Pulp Sculpture and Mask-making

We had another great weekend of workshops a few days ago. George Couchie taught native mask-making techniques and introduced the participants to the "grandfather teachings". That was at the Westlake Gallery. Over at the Whitewater, Janet Stahl-Fraser led an enthusiastic groups of artists on a journey to create beautiful cattail pulp sculptures. It was a bit messy, but also lots of fun and perfect for the Northern Arts and Crafts Movement, as we learn together how to bring our art practices closer to nature.

Full Weekend of workshops!

George Couchie and Janet Stahle-Fraser will be leading workshops this weekend at the Westlake Gallery and Whitewater Gallery respectively. Janet's course on Pulp Sculpture will be "messy but great fun", she's asking participants to bring in tall grasses and bullrushes that will crushed into pulp and dried to form a sculpting material.
George will be using plaster of paris to make traditional Anishinabic masks and will be talking about native cultural awareness. The workshop will focus on First Nations cultural practices and connections with both the natural and spiritual worlds.

Leatherworking Workshop results in new booties for all!!

Amanda Bellefeuille is a really wonderful teacher who inspired a full compliment of students at this year's Northern Arts and Crafts Movement Leatherworking Workshop. Here's a photo from that event from August 14 and 15, 2015.

IMAGES from Darkroom Workshop

Anthony Tremblay's workshop on analogue photography and the darkroom was a great success. We only had four participants, but this was perfect because the darkroom that the Northern Arts and Crafts Movement set up for the workshop only had four enlargers! Here's a shot of Anthony chatting to some of the students inside the "pop-up darkroom"

Only 2 spots left for Leatherworking

Amanda Bellefeuille's workshop is coming up this weekend. Please message us at: northernartsandcraftsmovement@gmail.com for more information on how you can register and access our Summer Workshop Bursary Program!

Shots from the Raku Workshop

Raku Workshop participants spent a few weeks preparing bisque-fired ceramic works for the workshop that's happening this weekend out at Joan Spears Pottery Studio in Callander. The pieces were glazed yesterday (Saturday) and then fired in an outdoor kiln today. The weather was great throughout and spirits were very high. It was a long tough weekend for all, but so many great pieces were fired and it was so exciting to be there for the "Grand Reveal". Stunning irridescent works of art in clay were the result. Well DONE...EVERYONE!!

2 Popular Workshops This WEEKEND

Two amazing workshops going on this weekend. My friends at the Potters Guild are hosting a Raku Workshop with Toronto and Callander ceramic artist, Joan Spears! Participants will come out of that weekend with four or five beautiful original pots!! This workshop has been full booked for over a month and we've had to turn away several folks!
And over at Gallery 150 West there is still some room in the workshop to learn from Amanda Bellefeuille all about leatherworking and her amazing fabric design practices. For more information on the workshop and how you can receive a bursary to attend, e-mail us at northernartsandcraftsmovement@gmail.com OR
phone us at 705-358-1764
Here's a poster for Amanda's workshop.

Digital Photo Workshop is Coming Soon

We're all really excited to offer this new course on methods for transferring digital images to found objects and wearable surfaces. Reno will be using gel transfer processes and stencils to create artworks on birchbark, t-shirts, jackets and hand-made papers.

Stainless Steel Casting added to Smithing Course

Lori Grace Nickerson is an amazing jeweler and sculptor from North Bay. Her workshop in a couple of weeks will include plaster casting in sand and some great new techniques in stainless steel smithing. For anyone interested in contemporary jewelry-making, repurposing old metal objects and creating wonderful wall sculptures...this is the workshop for you. Again, don't hesitate, this workshop is coming up fast!

Still time to sign up for the Analogue Photo course being held at White Water Gallery, August 21 and 22ndt

The Registration and Orientation evening session will be held at Gallery 150 West, 150 Oak Street West on Friday evening, August 20th. Anthony's workshop will be held at White Water Gallery.
Here's the new poster for his workshop.

Another in a Series of Posts highlighting some of the workshops that The Northern Arts and Crafts Movement is offering this summer. Ashleigh Couchie learned her chosen artform from her father, Dean Couchie and has been practicing this traditional craft for the past ten years. In this workshop Ashleigh will be helping students to create new beaded artworks and will be discussing how contemporary artists are embracing this form and adding new design content, styles and even bead elements.

