Upcoming Events and Workshops
Silly Sock Monster Puppets Family Workshop
For ages 8+, kids under 13 years old must be accompanied by an adult
Please register: 1 adult + 1 child $25, $10 for each additional child
Get ready to turn an ordinary sock into an extraordinary creature! In this playful workshop, participants will design and build their own silly monster puppet. We’ll explore how rod and-hand puppets work, then bring our creations to life through simple performance techniques. Teaching Artist and Puppeteer, Jenny Dale Stables, will guide participants as they build and decorate a muppet-style puppet, then add arm rods so your puppet can come to life with movement and personality.
Body Objects: Artists Reception & Performance
FREE, drop-in
Join us for an artists' reception of Body Objects, a showcase of collaborative work by Anna Ugolkova and Jeanne Crandall. This body of work explores the intersection between object entities and human agency through experimentation and play, and invites you to challenge your perception of the seemingly inanimate world that surrounds us. The highlight of the evening will be a live, site-specific performance piece at 7 pm.
Artists Trading Cards for NEWCOMERS
Calling all NEWCOMERS to Canada or Calgary!
FREE - please register, All ages welcome (accompanied by an adult), no experience necessary.
Join us at Sparrow Artspace for a fun and creative event where you can make and trade your own Artists Trading Cards with other newcomers in Calgary! This is a great way to meet fellow newcomers and creatives, share your work, and connect with the local art community. All suplies will be provided.
Board members Yiting Hui and Sandra Neill will be in attendance to answer any questions about our artists-in-residence program and connect newcomers to other artists resources in the community!
What Are Artist Trading Cards (ATCs)?
Artist Trading Cards are miniature works of art measuring 2.5 x 3.5 inches—the size of a standard playing card. Originating in the 1990s, the ATC movement began in Switzerland with artist M. Vänçi Stirnemann, who envisioned a way for artists to exchange their creations without monetary transactions. The concept quickly gained global popularity, fostering artistic expression and collaboration. Today, ATCs are celebrated as an inclusive and accessible way to share art and build connections within creative communities.
Opening Reception - Where The Wings Carry Us
FREE, drop-in
Join us at Sparrow Artspace for the opening of Where Wings Carry Us, a collaborative exhibition by the Shared Flight Collective — Diana Olarte, Claudia Chagoya and Doro Buch. We are three artists working between Calgary and Monterrey (Mexico), exploring migration not only as geography, but as emotion, identity, memory and resilience. We send unfinished artworks across borders and intervene in each other’s pieces — layering paint, thread, ink, and digital elements. Our process mirrors migration itself: identities shifting, stories overlapping, forms transforming through movement and connection.
Supported by Calgary Arts Development, this project grows from our shared interest in intercultural dialogue, co-creation, and artistic exchange across borders. Meet us and learn about upcoming workshops and collaboration opportunities. Come celebrate the beginning of this first chapter with us. Drinks and snacks provided. Everyone is welcome!
Paisaje Interior / Inner Landscape
This is a 2-day workshop on Fri April 17 AND Fri April 24, 6-8pm
For adults & 16+, no art experience required, registration information coming soon . . .
This workshop enables participants to explore the basic principles of watercolour and apply them to the creation of a monochromatic postcard inspired by the landscape, sky, or atmosphere of the place where they grew up. Working from memory and emotion, participants will translate personal experiences into visual form.
Taught by artist-in-residence Diana Olarte.
Stories Beneath the Surface – Inspired by Max Ernst
For adults & youth 16+, no art experience required, registration information coming soon . . .
This workshop brings together storytelling and creative mixed media techniques to explore migration, movement, and personal pathways. It builds on the work of Max Ernst, a German artist and key figure of Dada and Surrealism, whose life and work were shaped by migration and exile. Ernst found playful and inventive ways to turn memory, movement, and personal experience into images, developing experimental techniques such as frottage, grattage, and decalcomania. In his paintings, ideas of migration and transformation often surface through bird figures and hybrid forms, where technique, biography, and imagination flow together.
These ideas and methods form the starting point for the workshop and invite participants into an open, creative journey of their own. Building on this approach, participants work with creative art techniques and collage, drawing from Max Ernst’s methods and way of working. The focus stays on the creative process: layering, shifting, combining, responding. Images unfold step by step, following their own rhythm and direction. Rather than aiming for a finished artwork, the workshop invites an open exploration, where one choice naturally leads to the next.
