Gallery Programs

Making Connections Through Clay*

Squish it, roll it, build it, or carve it! Learn time-tested clay hand-building techniques used by potters all over the world. Inspired by ancient clay cooking pots, storage jars and tea ware, in this workshop - create a coil pot, pinch pot and Kurinuki cup and add some decorative embellishments for fun!

Animals in Clay
View a funny short by the Aardman Animators and learn how the sculptors create characters with feelings and emotions by manipulating clay bringing animal characters and birds to life. Students will shape and hollow out clay forms and properly reattach segments as they construct an animal in clay.

Clay Whistle / Ocarina*
Make music with a Clay Ocarina! This wind instrument belongs to an ancient family of instruments important in Chinese and Mesoamerican cultures. Shape and hollow a clay ball, add a mouthpiece and blow hole to make a tone. Add more holes in the clay body to create different tones – this exciting activity takes patience and closely following instructions.

Clay Tiles, Pollinators need you! You need pollinators!

One out of every three bites of food is the result of birds, bats, bees, butterflies, beetles, and other small mammals pollinating plants and sustaining our ecosystems! Students will create a simple drawing of a pollinator – Monarch, bee, etc. And then create a clay tile. Draw and shape clay segments and attach them to your tile. Bring your work to life by adding details and pressing a variety of textures into the clay.

Muddy Buddies*

Buddy up Little Muddy Buddies and prepare to get messy! Roll up your sleeves for this workshop and join the Mudworks crew as we dig playing in the clay. Grab a fistful! Squash it, score it, hollow it, roll it out, sculpt it!  Get hands-on, and explore a few cool techniques. We'll show you how and you show us what you and your imagination can make!

Canadian Artist Series: Acrylic Painting
How does art enrich our lives? Analyze an artwork from TAG's permanent collection! How do images influence our ideas and views? Students will create a colour wheel using primary colours and discover how artists use "play" and experimentation with technique as they create an acrylic painting on canvas.

Be a Botanist! Watercolour Painting
The scientist, the student, the collector and the curator, all depend on drawings and paintings of plants. It's your job as the artist to look at, study and emphasize the important characteristics of a plant; detailing characters such as veins, flowers, fruit and seeds. Students will work from examples and experiment with water washes, wet on wet, salting techniques, and wax resist.

Print it! Show your support for pollinators by crafting handmade prints of pollinators which you can show and share!

Create a drawing to transfer onto a soft lino block. Carve the lines with a special tool. Ink your block and print it onto cardstock. Make multiple prints! Or carve into your block again to create a reduction and develop a two-colour print. We use butter-soft linoleum to reduce the possibility of injury from the lino carving tool. Print it! Your choice design theme – design your name, or make a print with the theme of your choice.

Art Maniacs

You are now entering the creative zone! Dip your brushes, pinch a little clay, and get a little messy - come and play! Explore tons of art materials and cool techniques, turn on your imagination, and make amazing artwork! This busy workshop includes painting, drawing, clay and printmaking stations.