DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE

Willow Arts is thrilled to introduce new local artists to our studio this season, and welcome back some familiar favourites. There are so many exciting opportunities to explore, and we look forward to another busy and creative season!

All materials are provided and no previous experience is necessary to participate in our courses and workshops. Our programs remain at no cost to our membership because of our municipal and provincial funders, our many local supporters, and a dedicated team of staff and volunteers who believe in our vital mission and vision.

I am so excited to witness the boundless creativity, delicate moments of self-discovery, and the camaraderie that will make this season truly memorable. Looking forward to seeing you soon.

With love,
Leigh MacLeod
Founder/Director

How to Participate in Willow Arts Community Programs

Programs marked as “Drop In” are available to all Willow members. You do not need to register or commit to every session, please come on by!

Programs marked as “By Registration” require signing up in advance. There are a limited number of places in each course and workshop, and you would be committing to the full duration of the program.

Email Leigh at thewillowcommunity@gmail.com (PREFERRED) or text/call 905-328-9277 to express interest in participating in a “By Registration” course or workshop. Please indicate your 1st, 2nd or 3rd choices if you are interested in more than one opportunity. Leigh will confirm enrollment via email, and often times there are waiting lists.

Folks must be a Willow member before attending programming

Memberships 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 is required and previous experience isn’t necessary to join, learn new skills, create art, and meet awesome folks.

Membership registration can take 1-14 days. Learn more about membership and how to register on the Membership page of our website.

Open Studios

Open Studio

Day and Time: Mondays 1pm to 4pm
Dates: September 15 to December 15
skipping October 13 and November 17
Drop In
NEW! Three Hour Open Studio – 1:00pm to 4:00pm
Open Studio is a great place for self-directed learning, collaboration, connection, experimentation, and sharing resources. Bring a creative project to work on and gain inspiration by sharing space and discussing possibilities with your peers. Some basic art supplies will be available. All Willow members are welcome.

Sensory Friendly Open Studio

Day and Time: Wednesdays 5pm to 7pm
Dates: September 17 to December 10
skipping October 15 and November 19
Drop In
NEW! Sensory Friendly Open Studio Wednesdays 5:00pm to 7:00pm

This is a new, low-vibe Open Studio series for our sensory sensitive members and staff. This is a time for solo work in a low stimulation environment. We ask all participants to speak quietly and be mindful of their fellow members.

COURSES

Monoprinting with Botanicals

Instructor: June-Etta Chenard (she/her)
Day and Time: Thursdays 2pm to 3:30pm
Dates: September 18 to October 23
Art Practice: Visual Arts
By Registration

In this 6-week course, we explore mono printing with gelli plates. Participants investigate the fascinating creation of simple and multiple layered prints, make and use stencils in innovative ways, register prints, and practice working on two and three prints at a time with just one gel plate. We will use copy, tissue, and sewing pattern papers; cardstock; Tyvek; 1980s dictionary pages; and even some wet-strength tissue paper, and pages from an 1880s Centennial ‘wet letter copying book’.

Costume Design

Instructor: juice.cube (they/them)
Day and Time: Tuesdays 6pm to 8pm
Dates: September 23 to October 28
Art Practice: Textile Arts
By Registration

Join the “Couture Creature”, “Fashion Witch”, and “Garment Gremlin” — juice.cube for an introduction to designing and making costumes! The objective of this 6-week course is to learn the foundational design and sewing skills necessary to translate abstract ideas into tangible reality. Members will learn skills of fashion research, critical thinking, visual communication; pattern drafting, hand and machine sewing, garment construction and fitting; and ironing, styling and final presentation to finish a fabulous costume to display and model in a culminating runway at the Fall Season celebration!

Still Life Painting

Instructor: Anabel Gauthier (she/they)
Day and Time: Thursdays 6pm to 8pm
Dates: October 9 to November 13
Art Practice: Visual Arts
By Registration

This 6-week course will introduce participants to the fundamentals of still life painting using the classic subject of a bowl of fruit. Painting a fruit bowl is a great skill building exercise to explore a variety of acrylic painting techniques for portraying objects interacting with each other in space. Over the six weeks, participants will create initial sketches, learn how to transfer sketches to canvas, and experiment with colour, texture, shading, and layering to create a still life painting.