The workshop connects to the Shared Flight artist residency, which focuses on migration and on how individual and collective paths, stories, and experiences can take visual form. It is open to people with migration histories, as well as those who are curious to learn more about migration stories through creative painting, art history, and shared exchange. Taught by artist-in-residence Doro Buch.
Closing Reception for Share Flight Collective
FREE, drop-in
To conclude the residency, the Shared Flight Collective invites the public to an open evening bringing together the works, ideas, and encounters that emerged during the residency. Visitors will have the opportunity to see the artistic processes of Doro Buch, Diana Olarte, and Claudia Chagoya and experience how the project developed over time. The closing reception is a moment for exchange and reflection—an opportunity to meet the artists, look back on the residency together, and celebrate the connections created with the community. Everyone is warmly invited to join.
Floral memories: An Introduction to Hairwork
For adults, no art experience required, registration information coming soon . . .
In this workshop, participants will explore the historic craft of hairwork while creating delicate floral forms from horsehair. Drawing from Victorian traditions, the session introduces a foundational technique for shaping sculptural flowers with this unusual material. Participants are encouraged to reflect on themes of intimacy, memory, and the body, considering how personal associations can be woven into the making process. No prior experience is required; all materials and step-by-step guidance will be provided. Taught by artist-in-residence Claudia Chagoya.
Stitch & B.I.T.C.H (Brave, Inspired, Thriving, Connected, Healing) Circle
FREE - please register, for WOMEN ages 18+
Sitch & B.I.T.C.H Circle (Bold, Inspired, Thriving, Connected, Healing)
Hey ladies! Join us for a cozy, come-as-you-choose space for WOMEN only who crave connection, creativity, and candid conversations. Whether you are stitching, creating, conspiring, or sipping tea and taking it all in, this is the space for you.
Please note that this is a CHILDREN free space
Closing Reception: Experimental Analogue
Free, drop-in
Join us for the closing reception of Experimental Analogue, a month-long open-studio residency exploring experimental and analogue photography. The evening offers a final opportunity to view works developed through darkroom techniques, alternative processes, and material experimentation. Featuring work by artists-in-residence Colleen Rauscher, Anna Young, and Brenda Mansfield, alongside pieces by members of the darkroom community.
Artists Trading Cards: Focus on Photography
FREE, please register, 18+ part of Exposure Photography Festival
Join us at Sparrow Artspace during Exposure Photography Festival for a photography-focused Artists Trading Cards session. Print your own photos at trading-card size (2.5 × 3.5 inches)* to exchange with others, or bring images to to cut, layer, and collage. A wide range of supplies will also be provided, including magazine photographs and mixed-media supplies. No experience needed—just come ready to make, trade, and connect through photography.
What Are Artist Trading Cards (ATCs)?Artist Trading Cards are miniature works of art measuring 2.5 x 3.5 inches—the size of a standard playing card. Originating in the 1990s, the ATC movement began in Switzerland with artist M. Vänçi Stirnemann, who envisioned a way for artists to exchange their creations without monetary transactions. The concept quickly gained global popularity, fostering artistic expression and collaboration. Today, ATCs are celebrated as an inclusive and accessible way to share art and build connections within creative communities.
*London Drugs prints this size
Experimenting with Cyanotype Workshop
$20, please register, 18+
Explore the world of cyanotype image-making with us in this experimental, camera-less process. Participants will work with coated paper, layering objects and transparencies to create compositions that respond to UV light. As the print is rinsed, the cyanotype chemistry develops and the image emerges — white forms against a Prussian-blue background.
This workshop will guide you through each step of the process — layering, exposure, and rinsing — so you leave with a finished cyanotype print and a clear record of how it was created. Please prepare to arrive shortly before 1pm.
Women in Photography Print Exchange
FREE, please register, 18+ in conjunction with Exposure Photography Festival
Looking to meet fellow photographers, while making female friends who share your passions and interest? So are we! Whether you are a professional, semi-professional or passionate hobbyist, we want to get to know you and what you love to photograph. Bring yourself, bring your friends — this one is for the ladies!
