120 Ages 16+ Register online, by phone at (506) 433-8351, or in person at 12 Maple Avenue, Sussex. Please register by May 5 Learn to make a small felted landscape with instructor Margaret Anne Smith. In this workshop, you will learn about various kinds of wool and see how they work in this ancient craft of felt- making! Using two felting techniques (wet-felting and dry or needle-felting), play with colours and textures and create a wall hanging to take home with you. The instructor will provide samples and photos for inspiration, walk you through the wet-felting and needle-felting processes, and give options for framing your finished work. Please bring 2 old towels, a hair dryer, a 50cm length of pool noodle or dowel or PVC piping, and a spray bottle. (The instructor will have a few extras on hand, if you can’t source all of these items.) There will be a one hour lunch break. Margaret Anne Smith is a teacher, poet, and fibre artist who lives in Saint John. Fascinated by the interplay of colour and texture, she uses wet felting, dry (needle) felting, and hand-stitching to make garments, wall hangings, and small figures. She draws inspiration from living near the shores of the Bay of Fundy and loves to share her passion by facilitating workshops, selling at markets, and making commissioned works. April 29 AX Literary Series: Alexander MacLeod Reading Description: Will be reading from Animal Person. Workshop Title: “Who are these people and what is happening to them?” Re-thinking the Relationship Between Character and Plot in Fiction. Workshop Description: Character and plot. For many readers and writers, these are the two most important narrative elements in any story. Some people read and/or write primarily for characters. They feel that a story, at its core, has to be about someone or about a collection of figures. A family saga, for example. Others prefer plot. For them, narrative is what happens, and, in the end, a good story – a mystery for example – is essentially a sequence of unfolding scenes or events. What is a writer to do with this back and forth, chicken and egg kind of problem? Rather than trying to quiet these tensions, this workshop instead explores the vital interdependence of plot and character and it asks us to think deeply about the way characters are produced and /or revealed by what happens to them. Using some key exercises and working with examples selected from masterpieces of literature, we will try to reflect on the ways that these two narrative elements can be strategically combined to produce powerful and memorable scenes. We will also try to branch out a bit to see how good characters and good plotting absolutely require key contributions from the more poetic elements of our writing, such as pacing, tone, rhythm, diction, imagery and sentence structure. Who are these people and what is happening to them? How does their story “go?” What does it look and sound like? These are just a few of the questions we will try to answer. Alexander MacLeod’s work has appeared in The New Yorker, Granta, The Guardian, and The Globe and Mail. His first collection of short stories, Light Lifting (Biblioasis, 2011), was a finalist for both the Giller Prize and the Commonwealth Book Prize. His most recent work, Animal Person (McClelland & Stewart, 2022), was named a Book of the Year by The New Yorker, The Irish Times, The Globe and Mail, and CBC Books. We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts.Felted Landscapes with Margaret Anne Smith
Saturday, May 13, 10:00 – 5:00 p.m. About the Workshop
About the Artist
Register here
Register here
About Alexander MacLeod
Acknowledgements
April 14 Mug Night with Alana Wilson Cost: $95 (Includes instruction, materials, access to tools, and firing.) Location: In person, AX workshop room Please register by April 10. Register online, by phone at (506) 433-8351, or in person at 12 Maple Avenue, Sussex. AX is pleased to offer a build-a-mug workshop. AX’s new ceramics centre coordinator, Alana Wilson, will walk participants through the step by step process of handbuilding a mug and decorating it with underglazes. Participants will leave their beautiful creations to be fired and glazed, and they will be available to pick up the following week. During this workshop, Knocks cafe will be open to sell refreshments. Just keep in mind that your hands will be covered in clay, so we don’t recommend ordering food. This workshop is recommended for anyone who wants to build and decorate their own mug and make a fun evening of it. Register here by April 10. Spaces are going to fill up quickly! If you have any questions, or if you need help filling out the online form, please contact us at info@axartscentre.ca or 433-8351. About Alana Wilson Alana Lea Wilson completed her MFA at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and her BFA at NSCAD University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She spent many years working seasonally as a tree planter and then a fire tower lookout, and travelling. She’s done residencies in Canada and Australia, and spent two years living in Mexico, learning Spanish. In 2020, Alana received a Create and Explore grant from the Canada Council for the Arts. She is currently the ceramics centre coordinator at AX. March 28 – May 2 Six-week Ceramics Workshop with Alana Wilson Cost: $275 (Includes instruction, 1 bag of clay, underglazes, access to tools, and firing. An additional bag of clay can be purchased if needed) Location: In person, AX workshop room Please register by March 24. Register online, by phone at (506) 433-8351, or in person at 12 Maple Avenue, Sussex. AX is pleased to offer this six week Introduction to Ceramics workshop, offered by our new ceramics centre coordinator, Alana Wilson. Classes will focus on basic ceramic construction techniques, including slab building, coil building, and pinching. Participants will learn how to construct and decorate sculptural or functional ceramic forms. This workshop is for anyone interested in hand-building with clay, from beginners to those with some experience looking to learn new techniques. Day 1, March 28: During the first session, you’ll be provided with a bag of clay and shared tools. Alana will demonstrate how to roll a slab and demonstrate two different ways to work with slabs. First, you’ll use soft slabs to create a walled container (think cup, mug, utensil holder), then you’ll create a base using a slump mold. In next week’s class, we’ll add on to the slump molded base using coils. Projects will be wrapped well in plastic so we can add on to them next week. Day 2, April 4: In this session, Alana will use coil-building techniques to show you how to add on to the base you started in Week 1. Alana will also demonstrate some underglaze techniques and ways to add colour to a finished piece before firing. Day 3, April 11: In this session, Alana will demonstrate how to solid-build an object, which will then be cut in half and hollowed out. You can then use this technique to model an item, such as a piece of fruit, or any object from your imagination. We’ll wrap our projects in plastic at the end of class so they can be cut and hollowed out next week. Day 4, April 18: In this session, you’ll hollow out your solid-built objects, reattach them, and decorate with underglazes. Day 5, April 25: In this session, you’ll finish building and underglazing all of your pieces. Once each piece has had enough time to dry thoroughly, Alana will bisque fire them so they are ready for you to glaze next week. Day 6, May 2: In this final session, Alana will demonstrate how to glaze your pieces using dipping, pouring, and brushing methods. She will also discuss the importance of wiping the glaze from the bottoms and show the best ways to do that. You’ll then glaze all of your pieces and get them ready to load in the kiln. Alana will coordinate a time for picking up fired and finished work. Note: Participants will keep all of the work they create as well as their remaining clay. Register here. Spaces are going to fill up quickly! If you have any questions, or if you need help filling out the online form, please contact us at info@axartscentre.ca or 433-8351. About Alana Wilson Alana Lea Wilson completed her MFA at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and her BFA at NSCAD University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She spent many years working seasonally as a tree planter and then a fire tower lookout, and travelling. She’s done residencies in Canada and Australia, and spent two years living in Mexico, learning Spanish. In 2020, Alana received a Create and Explore grant from the Canada Council for the Arts. She is currently the ceramics centre coordinator at AX. March 25 Coming Apart and Coming Together: 13 Ways of Rhyming with Love in the Time of Climate Change with Di Brandt Cost: $25 per participant An eclectic survey of funky poetic tricks for lifting up spirits and stirring hearts and generally having a good time in these challenging times, through light-hearted, playful, interactive, and sometimes grief-soaked language games. You can register for this workshop online, in person at AX, or by phone at (506) 433-8351. Di Brandt is the UNB Writer in Residence this year, and enjoying hanging out with the NB literary community, virtually from her home in Winnipeg. She is the author and editor of more than a dozen books of poetry, essays, fiction and literary criticism. She has frequently collaborated with other writers and artists working in other media and languages. Di Brandt’s writing has been widely recognized, and is a staple of Canadian Studies curricula everywhere. Her numerous prizes and recognitions include the Gerald Lampert Award for “best first book of poetry in Canada,” the McNally Robinson Manitoba Book of the Year Award, the CAA National Poetry Prize, and the Gabrielle Roy Prize for “best book of literary criticism in Canada” (with Barbara Godard). Di Brandt was recently awarded an honorary doctorate for her multiple contributions to Canadian literature and culture. Her new book is The Sweetest Dance on Earth: New and Selected Poems. The AX Literary Series is supported, in part, by the New Brunswick Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture. We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts. March 6-10 March Break Workshops for Children and Teens Location: AX Workshop Room Join us at AX for a series of workshops for children and teens. From March 6 to 10, we’ll host classes in a variety of subjects and mediums. Sign up early to reserve your spots! There are links within each description below if you wish to sign up online, and if you have any trouble with the online registration process, or if you have any questions, just give us a call at (506) 433-8351, visit us at the centre, or email info@axartscentre.ca. Please note that finished pieces may be included in AX Student Art Show at the end of March. All work will be available to pick up April 11th – 14th. 9:00 – 11:30 p.m. Famous Faces ~ Shaun Chown Ages: 8-14 Fee: $35 Participants will learn keen observational skills and take their drawing to the next level with professional artist and visual arts educator Shaun Chown. Students will learn how to draw using a grid, develop sketching and shading techniques, and create a portrait of a famous person or character. 