Background

It’s Time to Get Excited.

We are hosting our second annual group exhibition in partnership with the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts Centre/Brock University. This year we can exhibit up to 40 Willow members. You can find more information below- this is an exciting year for exhibiting artists!

We are offering 12 artist-led Open Studios leading up to the exhibition deadline, which is plenty of time to develop new work and complete works in progress. We’re here to help, and we have lots of supplies on hand.

We are offering some amazing studio courses this season from songwriting and creative writing, to experimental photography and the return of the choir. All dates and details are listed below.

The studio will be bursting with excitement as we prepare for the exhibition. We will be adding some new dates in June to celebrate the exhibition soon so stay tuned to social media and emails, we’ll be in touch!

With hope and love,
Shauna MacLeod
they/she
Founder/Director of Willow Arts Community

Open Studio
with Tricia Franklin (she/her)

Dates: April 8 – May 13 (6 Mondays)
Time: 1 – 3 PM 

Location: Willow Arts Creative Studio at Silver Spire
Drop-in, Willow Members

Tricia Franklin has a background in drawing, painting, murals, sculpture, and mixed media and is here to help bring your ideas for the exhibition to life. Come work in the studio alongside fellow member artists and gain access to supplies (some restrictions will apply). The studio is available to all members whether you are exhibiting work or not.

Open Studio
with Andrea Eby (she/her)

Dates: April 9 – May 14 (6 Tuesdays)
Time: 3 – 5 PM 

Location: Willow Arts Creative Studio at Silver Spire
Drop-in, Willow Members

Andrea Eby has an extensive background in drawing and design and will be in the studio to help provide feedback towards elements of art like colour and composition, and can help research particular concepts that you may want to do. Come work in the studio alongside fellow member artists and gain access to supplies (some restrictions will apply). The studio is available to all members whether you are submitting work or not.

The Willow Choir
with Sarah Jerrom (she/her) and Mckell Lacroix Derosier (he/him)

Dates: April 9 – June 25 (12 Tuesdays)
Time: 6:30 – 8:30 PM
Location: Willow Arts Creative Studio at Silver Spire
By Registration, Willow Members

Sarah Jerrom strongly believes that anyone can learn to sing. This 12-week course is open to folks with all levels of singing experience. Using songs written by Willow members from the Songs from the Willow, choir participants will learn to sing and breathe together, and develop musical expression through dynamics and storytelling. We’ll be reviewing and building upon prior Willow Choir music (no previous Willow Choir experience needed). The Willow Choir will perform at the Exhibition Opening Reception on May 31. These sessions will have a focus on positive learning, growth as a choir community, and having fun!

Poetry: Prose
with Dani Hummel (they/them)

Dates: April 10 – May 16 (6 Wednesdays)
Time: 2 – 4 PM
Location: Willow Arts Creative Studio at Silver Spire
Drop-in, Willow Members

This 6-week creative writing course will consider Alchemy & Transformation (themes of time and ephemerality), and coincides with the anthotype course also running this season. Classes focus on creative writing education and discussion, with plenty of time to write, plus peer editing. Members will have the opportunity to submit their work to be published in a collaborative book alongside the experimental photography (anthotype) course. This course will be provided again in the fall season.

Songs from the Willow
with Joe Lapinski (he/him)

Dates: April 18 – June 27 (11 Thursdays plus a show/rehearsal)
Time: 1 – 3 PM
Location: Willow Arts Creative Studio at Silver Spire
By Registration, Willow Members 

Join us for this 12-week song writing session where we look at a wide variety of techniques that will help in the process of songwriting: listening to music together, writing exercises, meditation, discussion, collaboration, and more! We will also spend time during classes looking at a specific genre or style of music and examining what makes it “tick”. We’ll use this as inspiration for our own writing. Our discoveries may lead to complete songs, or simply the seeds to songs that we pursue outside of class. We’ll celebrate some of our creations at an end-of-season showcase, date TBA.

Soft Sculpture
with Quinn Oberlein (she/her)

Dates: April 19 – May 24 (6 Fridays)
Time: 2 – 4 PM
Location: Willow Arts Creative Studio at Silver Spire
By Registration, Willow Members

In this 6-week soft sculpture course, Quinn Oberlein will introduce traditional and experimental approaches to creating three-dimensional fabric forms that collectively explore the symbolism of windows (looking in vs. looking out). Using a variety of discarded and repurposed materials, participants will create individual artworks that come together in a collaborative installation in the unscene exhibition at the Marilyn I Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts, where there will also be an opportunity to view and discuss the work as a group. No previous sewing or fibre arts experience necessary.

Experimental Photography: Anthotypes
with Amber Lee Williams (she/her)

Dates: May 22 – June 26 (6 Wednesdays)
Time: 2 – 4 PM
Location: Willow Arts Creative Studio at Silver Spire
By Registration, Willow Members 

Throughout this 6-week course, participants will explore the sustainable photographic medium of anthotypes by using crushed up plants to make environmentally friendly light sensitive emulsions. Because anthotypes cannot be made permanent and will eventually fade/disappear, participants will learn how to scan their images in order to have an archival copy. Members will have the opportunity to submit their work to be published in a collaborative book alongside the poetry: prose courses. Experimental photography will be provided again in the fall season.

unscene
Willow Arts Group Show

Submission Deadline: May 16, 17, 2024
Exhibition Dates: May 24 – June 15, 2024
Opening Reception: May 31, 2024
Location: Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts/Brock University, Visual Arts Gallery

The theme of the show is unscene, and we are asking members to explore ideas around their presence and connection to the overall St. Catharines art scene. How do we fit? Where do we belong? Why does our work matter? And how can our voices be heard?

This year Willow Arts is excited to offer an honorarium (CARFAC rates) to participating artists. Spaces are limited and the artwork will be curated. During the exhibition, we will be hosting a gallery visit/artist talks (date TBA) and the closing day of the show (June 15) is during the In the Soil Arts Festival weekend. This year, the exhibition will be archived in a catalogue. Email [email protected] if you have any questions.

How to Participate this Season or Join Willow Arts Community

Current Willow Members
Opportunities marked as “Drop-In” are available to all Willow members. You do not need to register or let staff know if you can or can not make it. Email Shauna and let them know if you are interested in participating in a registered course or workshop (Experimental Photography, The Willow Choir, Songs from the Willow, and Soft Sculpture). Spaces are limited, and you would be committing to the full duration of the program.

Email [email protected] (PREFERRED) or text/call 905-328-9277 if you need support or have any questions.

How to join Willow Arts Community
Folks must first register as a Willow Member before attending programming. Registration can take 1-14 days. Visit our website to learn more and email [email protected] to begin the process.

Memberships and all opportunities are free and available to adult (18+) artists and creatives with lived or living experience of mental illness/substance use in Niagara. No formal referral required and previous experience isn’t necessary to learning new skills, creating art, and meeting awesome folks.

If you would like to stay connected, join our email list