The evening will start with refreshments and the opportunity to mingle and get to know each other. Then we’ll move into the print exchange.
How does that work? Please bring an 8 x 10 print in an envelope, which will be placed on a central table. The envelopes will be shuffled and handed-out at random. When you get a print, share with the group what you love about it! (Kind words only, this is not a critique but a celebration!) Then the photographer will reveal themselves, talk a little about the print, and about their work in general.
Once all the prints have been exchanged, guests are welcome to stay and chat, and hopefully make a new friend or two along the way.
Stitch & B.I.T.C.H (Brave, Inspired, Thriving, Connected, Healing) Circle
FREE - please register, for WOMEN ages 18+
Sitch & B.I.T.C.H Circle (Bold, Inspired, Thriving, Connected, Healing)
Hey ladies! Join us for a cozy, come-as-you-choose space for WOMEN only who crave connection, creativity, and candid conversations. Whether you are stitching, creating, conspiring, or sipping tea and taking it all in, this is the space for you.
Please note that this is a CHILDREN free space
Vessels Closing Reception
FREE, drop-in
Join Wasakamapiwak Collective for our closing reception, where we will share our experiences and snacks!
Artists Trading Cards for Indigenous Folx
FREE, please register
The ᐊᐧᓴᑲᒪᐱᐊᐧᐠ wasakamapiwak [They all sit in a circle.] collective invite you for a special Artists Trading Cards session for Indigenous folx!
ATCs are miniature works of art, created by hand and exchanged with others—tiny canvases that spark conversation, connection, and creativity. No prior art experience is needed. You are welcome to bring some of your own supplies and we will also provide a wide range of materials—from paints and markers to collage paper, and more.
What Are Artist Trading Cards (ATCs)?Artist Trading Cards are miniature works of art measuring 2.5 x 3.5 inches—the size of a standard playing card. Originating in the 1990s, the ATC movement began in Switzerland with artist M. Vänçi Stirnemann, who envisioned a way for artists to exchange their creations without monetary transactions. The concept quickly gained global popularity, fostering artistic expression and collaboration. Today, ATCs are celebrated as an inclusive and accessible way to share art and build connections within creative communities.
Fish Skin Tanning Basics 2-Part Workshop
Workshop by donation starting at $10, please register, Ages 16+
WORKSHOP Part 1: Sat Jan 17, 10am-3pm, AND; WORKSHOP Part 2: Sat Jan 24, 10am-3pm. This workshop requires that you attend both days for a successful result.
Come to this beginner workshop and tan your own beautiful jewel-like fish leather! You will learn how to oil tan or turn fish skins to parchment. The resulting skin/leather will be strong, beautiful and versatile. It will not have a “fishy” smell but may remind you of a lovely summer day at the lake. As a bonus an indigo vat will be available if you choose to turn your fish skin a gorgeous blue.
Sparrow Artist-in-residence, Metis artist Hilary McDonnell, will show you the steps from fleshing and cleaning to softening and drying so you will go home with a beautiful piece of fish leather to start your next project or just display and admire.
Fish skin leather can be used in many ways including sewing projects and book arts. Examples of sewn pieces and book arts pieces will be available to look at for inspiration.
Come dressed in clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty as well as an old apron. Indigo will dye anything it lands on. All supplies and written instructions will be provided. There will be a one hour break at noon so please bring a bagged lunch.
About Hilary McDonnell
My name is Hilary McDonnell. I am a Metis artist, living and working in Moh’kins’tsis (Calgary) on Treaty Seven land where the Bow River meets the Elbow River. I was born and raised in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan in the lush area on the banks of the North Saskatchewan. I am hard at work learning traditional Metis skills, to bring them into my art practice today.
As a printmaker I love the delicate but extremely strong qualities of paper. As I began working with tanned fish leather, I discovered that it has the same transparent, textural and strong qualities of washi paper. I am bringing this beautiful material to making artist books and wearable accessories.
I have a BFA from ACAD (now AUArts) in Printmaking. As well as creating beaded art I make lithography, linocut, drypoint and etching prints and artist books. I am an active member of Alberta Printmakers Society. I am also a member of the Wasakamapiwak Collective.