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Snake Coil Pots~ Alana Wilson Ages: 6-10 Fee: $45 AX Ceramics Coordinator and professional artist Alana Wilson will lead participants in learning to build a small dish using a clay coil. They will then turn these coil dishes into snakes, which will be painted with underglazes before the end of class. Pots will be glazed and fired by AX and ready to be picked up in two weeks’ time. 9:00 – 11:30 p.m. Painting with Oil Pastels ~ Shaun Chown Ages: 8-14 Fee: $35 In this class, professional artist and visual arts educator Shaun Chown will teach the magic of “painting” with pastels. Participants will learn the basics of colour, develop abstract patterns, experiment with coloured backgrounds, and apply their new skills by creating funky pastel monsters. 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Fossil Trinket Dishes ~ Alana Wilson Ages: 6-10 Fee: $45 AX Ceramics Coordinator and professional artist Alana Wilson will teach participants how to create impressions or “fossils” in slabs of clay using plastic flowers and other small items. Participants will then make a small trinket dish out of that slab. Pots will be glazed and fired by AX and ready to be picked up in two weeks’ time. 9:00 – 11:30 p.m. Optical Art ~ Shaun Chown Ages: 8-14 Fee: $35 Have some fun tricking your brain! Optical art plays with negative and positive space to create fun and clever designs. Professional artist and visual arts educator Shaun Chown will help participants draw, cut, and paste shapes to create their own amazing optical illusions. 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Fish Soap Dishes ~ Alana Wilson Ages: 8-12 Fee: $45 Using templates, participants will cut and assemble fish-shaped soap dishes out of flat slabs of clay, and decorate their dishes using underglazes. They will be glazed and fired by AX and ready to be picked up in two weeks’ time. 9:00 – 11:30 p.m. PaperWeaving ~ Shaun Chown Ages: 8-14 Fee: $35 In this unique workshop, participants will learn how to weave flat and 3D patterns using coloured paper. With the help of professional artist and visual arts educator Shaun Chown, participants will create a flat image with woven paper and weave a basket from newspaper, and add their own personal decorative touches to their finished creation. 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Build a Mug ~ Alana Wilson Ages: 8-12 Fee: $45 In this workshop, participants will go through the process of hand building a mug, step by step, with AX Ceramics Coordinator and professional artist Alana Wilson. Underglazes will be available for adding colour. Mugs will be glazed and fired by AX and available for pickup in two weeks’ time. 2022 November 3, 4, 5, 6 , 13 and 15 Intro to the Pottery wheel workshop with Matt Cripps Weekend afternoon workshops: November 5, 6, and 13 Location: In person, AX workshop room Cost: $255 (Includes all materials and firing, plus a pottery tool kit and clay that participants get to keep Please register by October 30 Register online for weekdays and register online for weekends, by phone at (506) 433-8351, or in person at 12 Maple Avenue, Sussex, NB. AX is pleased to offer our very first “on-the-wheel” pottery workshops, and you can choose whether you attend the weekend or weekday sessions! These 3-day workshops will consist of an introduction to how to use the pottery wheel, step-by-step help on making your first pieces on the wheel, and will also include an element of ceramics hand-building. Classes are limited to 4 participants to ensure everyone receives the necessary time to use the pottery wheels. The weekday workshops will take place on November 3, 4 and 15. The weekend workshops will take place on November 5, 6, and 13. Details can be found on the registration forms (weekdays / weekends). The wheel workshop is recommended for those who already have some experience with hand-building pottery techniques. Day 1: During the first session, you’ll be provided with your materials – a 10kg bag of clay and a pottery tool kit – and Matt will offer examples and demonstrations of techniques. Half of the group will then learn the beginner steps of throwing on a pottery wheel with Matt, while the other half works on their own using hand-building techniques. Matt will be available to answer questions. Day 2: In this session, you will learn the basic steps of trimming your thrown pottery, and you’ll be able to add attachments to the pieces you made during the previous class (handles, feet, etc.), explore decorating techniques, and create more work. Day 3: In this final session, you’ll decorate and glaze your works. After your work is fired a second time, Matt will coordinate a time for you to pick up your completed projects. Note: Participants will keep all of the work they create as well as their pottery tool kit and remaining clay. If you have any questions, or if you need help filling out the online form, please contact us at info@axartscentre.ca or 433-8351. Register online for weekdays and register online for weekends, by phone at (506) 433-8351, or in person at 12 Maple Avenue, Sussex, NB. Matt Cripps is a potter and ceramics artist. Born and raised in Miramichi, Matt moved to Fredericton where he completed a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art through St. Thomas University, a Diploma in Fine Craft: Ceramics, and a Certificate in Advanced Studio Practice from the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design. He now lives in Sussex, NB, where he works at AX as the Ceramics Centre Coordinator. September 11 Eco-Printing with Renata Britez Sunday, September 11, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Register online, by phone at (506) 433-8351, or in person at 12 Maple Avenue, Sussex, Learn about the age-old process of natural dyeing with fresh plants in this Eco-Printing Workshop. Natural Dyer Renata Britez will explain how to showcase the colourful bounty of Maritime flora by using seasonal and regionally-relevant plants. Creating dyes from fresh, local plants, as opposed to pre-extracted and imported powders, provides a real connection to this ancient process. In this one-day workshop, you’ll learn about natural dyes and those that can be sourced locally, types of mordant (dye fixative) for cellulose fibres and protein fibres, and eco printing techniques in silk and cotton. Participants will create their own silk scarf eco-printed with local leaves. Throughout the class, participants will learn about natural dyeing with fresh, raw dye, and how the process works with various fabrics and materials. This workshop is open to all levels of experience. Please note that there will be a 30 minute lunch break (lunch is not provided). Renata Britez is a textile artist originally from Brazil and based in Fredericton, NB, where she graduated from the textile program at the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design (NBCCD). Her interest in traditional printing methods and natural dyes led her to follow the path of textile design. Renata’s work has been shown and sold across the Maritimes. Renata is a LEAP Instructor at the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design and travels to teach textile workshops throughout the region. In 2019, she taught in various festivals and events including the Nova Scotia Fibre Arts Festival, Edventures, and the NBCCD Summer Workshop Series at Kings Landing. Renata’s goal is to explore and share traditional textile techniques using natural dyes and fibres. To learn more about Renata, visit her website. August 30 – 31 Plein-Air Pastel Workshop with Sarah Sackville Location: Various locations around Sussex, outdoors Join local artist Sarah Sackville for a Plein-air pastel workshop where participants will sketch urban scenes in beautiful downtown Sussex using pastels on paper. Participants will learn to sketch from life and can expect to have two finished pieces and a Plein-air pastel kit to take home with them at the end of the workshop. Participants must be prepared to be outside and will walk to various locations within a two-block radius of AX. Make sure to wear an apron or clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. Sarah will offer a second workshop in the fall that follows the same format but uses different locations around Sussex. Artists of all skill levels, including intermediate and advanced artists, are encouraged to participate in either or both of Sarah’s workshops. Register online, by phone at (506) 433-8351, or in person at 12 Maple Avenue, Sussex. Sarah Sackville is from Sussex, New Brunswick. Upon completing their studies at the Nova Scotia College of Design in 2001, she set off travelling ready to paint her inspiration. Her brush found expression in the lush temperate rainforests of the Pacific Northwest, the vibrant beach communities of the Caribbean, and the historic cityscapes of Western Europe. With worldly eyes, Sarah returned to Sussex in 2013 and discovered that her perception of her childhood home had changed by her experiences abroad. Things that were once unremarkable now seemed unique and captivating. She currently paints local New Brunswick scenery, hoping to direct the viewer to the magic in day-to-day life. Sarah’s painterly style uses realism to anchor the spectator in the familiar. Skillfully using colour and light Sackville effectively blends the real and surreal, elevating the ordinary to the valued and beautiful. “Hers is rare painterly magic that can make such common, everyday scenes, which might easily be overlooked, resonate with something essentially true. More short stories than novels, Sackville’s gift lies in her deft manipulations of the grammars of hue, line, tone, and contrasts that gets to the heart of a subject” – Tom Smart, Director, Beaverbrook Art Gallery. Sarah Sackville and AX would like to thank the New Brunswick Arts Board for funding her project. July 11 – 15 Summer Art Workshops for Children and Teens Join us at AX for a series of workshops for children and teens, July 11-15! We’re pleased to offer ten different classes during the mornings and afternoons, in a variety of subjects and mediums and for various ages. Sign up early to reserve your spot! Students should wear clothing that they don’t mind getting dirty, and a water bottle. The registration deadline for these workshops has passed. If you are still interested in registering, please call us at (506) 433-8351. Wire Animals ~ Shaun Chown Join professional artist and visual arts educator Shaun Chown in a workshop where participants will create small sculptures of animals using wire. Students will form and attach bodies, heads, legs, tails, and finishing touches such as google eyes. They will also learn how to safely use small wire bending tools and hot glue guns under the instructor’s supervision. The instructor will adjust the difficulty level and scope of the workshop based on the age of the participants. Ceramics Decoration ~ Matt Cripps AX Ceramics Centre Coordinator and professional artist Matt Cripps will introduce children to basic ceramics decorating