Raku Course is Almost FULL

Really getting excited about the weekend workshop for Raku Pottery that will be held at the new North Bay and Area Potters Guild on August 7 (registration and orientation evening), August 8th and August 9th. So many really talented folks are participating!

Here's the poster for Joan's Workshop.

Digitization and Film Collage Poster

Here is the first in a series of posters we are developing for each of the upcoming NACM workshops for the summer of 2015. This first weekend course will focus on digitizing old home movies, videos, slides, and other formats of "analog" photography and then incorporating these into your own original videos and time-based narratives.

Also just wanted to let all my artist friends know that this is A GREAT DEAL and that they should sign up for some of these amazing workshops TODAY, because the spots are going fast! I'm really excited about Reno's course of digital photography and Anthony's workshop on analog photography and the darkroom!

Venues for this Summer's workshops

Here is an index of this summer's line-up of workshops to be held in beautiful downtown North Bay and out in the region's forests and beaches.

Film Collage Workshop                             July 17-19
VENUE:                                                     Near North Mobile Media Lab
                                                                    124 Main Street East, Studio C,
                                                                    North Bay, ON      P1B1A8

Contemporary Ceramics Workshop           July 17-19 (Postponed to October, 2015)
VENUE:                                                     North Bay and Area Potters Guild Studio
                                                                    128 Oak Street East,
                                                                    North Bay, ON     P1B1A1

Sand-Casting and Smithing Workshop      July 24-26
VENUE:                                                     150 West Gallery
                                                                    150 Oak Street West,
                                                                    North Bay, ON    P1B1A1

Contemporary Beadwork Workshop          July 24-26
VENUE:                                                     Westlake Gallery
                                                                    Unit #4, 374 Fraser Street,
                                                                    North Bay, ON    P1B3W7

Carving Workshop                                      July 31-Aug. 2
VENUE:                                                     150 West Gallery
                                                                    150 Oak Street West,
                                                                    North Bay, ON    P1B1A1

Raku Pottery Workshop                             August 7-9
VENUE:                                                     North Bay and Area Potters Guild Studio
                                                                    128 Oak Street East,
                                                                    North Bay, ON     P1B1A1

Digital Photography on Birchbark             Sept. 4-6
VENUE:                                                     Nbissing High School
                                                                    Couchie Memorial Drive,
                                                                    North Bay, ON  

Leatherworking Workshop                        August 14-16
VENUE:                                                     150 West Gallery
                                                                    150 Oak Street West,
                                                                    North Bay, ON    P1B1A1

Analogue Photography Workshop             August 20-22
VENUE:                                                     White Water Gallery
                                                                    122 Main Street East,
                                                                    North Bay, ON    P1B1A1

Drum-making Workshop                           September 11-13
VENUE:                                                     150 West Gallery
                                                                    150 Oak Street West,
                                                                    North Bay, ON    P1B1A1

Pulp Sculpture Workshop                          September 11-13
VENUE:                                                     White Water Gallery
                                                                    122 Main Street East,
                                                                    North Bay, ON    P1B1A1

Here's a shot of the exterior of one of our confirmed VENUES for the Northern Arts and Crafts Movement, 2015. The new North Bay and Area Potters Guild Studio is located at 128 Oak Street East. We'll be holding workshops on Contemporary Ceramic Glaze Methods and Photo-stenciling on clay on July 17th (registration get-together), 18th and 19th. 

Keith Campbell is a well-known ceramic artist and we are very honoured to be able to offer this wonderful workshop on new methods in pottery.

Keith's work can be viewed at: keithcampbell.ca

Welcome to the Official Northern Arts and Crafts Movement Blog

Our first outdoor arts activism workshops will be held July 17 to 19 at two venues in downtown North Bay, Ontario. Film Collage and Digitization Processes, lead by media artist, Dermot Wilson, will immerse students in found film, new digital capture processes, a field trip to a lost film library and explore the treasure trove of VHS films that wait for us in our basements and attics.

On the same weekend, Premier Award Nominee and master ceramicist, Keith Campbell will be leading a workshop on Contemporary Ceramic Glazing Methods and Photo-stencilling on Clay. This workshop will be great for all ages and experience levels.