Helen Duckworth
The Cranbrook and District Arts Council is offering two fantastic new workshops for the month of September.
The first is a two-day workshop by Eileen Gidman, entitled "Art Cloth Workshop." If you are uninspired by continuing to create on canvas and paper, Eileen opens up the path to creative explorations in mixed media by teaching students how to use procion dyes on 100 per cent cotton. Students can use copied designs to work with but are also encouraged to create and use their own original designs.
Gidman, whose formal art training came from studies at the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design, says: "Creating luscious art pieces on fabric with dyes was a natural extension for me, being someone who sews and who has painted watercolours all her life. Over the last nine years I have given workshops on painting with dyes, sold my fabrics in stores and at shows (including two national quilt shows), and this year have exhibited my textile art at the Key City Theatre, Cranbrook and the Langham Gallery, Kaslo."
Would you like to create some unique fabric pieces? This workshop will give you the opportunity to not only learn the technique of painting with dyes but you can expect to have several pieces completed in the two days that can either be framed, sewn or collaged.
The course costs $120 with some additional supply costs and runs from September 7 – 8, 10-2 p.m. both days, in the CDAC workshop space. Pre-registration is a must so please get in touch with the CDAC office to register your place today.
The second September workshop, by Sonya Rokosh, is called "Introduction to Pottery: Hand-building 101." Starting September 11, 6-8 p.m. and running on Wednesday evenings for eight weeks until October 30, this is a project-oriented course that gets students involved in hand building and clay techniques that do not require the use of a pottery wheel.
Sonya Rokosh grew up overseas in Peru, a land where ceramics were imbedded in the country's history. Her interest in pottery only began after she enrolled in a high school ceramics class on the West Coast. After obtaining a small artistic scholarship for her pottery work in high school, Sonya Rokosh was devoted to keeping this creative outlet as a part of her life. Gaining her training from classes taught by West Coast artists such as Peggy Elmes, Ron Douglas, and Ann Coleman, Sonya is starting to develop pieces that are quirky and fun. She has sold work in local markets while living on Vancouver Island, and also enjoys customizing commission pieces for clients. Her personal studio and business, Earthenfern, is based out of her third generation family cabin at Wasa Lake Provincial Park.
Over the eight-week course, students will be guided through different projects ranging from pinch pots to birdhouses, with the opportunity to create up to six final pieces over the duration of the course. The cost of this workshop? Only $96 per person, supplies included. This workshop would make a great gift for an artistic friend, a great activity to take up with a friend or family member, or as a treat for younger art enthusiasts just beginning to explore artistic mediums.
Individual classes can be booked at $12 a person. Please get in touch to find out what projects run on which evenings or check out the Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/CranbrookArtsCouncil. As with all workshops, please register early to avoid disappointment.
All workshop registrations can be made through Helen at the CDAC office either in person at the Cranbrook and District Arts Council's location in room 104, 135 10th Avenue South or over the phone on 250-426-4223.