techniques. In this workshop, participants will use underglaze to decorate small dishes with their own designs. The finished products will be fired in the kiln and available for pickup at a later date. The instructor will adjust the difficulty level and scope of the workshop based on the age of the participants. Watercolour Painting ~ Shaun Chown Join professional artist and visual arts educator Shaun Chown to learn watercolour painting techniques. Students will learn how warm colours and cool colours mix together, and will explore watercolour paints, pencils, crayons, brushes, painting surfaces, and techniques. The instructor will adjust the difficulty level and scope of the workshop based on the age of the participants. Making Dots with Yayoi Kusama ~ Martha Hallyburton Join art teacher Martha Hallyburton to learn techniques used by Japanese contemporary artist Yayoi Kusama. Participants will learn how to use simple dots to create intricate and beautiful pieces of artwork, and will look at Kusama’s dotted pumpkins and butterflies for inspiration. Martha will discuss with participants the use of lines, shapes, repetition and patterns. Students will produce artwork comprised of dots and patterns in the style of Kusama. The instructor will adjust the difficulty level and scope of the workshop based on the age of the participants. Introduction to Sewing by Hand ~ Shaun Chown Join professional artist and visual arts educator Shaun Chown for an introduction to sewing by hand. Participants will learn how to sew a running stitch and a backstitch. They will also learn how to thread a needle, secure and end a seam, and sew on a button. There will be an introduction to decorative embroidery stitches if time allows. Students will create and take home a cute stuffed critter made from felt and other scrap materials. The instructor will adjust the difficulty level and scope of the workshop based on the age of the participants. Drawing Outdoors ~ Bonny Hill Join professional artist Bonny Hill and spend the afternoon outdoors drawing Sussex architecture, beginning with pencil and finishing with marker and watercolour. The instructor will adjust the difficulty level and scope of the workshop based on the age of the participants. Drawing Skills ~ Shaun Chown Join professional artist and visual arts educator Shaun Chown to learn the art of one-point and two-point perspective drawing. Using one-point perspective, participants will learn to draw a landscape like the famous Canadian artist, Alex Colville. Using two-point perspective, students will take one-point perspective to the next level by adding a second dimension to their drawings. In this class, participants will learn to create a skyline and will finish their drawings by learning about value, shading, and colour. The instructor will adjust the difficulty level and scope of the workshop based on the age of the participants. Impressionist Painting with Berthe Morisot ~ Martha Hallyburton Join art instructor Martha Hallyburton to learn about the impressionist style of painting. Participants will practice applying vibrant colours to paper and canvas with separate brushstrokes and some pre-mixing. Students will then stand back from their artwork and allow their eyes to “merge” the results in an impressionist manner. Some examples of pioneering impressionist Berthe Morisot’s work will be used as inspiration. The instructor will adjust the difficulty level and scope of the workshop based on the age of the participants. Picasso Portraits ~ Shaun Chown Join professional artist and visual arts educator Shaun Chown in a workshop inspired by Pablo Picasso, one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. Students will learn how Picasso pioneered Cubism and how he drew inspiration from African masks, and will create their own portrait in Cubist style using oil pastels and paper. The instructor will adjust the difficulty level and scope of the workshop based on the age of the participants. Ceramics Decoration ~ Matt Cripps AX Ceramics Centre Coordinator and professional artist Matt Cripps will introduce children to basic ceramics decorating techniques. In this workshop, participants will use underglaze to decorate small dishes. The finished products will be fired in the kiln and available for pickup at a later date. The instructor will adjust the difficulty level and scope of the workshop based on the age of the participants. June 18 Abstract Mosaic in Nature Location: In person, AX workshop room Cost: $70 Ages 18+ Register online, in person at AX, or by calling (506) 433-8351. Please register by June 16 Join us at AX to make your own MOSAIC abstract art, with many materials found in nature! In this workshop, you’ll learn about mosaic materials and tools before designing your own wall plaque. You’ll have ample opportunity to handle mosaic cutting tools, learn about the proper substrates (bases) and adhesives. We’ll have hands-on demos and lots of supervised workshop time. All tools, substrates, adhesives and mosaic material are provided; however, we encourage you to bring any personal materials (stones, glass, porcelain, or crockery) you’d like to add to your project. A wide range of materials will be on hand for you to create a plaque uniquely your own. Most of the day will be spent cutting, shaping and adhering the mosaic pieces to your plaque. Most will have a completed plaque by the end of the day, and everyone will have the knowledge to make their own in the future. Carole Lulham has practiced contemporary mosaic art for twenty years and has taught students aged 6 to 80+. She works in glass and natural stone from New Brunswick, as well as repurposed items. Her classes run from one day and weekend workshops, to week-long art camps. In all cases, she encourages individual creativity as much as technique, so no two student pieces are the same. Carole has received extensive mosaic training nationally and internationally, including Mosaic Master from Scuolo Orsoni in Venice. She is a certified Adult Educator and teaches in French and English. Learn more about Carole Lulham by visiting her website. April 30 Foraged Fibre Basketry Basket by Ralph Simpson Photo credit: Moments by Kassie Saturday, April 30, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Cost: $130 (inc. materials) (ages 14+) Location: In-person, AX Gallery Learn the ancient practice of basket weaving with locally-foraged fibres in this basketry workshop hosted by plant fibre artist Ralph Simpson. This workshop is designed for beginners, but has the scope to accommodate the interests of intermediate basket weavers as well. Ralph will introduce you to locally-collected plant fibres such as common rush, daylily, iris blades, and some grasses. In this workshop, you’ll learn about foraging for fibres, processing and storage techniques, and how to prepare fibres for use in weaving. Ralph will provide all materials necessary to create a small basket, and you’ll leave the workshop equipped with the knowledge to continue on your own in this age-old practice. You should bring garden secateurs (small shears) or sturdy kitchen scissors, and a hand towel to work on. We encourage you to also bring any materials you’d like to use to embellish your basket, such as ribbon, yarn, plant fibres from your own garden, etc. Ralph will also bring a selection of such materials for you to use. Masks are encouraged but not required. Canadian plant fibre artist Ralph Simpson has developed an innovative method of weaving, bending and sculpting wood and plant fibre to create three dimensional work. His gracefully formed works often incorporate bold colour and innovative material with the ephemeral fibres to achieve a perfect balance. He works in his studio in Fredericton, NB, and exhibits his work locally, nationally and internationally, attending residencies and facilitating workshops. When foraging plant fibre, Ralph employs principles that respect environmental sustainability. April 4, 11 and 25 – Photorealistic Acrylic Painting Monday afternoons: April 4, 11 and 25, 1:30 – 4:00 p.m. Cost: $110 (includes materials) Location: In-person, AX Gallery Join local professional artist and long-time art instructor Bonny Hill in this series of painting exercises to shift into the right-brain thinking required to achieve photographic realism. You’ll learn to paint using gridwork and other methods to produce photorealistic paintings based on some images provided by Bonny and some chosen by you. These three art classes will focus on black and white as well as colour painting, and you’ll produce two paintings. Class 1 – The first painting project will be done using only black and white to recreate tonal values on a smaller canvas working from a photographic image supplied by the instructor and using a grid approach. Classes 2 and 3 – Students will use a full colour palette and work from a coloured photograph supplied by the instructor. Masks and proof of vaccination with matching government issued ID are required in the AX building and during the workshop. Refunds will be issued if the workshops are cancelled due to public health restrictions. Bonny Hill is a contemporary Canadian artist who was selected for the 2017 Surveillance Studio Watch at the Lord Beaverbrook Art Gallery for her series, I Don’t Know Anything About Art. I Just Want Something Nice to Hang Over My Sofa to Match My Living Room. Bonny completed a Bachelor of Art in Art Education at Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in 1984 and has recently retired from a 31 year career teaching art in public schools. In 2011, she was recognized by the Canadian Society for Education Through the Arts with the Canadian Art Educator of the Year award. Her teaching was also recognized nationally in 2013 with a first place finish in DC21YCC Youth Creativity Challenge sponsored by Canadian Heritage and provincially with the New Brunswick Teachers Association Credit Union Award for Excellence in Teaching. Bonny has also been active in theatre, directing spring musicals, building and designing sets, teaching choreography, and performing. March 12, 13 and 25 – Handbuilt Pottery for Beginners Cost: $225 (inc. materials) Location: In person, AX workshop room Back by popular demand! AX Ceramics Centre Coordinator Matt Cripps is hosting Handbuilt Pottery for Beginners, a 3-day workshop where you’ll be guided through the process of creating your first pieces of pottery. This workshop will take place on March 12, 13 and 26 from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. No previous experience is required. Day 1, March 12: During the first session, Matt will provide an introduction to handbuilt pottery with examples and demonstrations, and you’ll begin creating work with direction from Matt. You’ll be provided with materials – a 10kg bag of clay and a pottery tool kit. Day 2, March 13: In this session, you’ll add attachments to the pieces you made during the previous class (handles, feet, etc.), explore decorating techniques, and create more work. After this class, you can take any of your remaining clay home – you’ll have one week to create additional pieces and Matt will coordinate a time for you to drop off what you’ve created to be fired in