Stitch & B.I.T.C.H (Brave, Inspired, Thriving, Connected, Healing) Circle
FREE - please register, for WOMEN ages 18+
Sitch & B.I.T.C.H Circle (Bold, Inspired, Thriving, Connected, Healing)
Hey ladies! Join us for a cozy, come-as-you-choose space for WOMEN only who crave connection, creativity, and candid conversations. Whether you are stitching, creating, conspiring, or sipping tea and taking it all in, this is the space for you.
Please note that this is a CHILDREN free space
Fingerwoven Pouches Workshop with Matt Hiltermann
Tickets by donation starting at $5, please register, ages 16+
Join us for a hands-on workshop with Metis fingerweaver/sashmaker Matt Hiltermann to learn how to make your own fingerwoven pouch.
Whether you are a total beginner or just seeking a new weaving project, join us for this workshop! Each participant will create 1 small woven pouch with a button closure. Taught by Métis fingerweaver/sashmaker Matt Hiltermann. No experience needed and all supplies will be provided.
Matt Hiltermann is a Métis historical interpreter, researcher, and artist and is one of 12 artists in the wasakamapiwak wearable collective's residency at Sparrow Artspace until Jan 31.
Matt on IG: @thesashmaker
Wasakamapiwak Collective presents a Night of Performance Art
Tickets by DONATION starting at $5, please register
🎨✨ Experience an evening like no other at Sparrow Artspace on December 7th, as the Wasakampiwak Collective presents a night of Performance Art! This unique event promises to immerse you in a world where creativity knows no bounds. Expect an intriguing blend of drag, lip syncing, and avant-garde performances that push the boundaries of traditional art forms. 🕺🎭
Arrive early to explore our mini pop-up market, open for one hour before the show, where you can support local Indigenous makers and discover handcrafted treasures that celebrate cultural richness and creativity. Don't miss this opportunity to engage with the vibrant arts community and witness performances that will captivate and inspire.
Doors open at 6 PM, and the show starts at 7 PM. 🎟️✨ Tickets are limited, and light refreshments will be served. Secure your spot for a night of artistic exploration and community celebration!
🧺✨ This event is a fundraiser for Wasakamapiwak Collective’s Vessels, a group residency and art exhibition featuring twelve local Indigenous artists.
The Vessels residency brings together Danielle Piper, Jasmine Piper, Chris Piper, Riel Starr, Matt Hiltermann, Amber Boyd, Jamie Rozema-Stinson, Hilary McDonnell, Brendan McDonnell, Patricia Grimwood, Pihêsiw Grimwood, and Sarah Whalen-Lunn as they explore “vessels” in all its meanings—baskets, pots, shoes, hides, garments, drums, containers for story, identity, memory, and tradition. Through our work, visitors are invited to experience how vessels carry culture, community, and connection between people and the land. Your donation to this event will support our residency at Sparrow Artspace!
Wasakamapiwak Collective presents Spoken Word Poetry
Saturday December 6, 6-8pm
Tickets by DONATION starting at $5, please register
🎤✨ Join us for an unforgettable evening of powerful words and vibrant culture proudly presented by Wasakamapiwak Collective! Experience the powerful voices of talented Indigenous poets who will captivate and inspire through their words. Immerse yourself in the rich tapestry of Indigenous storytelling as talented artists share their unique perspectives and experiences through the art of spoken word.
🛍️ Doors open at 6 PM, and the show starts at 7 PM. 🎟️✨ Tickets are limited. Arrive at 6pm to explore our vibrant mini-market, open one hour before the show, where you can discover handcrafted goods and authentic Indigenous-made art. It’s the perfect opportunity to celebrate Indigenous ways of making and support local artisans.
🧺✨ This event is also a fundraiser for the Wasakamapiwak Collective’s Vessels, a group residency and art exhibition featuring twelve local Indigenous artists.
The Vessels residency brings together Danielle Piper, Jasmine Piper, Chris Piper, Riel Starr, Matt Hiltermann, Amber Boyd, Jamie Rozema-Stinson, Hilary McDonnell, Brendan McDonnell, Patricia Grimwood, Pihêsiw Grimwood, and Sarah Whalen-Lunn as they explore “vessels” in all its meanings—baskets, pots, shoes, hides, garments, drums, containers for story, identity, memory, and tradition. Through our work, visitors are invited to experience how vessels carry culture, community, and connection between people and the land. Your donation to this event will support our residency at Sparrow Artspace!
