SJAC has been proud to partner with our friends and colleagues at Sculpture Saint John to bring workshops, demo days, and other educational programming to this highly-anticipated event, and we are excited to work with them again for the final symposium coming in Summer of 2022!
Workshop Description
Sculpture Saint John workshops are back for 2022! This workshop offers some theory of sculpture and an examination of different sculpting techniques. The objective of the course is to complete your own stone sculpture from concept to final presentation in an easy step-by-step process! Students will be taught to develop a feel for the stone and how to use a rasp, file, handsaw and sandpaper. Class size is limited to eight students so there is lots on one-on-one instruction with your teacher, Charles Clark. This one-day workshop will be offered on four dates.
Workshop Information
Time: 9am-5pm, with a one-hour break for lunch
Dates: Four sessions to choose from:
- Saturday, August 13, 2022
- Sunday, Augst 14, 2022
- Saturday, August 20, 2022
- Sunday, August 21, 2022
Duration: 1 day workshop
Cost: $125, all supplies included
Skill level: Beginner
Capacity: 8 students
About your Instructor
Charles Clark was born in 1957 and lived in Hanwell near Fredericton. His mother and family supported his artistic side from an early age when he enjoyed paint by numbers and doodle arts. In total he has about 50 years in the arts and has been working in most mediums: painting, woodturning, wood panel deep relief, and working with stone sculptures since the late eighties. In the last couple of years he has been an artist in residence, mentoring daytime wood works and hosting evening classes with painting and soapstone, including Fredericton’s Edventures programs.
Workshop Description
Sculpture Saint John is pleased to offer a one-day foraged fibre basketry workshop by plant fibre artist, Ralph Simpson. Locally collected plant fibres will be introduced, including daylily, iris blades and some grasses. Each participant will complete a unique, small basket by the end of the workshop.
In this workshop, participants will learn about:
- Foraging for plant fibre;
- Processing and storage techniques; and,
- Preparing the fibres for weaving.
Workshop Information
Time: 9am-5pm, with a one-hour break for lunch
Dates: Two sessions to choose from:
- Saturday, August 27, 2022
- Sunday, Augst 28, 2022
Duration: one-day workshop
Cost: $100, basic supplies included, see below for supplies to bring from home
Supplies to bring:
- Pruning clippers or kitchen scissors
- Weavable fibres, including ribbon, yarn, plant fibres from their garden, for example
Skill level: Beginner to intermediate
Capacity: 8 students
About your Instructor
Canadian plant fibre artist Ralph Simpson has developed an innovative method of weaving, bending and sculpting wood and plant fibre to create three dimensional pieces. His gracefully formed work blends bold colour and innovative material with 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 he employs principles that respect environmental sustainability.
Ralph was born and raised in New Brunswick with a love of the natural world around him. He studied biology at Dalhousie (BSc ‘77) and forest mycology at UNB (MSc. ‘89). He was employed at the Canadian Forestry Service for 35 years as a Forest Research Biologist and after retirement he attended the New Brunswick Craft and Design College where he studied Aboriginal Visual Art, graduating in 2017.
www.woodfibreartist.com / Instagram @ralphasimpson