the kiln. Day 3, March 26: In this final session, you’ll decorate and glaze your works. After your work is fired a second time, Matt will coordinate a time for you to pick up your completed projects. Note: Participants will keep all of the work they create as well as their pottery tool kit and remaining clay. This workshop does NOT include using a pottery wheel. If you have any questions, or if you need help filling out the online form, please contact us at info@axartscentre.ca or 433-8351. March 7 – 11 – March Break Workshops for Children and Teens AX Workshop Room The deadline for registration has now passed. If you would like to register your child for a workshop, please call AX at (506) 433-8351 or email ceramics@axartscentre.ca. Join us at AX for a series of workshops for children and teens. From March 7 to 11, we’ll host classes in a variety of subjects and mediums. Sign up early to reserve your spots! If you have any trouble registering for the workshops online, or if you have any questions, just give us a call at (506) 433-8351 or email info@axartscentre.ca. 1:00 – 3:30 p.m. Ceramics Decoration for Children ~ Matt Cripps Ages: 5-9 Fee: $35 AX Ceramics Centre Coordinator and professional artist Matt Cripps will introduce children to basic ceramics decorating techniques. In this workshop, participants will use underglaze to paint a small tile and will also learn to mould their own “pinch” pot using clay. The finished products will be fired in the kiln and available for pickup at a later date. Please register for Ceramics Decoration for Children by March 1. This class is full. To be put on a waiting list, email ceramics@axartscentre.ca. 9:00 – 11:30 a.m. Painting with Oil Pastels ~ Shaun Chown Ages: 8-14 Fee: $30 In this class, professional artist and visual arts educator Shaun Chown will teach the magic of “painting” with pastels. Participants will learn the basics of colour, develop abstract patterns, experiment with coloured backgrounds, and apply their new skills by creating funky pastel monsters. 9:00 – 11:30 p.m. Optical Art ~ Shaun Chown Ages: 8-14 Fee: $30 Have some fun tricking your brain! Optical art plays with negative and positive space to create fun and clever designs. Professional artist and visual arts educator Shaun Chown will help participants draw, cut, and paste shapes to create their own amazing optical illusions. 1:00 – 3:30 p.m. Ceramics Decoration for Children ~ Matt Cripps Ages: 5-9 Fee: $35 AX Ceramics Centre Coordinator and professional artist Matt Cripps will introduce children to basic ceramics decorating techniques. In this workshop, participants will use underglaze to paint a small tile and will also learn to mould their own “pinch” pot using clay. The finished products will be fired in the kiln and available for pickup at a later date. Please register for Ceramics Decoration for Children by March 1. This class is full. To be put on a waiting list, email ceramics@axartscentre.ca. 9:00 – 11:30 a.m. Paper Weaving ~ Shaun Chown Ages: 8-14 Fee: $30 In this unique workshop, participants will learn how to weave flat and 3D patterns using coloured paper. With the help of professional artist and visual arts educator Shaun Chown, participants will create a flat image with woven paper and weave a basket from newspaper, and add their own personal decorative touches to their finished creation. 1:00 – 3:30 p.m. Ceramics Decoration for Children ~ Matt Cripps Ages: 5-9 Fee: $35 AX Ceramics Centre Coordinator and professional artist Matt Cripps will introduce children to basic ceramics decorating techniques. In this workshop, participants will use underglaze to paint a small tile and will also learn to mould their own “pinch” pot using clay. The finished products will be fired in the kiln and available for pickup at a later date. January 22 – Intuitive Publishing with Phoebe Wang UNB Writer in Residence Phoebe Wang Cost: $25/person Whether you are an emerging writer or one with several publications, this workshop will help you to identify your publishing goals, whether it be publishing in literary magazines, finding a book publisher, self-publishing, or working to shift the publishing industry. We’ll be exploring how publishing can align with your long-term goals as writer and creator. You’ll gain a more intuitive sense of how to pitch and propose unique projects, how to work and collaborate with editors, how to build your audience and community, and how you can contribute to equity and diversity. We’ll also discuss barriers to publishing, overcoming anxiety and rejection, and the challenges and benefits of publishing in the unique literary landscape of the Maritimes. The workshop will be accompanied by a question and answer period and attendees will also receive resources and workshop materials. Facilitated by Phoebe Wang (she/her) Phoebe Wang is a Chinese-Canadian writer and educator and author of two chapbooks and the poetry collections Admission Requirements (2017) and Waking Occupations (2022). She was a co-editor of The Unpublished City, Volume 2, served on the editorial board for Poetry In Voice’s senior online anthology, and is a poetry editor with The Fiddlehead magazine. She is currently the Writer-in-Residence at the University of New Brunswick. Thanks to the support of the New Brunswick Department of Tourism, Heritage and Culture, we are able to offer this workshop at a reduced fee. 2021 November 9, 16 and 30- Handbuilt Pottery for Beginners - Matt Cripps Masks, proof of vaccination and a matching government ID are required in the AX building and during the workshop. The workshop includes: Cost: $225/person, no tax. Costs include access to AX ceramics centre materials, a tool kit, and 10kg clay. Participants get to keep their work, the remaining clay, and their tool kit after the workshop Day 1, November 9: During the first session, Matt will provide an introduction to handbuilt pottery with examples and demonstrations, and you’ll begin creating work with direction from Matt. You’ll be provided with materials – a 10kg bag of clay and a pottery tool kit. Day 2, November 16: In this session, you’ll add attachments to the pieces you made during the previous class (handles, feet, etc.), explore decorating techniques, and create more work. After this class, you can take any of your remaining clay home – you’ll have one week to create additional pieces and Matt will coordinate a time for you to drop off what you’ve created to be fired in the kiln. Day 3, November 30: In this final session, you’ll decorate and glaze your works. After your work is fired a second time, Matt will coordinate a time for you to pick up your completed projects. Note: Participants will keep all of the work they create as well as their pottery tool kit and remaining clay. This workshop does NOT include using a pottery wheel. About Matt Cripps Matt Cripps is a potter and ceramic artist. Born and raised in Miramichi, Matt moved to Fredericton where he completed a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art through St. Thomas University, and a Diploma in Fine Craft: Ceramics, and Certificate in Advanced Studio Practice from the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design. He now lives in Sussex, NB, where he works at AX as the Ceramics Centre Coordinator. October 30 Write Your Own Pillow Book - Kayla Geitzler Cost: $55 Location: In person at AX, the Arts and Culture Centre of Sussex In ancient Japan, upper-class women kept their journals inside of their pillows. These journals became known as Makura no Shoshi, or “pillow books”. When Sei Shōnagon, a court lady of Heian Japan, was writing her pillow book in the early eleventh century, she employed many different literary and artistic techniques to capture her everyday life. In this three hour workshop, we will explore excerpts from Sei Shōnagon’s pillow book and discover moving and alternative ways to record our lives. Each participant will explore those techniques and engage in writing exercises that will offer new perspectives and outlets for journaling. Everyone is welcome, and no writing experience is necessary to participate. Kayla Geitzler is from Moncton, NB, which is within the traditional territory of the Mi’kmaq People. Named a “Rad Woman of Canadian Poetry” by All Lit Up, she is Moncton’s Anglophone Poet Laureate and Attic Owl Reading Series host. Her first poetry collection That Light Feeling Under Your Feet (NeWest Press, 2018) won the Bailey Award, was a Calgary Bestseller and finalist for two awards. Kayla is co-editor of Cadence Voix Feminines Female Voices (Frog Hollow Press, 2020), the first multilingual poetry anthology published in NB. A poetry editor for Galleon and writing life columnist for The Miramichi Reader, Kayla holds an MA in English Creative Writing. She works as an editor and writing consultant, also offering masterclass courses and workshops. Her writing has appeared in chapbooks and literary publications across Canada. Kayla wishes for participants to know that her workshops are safe, intimate and encouraging spaces. October 3, 17 and 24 Photorealism Meets Abstraction – Bonny Hill Sunday afternoons, October 3, 17 and 24 Time: 1:30 – 4:00 p.m. Cost: $110 (inc. materials) Location: In person, AX workshop room Over the course of three Sundays in October, local professional artist Bonny Hill will guide you through a series of exercises to combine elements of photorealistic painting and abstract painting. Participants will work from a photograph of rocks, beginning with photorealistic techniques to capture light and dark, and finishing with approaches to adding texture and surface interest through the use of acrylic mediums, impasto, glazing and lively surface treatments. During this workshop, you will produce one complete painting and several small studies. If you’d like to attend this workshop, you must register by September 24. There are limited spots available. This workshop is open to all experience levels and you don’t need to have taken a previous painting workshop to attend. Please bring your mask to the workshop. Day 1, October 3: On the first day, Bonny will review right brain exercises as well as grid techniques that will help participants paint the image from a photographic reference. You will also review basic colour theory. Day 2, October 10: In this class, participants will use acrylic mediums such as polymer emulsion, modelling paste, and gloss mediums to add surface interest to their work. Day 3, October 24: On the last day of this workshop, participants will continue to add surface texture to their artwork using experimental approaches in glazing and impasto using squirt bottles, palette knives and pouring techniques. If you have any questions, or need help filling out the online registration form, please contact us at info@axartscentre.ca or (506) 433-8351 September 18, Foraged Fibre Basketry with Ralph Simpson Satruday, September 18 from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Cost: $130 (incl. materials) Location: In person, AX Workshop Room Age: 18 and up Register by Friday, September 10. ________________________________________________________________________ Learn the ancient practice of basket weaving with locally-foraged fibres in this