Food Photography for Beginners
Please Register! Cost: Adults: $45, Students & Seniors: $30 By Donation Tickets: There are two by-donation tickets available for those with financial limitations. No proof required; honour system based on need.
Ideal for photographers, bloggers, home cooks and foodies alike, this workshop will go over the basics of planning and executing a successful food photoshoot. The first part of the workshop will cover essential styling theory and some technical knowledge—although being able to shoot on manual is not required.
During the second portion of the workshop, attendees will break-up into groups and be assigned to one of three food still life scenes: “dark,” “light,” and “colour.” Each group will have the opportunity to style one scene (the food/produce will be prepared in advance), and all students will have an opportunity to photograph each scene once styled.
Finally, attendees will come together to share what they learned, and enjoy a delicious treat after all their hard work! All students will take home a printed handout summarizing the workshop’s lessons.
Workshop Schedule:
Theory: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.: • Finding inspiration and logistics • What story are you telling? • Identifying your “hero” • Types of shots • Props: layering to add interest and context • Colour theory • Natural and artificial lighting
Break: 11 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
Practical - Styling: 11:15a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Attendees will go into smaller groups and have the opportunity to apply what they have learned by styling one of three food scenes.
Practical - Photographing: 12:15 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. All attendees will rotate through each prepared set-up and photograph each scene, applying what they have learned.
Wrap-up and questions: 1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Maximum attendees: 12, All props, food and backdrops will be supplied. Attendees will need to bring a camera and/or smartphone. Water and snacks are recommended. Please feel free to reach out to hello@sarahcomber.com any time if you have questions.
Artists Trading Cards for NEWCOMERS
Calling all NEWCOMERS to Canada or Calgary!
FREE - please register, All ages welcome (accompanied by an adult), no experience necessary. Organized in conjunction with the Calgary Women's Centre!
Join us at Sparrow Artspace for a fun and creative event where you can make and trade your own Artists Trading Cards with other newcomers in Calgary! This is a great way to meet fellow newcomers and creatives, share your work, and connect with the local art community. All suplies will be provided.
Board members Yiting Hui and Sandra Neill will be in attendance to answer any questions about our artists-in-residence program and connect newcomers to other artists resources in the community!
What Are Artist Trading Cards (ATCs)?
Artist Trading Cards are miniature works of art measuring 2.5 x 3.5 inches—the size of a standard playing card. Originating in the 1990s, the ATC movement began in Switzerland with artist M. Vänçi Stirnemann, who envisioned a way for artists to exchange their creations without monetary transactions. The concept quickly gained global popularity, fostering artistic expression and collaboration. Today, ATCs are celebrated as an inclusive and accessible way to share art and build connections within creative communities.
Kundalini in The Quiet Wild
$25 - please register, all levels welcome
Come join us for a transformative experience at Sparrow Artspace! Immerse yourself in the power of Kundalini yoga with Chantelle Styles in the midst of nature's serene beauty. Let go of stress and awaken your inner energy through this unique practice. Connect with like-minded individuals and discover a sense of peace and balance. Don't miss out on this opportunity to rejuvenate your mind, body, and spirit. See you there!
Please bring your own yoga mat, bolster and/or blanket.
Young at Heart: Art-ful Play
$5, please register
This special event features Janey Luc-German, an incredible artist who specializes in Expressive Art and Therapeutic Play. She is a member of the Perlin Foundation for Wellbeing Artist Collective and will be facilitating this workshop with Stacey Perlin.
We open the gallery space on Sunday, 23 November from 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM for a fun afternoon for the whole community, in the Sparrow Artspace Gallery.
The workshop agenda will be sent to registrants 3 days prior to the workshop, and all materials will be provided for the activities. Designed for adults of all ages.
You are invited to have some fun, connect with your community, and release some stress with friends!
Portrait Collage - Transforming self portrait into Mixed Media
$45, please register
Turn your own portrait into a one-of-a-kind artwork. In this playful, hands-on workshop, you’ll capture a simple self portrait, then cut, layer, and reimagine it with scraps, textures, and found materials to create a mixed-media collage. A unique way to explore identity, storytelling, and creativity beyond the lens. Designed for: People interested in exploring self-expression and identity through art. Beginners who may feel intimidated by photography but want a creative entry point. Mixed-media and collage enthusiasts looking to expand with photography. Anyone drawn to playful, hands-on, and personal art-making. Taught by artist-in-residence Kristy Drake.