Mobile Photography

Instructor: Poliana Bertolai (she/her)
Day and Time: Fridays 1:30pm to 3:30pm
Dates: October 10 to October 31
Art Practice: Media Arts
By Registration

In this 4-week course, participants will explore photography as a tool for self-expression, storytelling, and emotional connection using only their mobile phones. Through guided exercises, reflective prompts, and image-making, they will develop visual literacy, sharpen their observation skills, and build confidence behind the lens.

Improv Play

Instructor: Mark Cotoia (he/him)
Day and Time: Tuesdays 6pm to 8pm
Dates: November 4 to December 9
Art Practice: Performing Arts
By Registration

Unlock your creativity in this supportive introduction to Improv performance. In this 6-week course, participants will explore the joy of improvisation in a safe, low-pressure environment perfect for beginners. Participants are invited to share their newly discovered skills at the Fall Season celebration. Whether you’re looking to build confidence, connect with others, or just have fun, this is your invitation to play!

Writing Your Inner Song

Instructor: Joe Lapinski (he/him)
Day and Time: Wednesdays 1pm to 3pm
Dates: November 5 to December 10
Art Practice: Performing Arts
By Registration

Join us for this 6-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! 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 the Fall Season celebration.

Storytelling and Form

Instructor: Dani Hummel (they/them)
Day and Time: Fridays 1pm to 3pm
Dates: November 7 to December 12
Art Practice: MultiArts
By Registration

This 6-week course will incorporate both creative writing (poetry, memoir etc.) and visual arts practices (painting, collage, sculpture etc.) By engaging in both practices, members will experience their creativity in new ways. Participants will learn how to skillfully convey their ideas by exploring their story from multiple angles, and develop new ways of creating connection between artistic mediums.

Circle of Songs

Instructor: Nicole Joy-Fraser (she/they)
Day and Time: Thursdays 1pm to 2:30pm
Dates: October 30, November 6, 13, 20, 27
Art Practice: Indigenous Arts
Drop In

Through sharing circles, storytelling and guided by Anishnaabe ways of knowing, Nicole Joy-Fraser will facilitate music making for Willow members who are interested in learning from Mother Earth’s hand drum songs while connecting to their heart centres. Explore the ways in which spirit and ceremony guide us to connect and create a group synergy of sound and song-making and discover how the medicine of music reminds us that we all have a place in creation.

WORKSHOPS

Wire Wrapped Jewelry

Instructor: Barb Baker (she/her)
Day and Time: Saturday 1pm to 4pm
Date: September 20
Art Practice: Textile Arts
By Registration

Wire wrapping is a process of jewelry making that allows people to create unique, hand-made pieces without needing expensive materials or specialized tools. This workshop will take participants through the process of creating a necklace, from selecting wires, stones, and other materials to wrapping, twisting, and finishing the piece.

Creating Galaxies with Watercolour

Instructor: Maria Virginia Parra (she/her)
Day and Time: Saturday 2pm to 4pm
Date: November 1
Art Practice: Visual Arts
By Registration

In this workshop, participants will explore how salt can transform watercolor paintings into dreamy skies and cosmic galaxies. The workshop will explore salt-reactive techniques and color blending. Participants will experiment with wet-on-wet techniques and the effects of fine and coarse salt to create a galaxy or aurora-inspired sky using their newfound skills.

Silk Fan Painting

Instructor: Xiaoli Zhang (she/her)
Day and Time: Saturdays 1pm to 4:30pm
Dates: November 8 and 15
Art Practice: Visual Arts
By Registration

Discover the elegance of gongbi, traditional Chinese fine-line painting, on silk fans in this immersive two-session workshop. Participants will gain hands-on experience with specialized techniques, work with natural pigments, and explore the rich cultural exchanges of the Silk Road – woven into the very fabric of silk painting.

Polaroid Emulsion Lifts

Instructor: Amber Lee Williams (she/her)
Day and Time: Saturday 1pm to 4pm
Dates: November 22
Art Practice: Media Arts
By Registration

This hands-on experimental photography workshop explores the magical process of Polaroid emulsion lifts. Participants are invited to bring existing photos, which will be photographed to create Polaroids for the emulsion lift process. Amber will share the process of how to carefully extract the delicate emulsion layer from each Polaroid and transfer it onto watercolour paper. Each participant will have the opportunity to create three unique emulsion lifts during the workshop.