basketry workshop hosted by plant fibre artist Ralph Simpson. This workshop is designed for beginners, but has the scope to accommodate the interests of intermediate basket weavers as well. Ralph will introduce participants to locally-collected plant fibres, namely common rush, daylily, iris blades, and some grasses. Participants will learn about foraging for fibres, processing and storage techniques, and how to prepare fibres for use in weaving. The instructor will provide them with all materials necessary to create a small basket, and they will leave the workshop equipped with the knowledge to continue on their own in this age-old practice. Participants should bring garden secateurs (small shears) or sturdy kitchen scissors, and a hand towel to work on. We encourage them to also bring any materials that they would like to use to embellish their basket, such as ribbon, yarn, plant fibres from their garden, etc. The instructor will bring a basket of such materials for the participants to use. About the Artist: Canadian plant fibre artist Ralph Simpson has developed an innovative method of weaving, bending and sculpting wood and plant fibre to create three dimensional work. His gracefully formed works often incorporate bold colour and innovative material with the ephemeral fibres to achieve a perfect balance. He works in his studio in Fredericton, NB and exhibits his work locally, nationally and internationally, attending residencies and facilitating workshops. When foraging plant fibre, Ralph employs principles that respect environmental sustainability. August 17, Mosaic Art in the Garden with Carole Lulham Tuesday, August 17 from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Cost: $70 (inc. materials) Location: In person, AX Workshop Room Age: 18 and up Register by Friday, August 13. Learn how to make your own custom garden art, designed to withstand our tough Canadian climate! In one day, you will learn about mosaic materials and tools and create your choice of two projects: a leaf or bird wall plaque. You will have ample opportunity to handle mosaic cutting tools and learn about the proper substrates and adhesives. There will be hands-on demonstrations and plenty of supervised workshop time. All tools, substrates, adhesives and mosaic materials are provided; however, we encourage you to bring any of your own supplies from home (stones, glass, porcelain, jewelry, or crockery) to personalize your project. A wide range of materials will be on hand for you to create a plaque uniquely your own. Most of the day will be spent cutting, shaping and adhering the mosaic pieces to your plaque. Participants will have a completed plaque by the end of the day, and everyone will have the knowledge and skills to make their own in the future. About the Artist: Carole Lulham has practiced contemporary mosaic art for twenty years. She has taught students aged 6 to 80+. She works in glass, natural stone from New Brunswick, and repurposed items. As a professional horticulturist, she enjoys combining mosaics with garden art. Her classes run from one day and weekend workshops, to week-long art camps. In all cases, she encourages individual creativity as much as technique, so no two student pieces are the same. Carole has received extensive mosaic training nationally and internationally, including Mosaic Master from Scuolo Orsono in Venice. She is a certified Adult Educator and teaches in French and English. July 25, Eco Printing Workshop with Renata Britez July 25 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Cost: $155 (inc. materials) Location: In person, AX Workshop Room Please register by July 18. Get to know the colourful bounty of Maritimes flora by working with fresh plants foraged by Natural Dyer Renata Britez. Natural dyeing can be fun, and the experience of using seasonal and regionally-relevant plants, as opposed to pre-extracted and imported powders, provides a real connection to this age-old process. In this one-day workshop, you’ll learn about natural dyes and those that can be sourced locally, types of mordant (dye fixative) for cellulose fibres and protein fibres, and eco printing techniques in silk and cotton. Sunday July 25: Participants will create their own silk scarf eco-printed with local leaves. Throughout the class, participants will learn about natural dyeing with fresh, raw dye, and how the process works with various fabrics and materials. This workshop is open to all levels of experience, and please note that there will be a 30 minute lunch break (lunch is not provided). Please register by July 18. Spaces are going to fill up quickly! If you have any questions, or if you need help filling out the online form, please contact us at info@axartscentre.ca or 433-8351. July 19 – July 23, Summer Art Workshops for Children and Teens July 19 – July 23 AX Workshop Room Please Register by July 2 Join us at AX for a series of summer workshops for children and teens. From July 19 to 23, we’ll host classes in a variety of subjects and mediums. Each class has a maximum capacity of six participants to enable physical distancing, so sign up early to reserve your spots! If you have any trouble registering for the workshops online, or if you have any questions, just give us a call, (506) 433-8351. Participants must wear masks, and if you or your child develop COVID-19 related symptoms leading up to the workshop, we are prepared to offer a full refund. To allow for appropriate cleaning between workshops, participants will not be able to stay at AX during the lunch hour (12:00 – 1:00 p.m.) 9:00 – 11:30 a.m. Famous Faces ~ Shaun Chown (Full) Ages: 10-15 Fee: $30 Participants will learn keen observational skills and take their drawing to the next level with professional artist and visual arts educator Shaun Chown. They will learn how to draw using a grid, develop sketching and shading techniques, and create a portrait of a famous person or character. Please register for Famous Faces by July 2. 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Mug Workshop ~ Matt Cripps (Full) *Please note that in response to demand, the age group for this workshop has changed.* Ages: 10-15 Fee: $40 Join AX Ceramics Coordinator and professional artist Matt Cripps to learn how to make your own mug out of clay. Matt will lead participants through the process of rolling out, cutting, and shaping a mug and handle. The finished mug will be fired in the kiln and available for pickup at a later date. Please register for Mug Workshop by July 2. 9:00 – 11:30 a.m. Colour ~ Shaun Chown (Full) Ages: 10-15 Fee: $30 In this class, professional artist and visual arts educator Shaun Chown will teach the magic of “painting” with pastels. Participants will learn the basics of colour, develop abstract patterns, experiment with coloured backgrounds, and apply their new skills by creating funky pastel monsters. Please register for Colour by July 2. 1:00 – 3:30 p.m. Action Painting in the Style of Jackson Pollock ~ Martha Hallyburton (Full) Ages: 5-9 Fee: $30 Professional art instructor Martha Hallyburton will introduce children to abstract painting through colourful splatter techniques. Participants will learn about abstract painting using the “drip technique” and “action painting” to complete artworks in the style of Jackson Pollock. After creating individual artworks, they’ll work together to create a large-scale painting. Children can take their individual artworks home at the end of the workshop. Please register for Action Painting in the Style of Jackson Pollock by July 2. 9:00 – 11:30 p.m. Optical Art ~ Shaun Chown (Full) Ages: 10-15 Fee: $30 Have some fun tricking your brain! Optical art plays with negative and positive space to create fun and clever designs. Professional artist and visual arts educator Shaun Chown will help participants draw, cut, and paste shapes to create their own amazing optical illusions. Please register for Optical Art by July 2. 1:00 – 3:30 p.m. Ceramics for Kids ~ Matt Cripps (Full) Ages: 5-9 Fee: $35 AX Ceramics Centre Coordinator and professional artist Matt Cripps will introduce children to basic ceramics decorating techniques. In this workshop, participants will use underglaze to paint a small tile and will also learn to mould their own “pinch” pot using clay. The finished products will be fired in the kiln and available for pickup at a later date. Please register for Ceramics for Kids by July 2. 9:00 -11:30 a.m. Picasso Portraits ~ Shaun Chown Ages: 10-15 Fee: $30 Join professional artist and visual arts educator Shaun Chown in a workshop inspired by Pablo Picasso, one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. Participants will learn how Picasso came up with the ideas that lead to Cubism and how African masks inspired the artist, and will create their own portrait in the style of Picasso’s Cubism using oil pastels and paper. Please register for Picasso Portraits by July 2. 1:00 – 3:30 p.m. Impasto Painting inspired by Van Gogh ~ Martha Hallyburton (Full) Ages: 5-9 Fee: $30 In this workshop, professional art instructor Martha Hallyburton will teach children about the Impasto Painting technique using works by Van Gogh as inspiration. Children will practice applying thick paint to paper and canvas by using short brush strokes in a variety of colours. The results will be colourful paintings with added dimensions and movement. Please register for Impasto Painting inspired by Van Gogh by July 2. 9:00 – 11:30 a.m. Paper Weaving ~ Shaun Chown Ages: 10-15 Fee: $30 In this unique workshop, participants will learn how to weave flat and 3D patterns using coloured paper. With the help of professional artist and visual arts educator Shaun Chown, participants will create a flat image with woven paper and weave a basket from newspaper, and add their own personal decorative touches to their finished creation. Please register for Paper Weaving by July 2. 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Making a Clay Mask ~ Bonny Hill (Full) *Please note that in response to demand, the age group for this workshop has changed.* Ages: 10-15 Fee: $40 Participants will use clay to create a human face using basic ceramic sculpture techniques with the help of professional artist and visual arts educator Bonny Hill. Learning about and examining facial proportion and bone structure, participants will use various approaches to add form and texture to clay. The finished products will be fired in the kiln and available for pickup at a later date. Please register for Making a Clay Mask by July 2. Due to COVID-19 this class is offered in the AX Gallery with physically distanced workstations, as per our operational plan. Masks and physical distancing are required at all times in the AX building and during the workshop. Please refer to the current public health alert level and ensure your Zone and AX’s are both in the Yellow Phase before making plans to attend. June 8 – June 29, Handbuilt Pottery for Beginners Workshop June 8, 15 and 29 from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. Cost: $225 (inc. materials) Location: In person, AX workshop room Register by June 4. Back by popular demand! AX Ceramics Centre Coordinator Matt Cripps is hosting Handbuilt Pottery for Beginners, a 3-day workshop where you’ll be guided through the process of creating your first pieces of pottery. This workshop will take place on Tuesdays, June 8, 15 and 29 from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. No previous experience is required. Day 1, June 1: During the first session, Matt will provide an introduction to handbuilt pottery with examples and demonstrations, and you’ll begin creating work with direction from Matt. You’ll be provided with materials – a 10kg bag of clay and a pottery tool kit. Day 2, June 8: In this session, you’ll add attachments to the pieces you made during the previous class (handles, feet, etc.), explore decorating techniques, and create more work. After this class, you can take any of your remaining clay home – you’ll have one week to create additional pieces and Matt will coordinate a time for you to drop off what you’ve created to be fired in the kiln. Day 3, June 22: In this final session, you’ll decorate and glaze your works. After your work is fired a second time, Matt will coordinate a time for you to pick up your completed projects. Note: Participants will keep all of the work they create as well as their pottery tool kit and remaining clay. This workshop does NOT include using a pottery wheel. Please register by June 4. Spaces are going to fill up quickly! If you have any questions, or if you need help filling out the online form, please contact us at info@axartscentre.ca or 433-8351. Due to COVID-19, this class is offered in the AX workshop room with physically distanced workstations as per our operational plan. Masks and physical distancing are required at all times in the AX building and during the workshop. Please refer to the current public health alert level and ensure your Zone and AX’s Zone are both in the Yellow Phase before making plans to attend. If you develop COVID-19 related symptoms leading up to the workshop, or if the workshop is cancelled, we will offer a full refund. Please email info@axartscentre.ca or call (506) 433-8351. April 25 – May 16, Approaches to Abstract Painting Workshop April 25, May 2 and May 16 from 1:30 – 4:00 p.m. Cost: $110 (inc. materials) Location: In-person, AX Gallery Please register by April 16. Join local professional artist Bonny Hill as she introduces you to the art of abstract painting over the course of three Sunday afternoons at AX. You will review basic colour theory to create a custom colour palette and will also experiment with different acrylic mediums such as modelling paste and gloss gel mediums. During each session, participants will learn and practice new skills on small, sample canvases. You will then apply your new-found skills to one large canvas over the course of the three sessions. Class 1, April 25: In the first class, you will review basic colour theory and create a custom colour palette to apply to several canvas boards using dirty pour approaches. Class 2, May 2: In this class, you will use acrylic paints with acrylic mediums like polymer emulsion, modelling paste, and gloss gel medium to add surface interest to several small canvas boards. Class 3, May 16: In the final class, you will continue with experimental approaches in glazing and impasto using squirt bottles, palette knives and pouring techniques. Participants will produce: Participants must register before April 16. Limited spaces are available. If you’d like help filling out this online form, please contact us at info@axartscentre.ca or 433-8351. Due to COVID-19 this class is offered in the AX Gallery with physically distanced workstations, as per our operational plan. Masks and physical distancing are required at all times in the AX building and during the workshop. Please refer to the current public health alert level and ensure our Zone is in the Yellow Phase before making plans to attend. If you develop COVID-19 related symptoms leading up to the workshop, we are prepared to offer a full refund. Please email info@axartscentre.ca or call (506) 433-8351. March 27 – April 10, Online Workshop – Shibori Silk Scarf with Natural Dyes Date: March 27 and April 10 Time: March 27 from 10:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. and April 10 from 10:00a.m. – 12:00p.m. Cost: $135 (includes materials and shipping) Please register by March 16 so you can receive your materials before the workshop start date. Contact us if you are located outside of Atlantic Canada as additional shipping charges will apply. Discover the ancient Japanese dyeing technique of Shibori with a modern twist from the comforts of your own home, taught online by natural dyer Renata Britez. The workshop starts with a 4-hour instructional video class, which you can access at your leisure to create your dyed silk scarf. Two weeks later, the class will gather again to share their creations and to have a question and answer period with the instructor. This class teaches the basics of natural dyes and three Shibori techniques of Kumo, Arashi and Itajime. Participants will create bold patterns on fabric using wooden blocks as well as binding and wrapping techniques. At the end of this course, students will have sample swatches in various sustainable fibres and finished shibori dyed scarf created by themselves. No experience is necessary. What’s Included Participants should have a notebook to take notes during the workshop. Note: Dyeing can be messy, so dress in paint/dye appropriate clothes and shoes. Students will need to supply some of their own items, such as pots, pans, stove, etc. Format The workshop will be delivered in two live Zoom sessions. The first session focuses on learning the process and participants are expected to watch, take notes and ask questions at the end of the online demonstration – the class will be recorded and shared with students. Between the first and second meeting, participants will have time to try Shibori at their own pace and bring their results and questions to the second meeting for clarification. The meetings will be recorded and participants will have access to the content for four months following the end of the workshop. This will provide participants with the opportunity to rewatch the discussions. In addition to the videos, students will have lifetime access to private Facebook groups with exclusive pictures, extra content and a community to help and share discoveries, results, recipes and more. March 27: Live Demo (4 hours with 30 min break) April 10: Follow Up (2 hours) Please Register by March 16 for the online workshop. If you have any further questions or concerns, please contact us at info@axartscentre.ca or (506) 433-8351. Thanks to the financial support of the Emergency Community Support Fund, and Community Foundations of Canada, through the nomination from Sussex Area Community Foundation, AX is able to provide participants with a reduced shipping fee of $5 for every materials kit purchased through this workshop. March 21 – April 11, Photorealistic Acrylic Workshop Sundays, March 21, 28 and April 11 from 2:00 – 4:30 p.m. in the AX Gallery. $85 registration fee + $25 optional materials fee/participant. Please register by March 18. Join local professional artist and long-time art instructor Bonny Hill in this series of painting exercises to shift into the right-brain thinking required to achieve photographic realism. You will learn to paint using gridwork and other methods to produce photorealistic paintings based on some images provided by Bonny and some chosen by you. These three art classes will focus on black and white as well as colour painting and you will produce three paintings, one from each session. Class 1, March 21: For your first painting project, Bonny will teach you how to use only black and white to recreate tonal values on a 9”x12” canvas. You will work from a photographic image supplied by the instructor and learn how to use a grid approach. Class 2, March 28: For this class, you will supply your own photographic image and you’ll work on a larger 12”x16” canvas, with the option of adding colour with acrylic glazes. Class 3, April 11: For your final class, you will paint on a large canvas and use a full colour palette, working from a colour photograph. Participants will produce three paintings: Materials needed are: The option to have these materials provided for a $25 fee will be available when you sign-up. If you would like only some of the materials provided, instructions to arrange for this with Bonny Hill will be in the registration form. Due to COVID-19 this class is offered in the AX Gallery space with physically distanced workstations, as per our operational plan and Health NB Mandate. Masks and physical distancing are required at all times in the AX building and during the workshop. If you’d like help filling out the online registration form, email info@axartscentre.ca and we’ll guide you through it. If you develop COVID-19 related symptoms leading up to the workshop, we are prepared to offer a full refund. Please email info@axartscentre.ca or call (506) 433-8351. 2020 December 19 – December 21, Children's Holiday Ceramics Workshop AX is offering a new Ceramics Workshop for kids just in time for the holidays! AX Ceramics Coordinator Matt Cripps will teach four separate ceramics decoration classes for children aged 6 to 12; he will be joined by teaching assistant Emily O’Donnell. The children will decorate two ornaments, a square tile, and a small dish. They will also learn how to underglaze, a ceramic decorating technique that creates vivid brushed colours. Their finished pieces will be fired in the kiln and available for pickup later. The workshops are $20 per class and we are accepting 5 children maximum. They will be physically distanced, must wear masks, and be from New Brunswick Health Zone 2. If you or your child develop COVID-19 related symptoms leading up to the workshop, we are prepared to offer a full refund. This workshop is supported by the Government of Canada’s Emergency Community Support Fund and Community Foundations of Canada. Saturday December 19, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (Full) Saturday December 19, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Full) Monday December 21, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (Full) Monday December 21, 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Full) All classes offer the same instruction. Enrolment is limited and pre-registration is required—visit our website for more information. If you’d like help filling out this online form, email ceramics@axartscentre.ca or call (506) 433-8351 and we’ll guide you through it. If you or your child develop COVID-19 related symptoms leading up to the workshop, we are prepared to offer a full refund. About Matt Cripps Matt Cripps is a potter and ceramic artist. Born and raised in Miramichi, Matt moved to Fredericton where he completed a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art through St. Thomas University, and a Diploma in Fine Craft: Ceramics, and Certificate in Advanced Studio Practice from the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design. He now lives in Sussex, NB, where he works at AX as the Ceramics Centre Coordinator. About Emily O’Donnell Emily O’Donnell is the part time AX Administrative Assistant who is currently training to be a primary teacher at Université de Moncton. Emily lives in Sussex and helps to keep things organized at the AX Arts and Culture Centre. November 24 – December 15, Handbuilt Pottery for Beginners AX’s Ceramics Centre Coordinator Matt Cripps is offering a weekend class and weekend class each of Handbuilt Pottery for Beginners in November and December. These 3-day pottery workshops will guide you through the process of creating your first pieces of pottery—you don’t need to have taken earlier workshops to attend. Due to COVID-19, however, these classes are restricted to attendees within New Brunswick Health Zone 2. The classes are offered in a large space, with physically distanced workstations, as per our operational plan and Health NB Mandate. Weekday November 24, December 1 and 15. Weekend November 28 and 29, and December 12. Masks and physical distancing are required at all times in the AX building and during the workshop. Please register by November 22. The includes: Cost: $225/person, no tax. Costs includes access to AX ceramics centre materials, a tool kit, and 10kg clay. Participants get to keep their work, the remaining clay, and their tool kit after the workshop. October 3 – October 25, Handbuilt Pottery for Beginners AX’s Ceramics Centre Coordinator, Matt Cripps, is hosting Handbuilt Pottery for Beginners, a 5-day pottery workshop that will guide you through the process of creating your first pieces of pottery – you don’t need to have taken the first workshop in order to attend. This workshop will take place at AX on October 3-4, 17-18, and 25, from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. Masks and physical distancing are required at all times in the AX building and during the workshop. October 3 & 4, 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. October 17 & 18, 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. October 25, 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Please note that participants get to keep all of the work they create, and this workshop does NOT include using a pottery wheel. Cost: $325/person, inc. tax. Costs include all materials including a 20kg box of clay and a pottery tool kit. Participants get to keep the remaining clay and tool kit after the workshop. About Matt Cripps Matt Cripps is a potter and ceramic artist. Born and raised in Miramichi, Matt moved to Fredericton where he completed a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art through St. Thomas University, and a Diploma in Fine Craft: Ceramics, and Certificate in Advanced Studio Practice from the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design. He now lives in Sussex, NB, where he works at AX as the Ceramics Centre Coordinator. September 12 – September 26, Handbuilt Pottery for Beginners Day 1, Saturday, September 12, 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. Introduction to handbuilt pottery with examples and demonstrations; begin creating work with direction from Matt. Day 2, Sunday, September 13, 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. Add attachments to pieces made the previous day (handles, feet, etc.) explore decorating techniques, and create more work. After this class, you can take any of your remaining clay home – you’ll have one week to create additional pieces and Matt will coordinate a time for you to drop off what you’ve created to be fired in the kiln. Day 3, Saturday, September 26, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Return to AX to decorate and glaze your works. After the work is fired a second time, Matt will coordinate a time for you to pick up your completed projects. March 3 – August 8, Seeing the Patient Visual Learning Exercise with Bonny Hill Step One: Description Note the title, date, size, and medium. Describe the subject matter. Notice all of the details you see in the work. It is important to carefully, slowly, and non-judgmentally observe the art. Step Two: Analysis Pay close attention to which art elements the artist used. Line, shape, colour, value (lightness or darkness), texture, and space. Look for ways the elements were used to organize the composition using principles of design: rhythm, balance, movement, proportion, variety, emphasis, contrast, and unity. Step Three: Interpretation List any feelings, impressions, or moods you get from the artwork – think creatively and imaginatively at this stage. Base your interpretation on what you’ve concluded in the first two steps of the critique process. Guess at the artist’s intention and motivation. If possible, research the artist at this stage and refer to information in the gallery. Step Four: Judgment/Evaluation Describe the ways in which the artist has successfully created a work that fulfills their intention and connects with their audience in a meaningful way. Here’s one way to interpret this portrait based on the four steps above, courtesy of Bonny Hill. Artist Mark Gilbert has created a large pastel study of two figures: a caregiver holding a young girl. The caregiver’s gaze is on the child’s face. The child looks outward as though in deep thought. The two sit together on the same chair in the corner of a room next to a small table. They both wear warm, comfortable clothing. The girl reaches back to feel the caregiver’s hair while the caregiver holds the child on her lap with both hands around her waist. The artist has chosen a closely cropped composition with little negative space or background, and in doing so, describes the intimacy of the relationship. The viewer is drawn to the faces, as is always the case in figurative studies which appear to have a higher degree of ‘finish’ than other areas of the work. For the bodies and background spaces, Gilbert has used gestural marks to capture the poses quickly. The free-flowing lines add movement and contrast with the highly detailed faces. The vertical corner line adds stability as the curvy, diagonal lines of the floor mat add to the impression of dynamic motion. The artist has used a limited colour palette; neutral blacks and greys with cool undertones contrasting with the warmth of the skin tones and the vivid yellow on the floor that balance the composition. The pastels describe textures of smooth skin and soft fabrics. Erin & Michaela clearly communicates the warm relationship between the two figures. My impression is that the child is comfortable and content but having some difficulty staying perfectly still, as evidenced by the way in which her left hand is thrusting outward. She clearly is enjoying her caregiver’s embrace and her caregiver is fully engaged in keeping the child sitting contentedly. The lack of detail and colour in the neutral clothing works to bring emphasis to the faces and to tie the two figures together so closely that it is difficult, at a glance, to discern which limbs belong to the caregiver and which to the child. This adds to the emotional impact of the work. In his artist’s statement Dr. Gilbert writes: “As an artist and researcher, I have always aspired to create artworks that authentically illuminate the relationships we all rely on in our lives as patients and caregivers. Portraiture as an art form and qualitative methodology embraces association rather than separation. It is through the interaction between artist and sitter that access is sought and given, connections made, trust built, intimacy negotiated, stories exchanged, and knowledge constructed. Moreover it has the potential to engender intimate social connections that can empower the sitters, viewers, and artists alike”. Dr. Mark Gilbert is Research Associate with the Faculty of Medicine at Dalhousie University and uses arts-based research methods and narrative inquiry to illuminate the relational skills required in clinical interactions and care giving. The portraits in Seeing the Patient, specifically, rely on the interactions and richness relationships he witnessed between children and young people living with epilepsy and their families. If the portraits in Seeing the Patient attempt to present patients with epilepsy in an authentic and compassionate manner, they truly succeed. Erin & Michaela, in particular, feels like a celebration of, or monument to, the giving and receiving of care and love. Dr. Gilbert’s impressive technical skills and genuine commitment to his profession have resulted in a wonderful, moving exhibition. 2019 September 27 and October 4 Wine and Posies with Bonny Hill Join us at AX on Friday, September 27 OR Friday, October 4 at 7:00 p.m. for a sip and craft workshop, hosted by professional contemporary artist Bonny Hill. The evening will include two hours of instruction, demonstration, and making of paper flower crafts. Each participant will go home with three flowers and the knowledge and skills to recreate them on their own. Bonny has generously offered to donate her time to put on these workshops, with all proceeds going to support AX and its arts and culture programming. The workshop costs $35/person. Costs include all materials and a glass of wine. Please pre-register for your preferred workshop date by phone at (506) 433-8351 or in person at 12 Maple Ave. Note there are limited spaces left for both workshops, so register soon if you’re interested. About Bonny Hill Bonny Hill taught visual arts in New Brunswick high schools for thirty years before her recent retirement, and has been recognized by the Canadian Society for Education Through Art as “Art Educator of the Year.” As a professional contemporary artist, Bonny was included in the Beaverbrook Art Gallery’s Studio Watch: Emerging Artists Series for 2016. Bonny sits on the AX Board of Directors and is a dedicated volunteer. July 10 – August 21 Summer Art Workshops for Children April 3, 2019 Drawing Classes ~ Melanie Craig-Hansford Wednesdays, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Join artist and instructor Melanie Craig-Hansford on Wednesday afternoons for Drawing Level 1 & 2 classes, which offer participants a unique opportunity to learn about drawing in combined classes that are tailored to their experience level. April 2, 2019 Mixed Media Mixed Media Classes Tuesdays, 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. AX is pleased to present a new workshops series, Mixed Media, which offers participants a unique opportunity to learn about a wide range of art making materials. 2018 December 22, 2018 Kids' Holiday Art Workshop Are your kids looking for something to do while you’re out running last-minute errands? Bring them to AX for an afternoon of art making! Martha Hallyburton will lead the group through a series of winter-themed projects. Using mixed media and a variety of techniques, participants will make a “gradation” recreation of the northern lights, tape art birch trees, snowflakes collages, and more! Enrolment is limited, so sign up now – call 433-8351 to register over the phone, or visit us at 12 Maple Ave., Sussex, NB. October 20, 2018 Children's Workshops
AX is hosting Kids’ Art Workshops again this fall! Ages 6-12, cost $90 per child for four Saturdays of instruction. Workshops will run from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., October 20, 27, November 3, and 10.
Each session, an Expert Instructor (Martha Hallyburton, Rosanna Armstrong, Shaun Chown, Erin McKenna) will teach a new type of art to the children. Lessons and mediums will vary, and participants will be exposed to a wide range of arts and crafts including painting, fibre art, and music. You can register in person at AX, 12 Maple Ave., or over the phone at (506) 433-8351. Space is limited, so register soon! July 28, 2018 To Be a Good Writer - Gerard Collins Gerard’s “To Be a Good Writer” workshop will help strengthen your commitment to your own artistry and inspire great writing habits. Come take part in encouraging discussions, writing prompts, and voluntary sharing of personal works that you create on the spot. “To Be a Good Writer” takes place on Saturday, July 28, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., for a cost of $85. About Gerard Gerard Collins is an award-winning Newfoundland writer living in Southern New Brunswick. Besides teaching at MUN and at UNB, he has offered creative writing workshops and retreats in Ireland, Italy, and England, as well as throughout Atlantic Canada. Gerard’s novel, Finton Moon, was honoured with a Dublin IMPAC international Literary Award nomination in 2014, among other accolades, while his short story collection, Moonlight Sketches, won the 2011 NL Book Award. He is working on several new projects and has been invited to facilitate workshops during Youth Week next summer at Lilydale, New York, as well as to launch a new exhibition at AX in 2019, entitled The Book that Wrote Itself. June 23, 2018 Spin In – Fundy Fibre Artisans On Saturday, June 23, from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., the Fundy Fibre Artisans invited other artists as well as spectators to view and participate in spinning fibre. Spinners were invited to bring their spinning wheels and join the group. About the Fundy Fibre Artisans The Fundy Fibre Artisans are a collective of artists who are really passionate about creating with natural fibres. They’re also farmers and rural community members, and they raise much of the fibre they use. These artists feel strongly that beautiful, artisanal fibre products are best made by hand and with care. The Fundy Fibre Artisans strive to make wearable and usable pieces of art out of local and ethically-sourced natural fibres, to keep our community and others’ strong and vibrant. April 21, 2018 Cyanotype Photography Workshop
with SilverFish photographers Karen Ruet and Denise Rowe
April 21, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Cost: $55, including materials
Register by April 12 to use your own images. All registrations due April 17.In this workshop, you’ll recreate feathers, translucent objects, and materials from the natural world into cyan and deep navy blue images with the light of the sun.
Karen Ruet and Denise Rowe, professional photographers and participating artists in our current exhibition, will demonstrate mixing chemistry, coating paper, and show you the materials needed to get you started using this technique at home. You’ll also have the option of a short field-trip outdoors to select your own pieces of nature to work with, although it is not a requirement as the instructors will also provide materials.
If you register by April 12, you can send your own 5×7 image to the instructor, who will prepare it for your use at the workshop. Limited spots available. Must register for the workshop no later than April 17.
Register at AX: the Arts and Culture Centre of Sussex, 12 Maple Ave, Sussex NB, or by calling us at (506) 433-8351. To guarantee your spot, please pay when you register. We can process credit card payment over the phone.
Mug Night with Alana Wilson
Friday, April 14th, 2023 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Six Week Ceramics Workshop with Alana Wilson
March 28 – May 2, Tuesday Evenings 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Workshop curriculum
Where: Online via Zoom
When: Saturday, March 25, 12:00 p.m.
About Di Brant
Acknowledgements
Date: March 6 – 10
Monday, March 6
Tuesday, March 7
Wednesday, March 8
Thursday, March 9
Friday, March 10
Choose from Weekday or Weekend workshops!
Weekday afternoon workshops: November 3, 4, and 15
About the Artist
Eco-Printing with Renata Britez
Location: In person, AX
Cost: $155 (includes materials)
Please register by September 9.About the Artist
Cost: $150, materials included
Ages: 16+, all skill levels welcome
Register by: August 23
About the Artist
Acknowledgements
Monday, July 11
Time: 9:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Cost: $30
Ages: 8–14
The registration deadline has passed.
Time: 1:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Cost: $35
Ages: 6–12
The registration deadline has passed.Tuesday, July 12
Time: 9:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Cost: $30
Ages: 8–14
The registration deadline has passed.
Time: 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Cost: $30
Ages: 6–12
The registration deadline has passed.Wednesday, July 13
Time: 9:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Cost: $30
Ages: 8–14
The registration deadline has passed.
Time: 1:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Cost: $30
Ages: 8–14
The registration deadline has passed.Thursday, July 14
Time: 9:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Cost: $30
Ages: 8–14
The registration deadline has passed.
Time: 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Cost: $30
Ages: 6–12
The registration deadline has passed.Friday, July 15
Time: 9:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Cost: $30
Ages: 8–14
The registration deadline has passed.
Time: 1:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Cost: $35
Ages: 6–12
The registration deadline has passed.
June 18, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.About the Artist
Foraged Fibre Basketry with Ralph Simpson
About the Artist
Photorealistic Acrylic Painting with Bonny Hill
About the Artist
Handbuilt Pottery for Beginners with Matt Cripps
March 12, 13 and 26 from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Workshop curriculum
March Break Workshops for Children and Teens
March 7 – 11
Monday, March
Tuesday, March 8
Wednesday, March 9
Thursday, March 10
Friday, March 11
Intuitive Publishing with Phoebe Wang
Where: Online
When: Saturday, January 22, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Handbuilt Pottery for Beginners
Would you like to make your own holiday gifts this year, or are interested in learning a new skill? AX Ceramics Centre Coordinator Matt Cripps is hosting Handbuilt Pottery for Beginners, a 3-day workshop where you’ll be guided through the process of creating your first pieces of pottery. This workshop will take place on Tuesdays, November 9, 16 and 30 from 1:00 – 5:00p.m. No previous experience required.
Date: Saturday, October 30, 2021, 10:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
About the Workshop
About the Artist
Photorealism Meets Abstraction – Bonny Hill
Workshop Curriculum
Monday, July 19
Tuesday, July 20
Wednesday, July 21
Thursday, July 22
Friday, July 23
Workshop curriculum
Have you ever wanted to try pottery? Would you like to make your own gifts this year?
Have you ever wanted to try pottery, and did you miss out on our first pottery workshop because it filled so quickly?
Introduction to handbuilt pottery with examples and demonstrations; begin creating work with direction from Matt.
Introduction to decoration techniques with underglaze and slip. Continue to create work with direction from Matt.
Return to the centre to decorate and glaze your works. After the work is fired a second time, Matt will coordinate a time for you to pick up your completed projects.
Have you ever wanted to try pottery? Well, now’s your chance! AX‘s new ceramics centre coordinator, Matt Cripps, is hosting Handbuilt Pottery for Beginners, a 3-day pottery workshop that will guide you through the process of creating your first pieces of pottery. This workshop will take place at AX on September 12 and 13 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and September 26 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Wearing a mask and following physical distancing rules are required at all times in AX and during the workshop.
Please note that participants get to keep all of the work they create, and this workshop does NOT include using a pottery wheel.
Cost and registration
Cost: $200/person, inc. tax. Costs include all materials including a 10kg bag of clay and a pottery tool kit. Participants get to keep the remaining clay and tool kit after the workshop.
Summer Art Workshops for Children Join artist and instructor Martha Hallyburton on Wednesday afternoons from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. at AX for children’s art workshops, which offer kids a unique opportunity to explore their creativity and learn more about different methods to express themselves through art.
Drawing Classes
with Melanie Craig-Hansford
April 3 – May 22
In this combined class, which takes place over 8 weeks, Melanie will split the class into two groups: beginner Level 1 and intermediate Level 2.
Drawing Level 1 is for those with limited or no drawing experience. You’ll start with the basics of drawing, work from still-life, and practice the art of “drawing what you see.”
Drawing Level 2 is an intermediate level course suitable to students with previous drawing experience. In this class, Melanie will introduce drawing with coloured mediums such as pastel and coloured pencil.
Individual drawing assignments will be designed for each student with their input.
Drawing Level 1 & 2 is offered on Wednesday afternoons, from 1:00-3:00 p.m., April 3 to May 22. Please note that this workshop takes place in the 2nd floor AX classroom, which is only accessible by climbing a flight of stairs.
Cost: $120 instruction fee for all 8 classes, plus $25 materials fee paid to instructor on first day of class
Pre-registration and payment required by March 28, 4pm. Contact AX at (506) 433-8351 or email info@axartscentre.ca
with Melanie Craig-Hansford
April 2 – May 21
Over a period of eight weeks, artist and instructor Melanie Craig-Hansford will present the history of mixed media artwork and teach you how to incorporate the elements and principals of art into a successful composition. You’ll learn the basics of watercolour and acrylic painting, and work with combinations of ink, markers, pastels, coloured pencils, collage, and many other conventional and non-conventional materials.
Mixed Media is offered on Tuesday afternoons, from 1:00-3:00 p.m., April 2 to May 21. Please note that this workshop takes place in the 2nd floor AX classroom, which is only accessible by climbing a flight of stairs.
Cost: $120 instruction fee for all 8 classes, plus $25 materials fee paid to instructor on first day of class.
Pre-registration and payment required by March 28, 4pm. Contact AX at (506) 433-8351 or email info@axartscentre.ca
AX is offering a new Holiday workshop for kids! Saturday, December 22 from 1-3 pm
$20/child, ages 6-12
Children’s Workshops
Do you have an interest in writing and channeling your inner creative? Join us at AX for a creative writing workshop with award-winning Newfoundland writer (and occasional AX Choice Cutshost), Dr. Gerard Collins.
Cyanotype Photography Workshop