Women in Photography Print Exchange
FREE, please register
Looking to meet fellow photographers, while making female friends who share your passions and interest? So are we! Whether you are a professional, semi-professional or passionate hobbyist, we want to get to know you and what you love to photograph. Bring yourself, bring your friends — this one is for the ladies! The evening will start with refreshments and the opportunity to mingle and get to know each other. Then we’ll move into the print exchange. How does that work? Please bring an 8 x 10 print in an envelope, which will be placed on a central table. The envelopes will be shuffled and handed-out at random. When you get a print, share with the group what you love about it! (Kind words only, this is not a critique but a celebration!) Then the photographer will reveal themselves, talk a little about the print, and about their work in general. Once all the prints have been exchanged, guests are welcome to stay and chat, and hopefully make a new friend or two along the way.
Intro to Travel Photography
Please register, This workshop is for folks 16+, of all abilities, with any level of photography experience.
Cost: Adults: $25, Students and Seniors: $15 By Donation Tickets: There are two by-donation tickets available for those with financial limitations. No proof required; honour system based on need. Still includes full access to materials and experience.
Passionate about travel photography, and curious to learn how to tell stories with your photos? Go beyond basic Instagram posts and discover how to articulate a cohesive visual story while creating a sense of place. Through exploring the dynamic neighbourhood of Bridgeland — with stops at local businesses along the way — students will learn how to tell a narrative through their work, and see one of Calgary’s most vibrant communities with new eyes. Perfect for photographers, bloggers, and travel enthusiasts, this workshop will start with composition and storytelling basics, and then employ hands-on practice to put together a photo story. Students will also receive a printed handout summarizing the workshop’s lessons, along with tips for sharing a travel story to social media.
Workshop Schedule:
Theory: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. • What is visual storytelling? • What story are you telling? • Narrowing down your story focus • Types of shots • Composition basics • Colour theory basics • Working with natural light
Break: 11a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Students will have a short break at Sparrow Artspace before heading out on the photo walk.
Practical – Bridgeland Photo Walk: 11:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. Attendees will walk through Bridgeland (from Sparrow Artspace up to Bridgeland main street) together, stopping at interesting buildings, artwork and businesses while being guided on how to tell the story of exploring Bridgeland. Workshop students will also be guided on what types of shots to get to put together a photo story. Students will also have some time to explore the area on their own.
Wrap-up and Questions: 1:30p.m. to 2 p.m. Attendees will meet at 1:30 p.m. to walk back to Sparrow Artspace together.
Maximum attendees: 12
Required Materials: Attendees will need to bring a camera and/or smartphone. Water and snacks are recommended. Please dress appropriately for the weather, as we will be walking around outside. Please feel free to reach out to hello@sarahcomber.com any time if you have questions.
Still Art - Creating a Scene
$45, please register
Learn the art of still life photography by styling your own scene and discovering how light can completely transform it. Through hands-on exercises, you’ll explore composition, shadow, and texture, leaving with images that feel alive with mood and depth. Perfect for beginners and enthusiasts who want to see photography as storytelling. Designed for: Beginners and hobbyist photographers curious about creative still life. Artists who want to learn how to use light more intentionally. Content creators who want to style and shoot their own setups. Anyone who enjoys playing with objects, mood, and storytelling through images. Taught by artist-in-residency Kristy Drake.
Medicine Wheel Teachings & Medicine Bag Workshop
By Donation starting at $5, please register, for adults and teens 16+
The Medicine Wheel and Smudging are an integral part of many First Nations and Indigenous cultures throughout Turtle Island. Chantal Chagnon shares the Teachings, Stories, History and Science behind Smudging and the Medicine Wheel. Smudging is a sacred way to cleanse, balance, understand and connect to Mother Earth. The medicines used honour the teachings of Four Directions of the Medicine Wheel. We honour and value each medicine is part of the Medicine Wheel that balances and sustains us. We will gain a deeper understanding of the balance and stories for each direction and Plant. Each individual may have a stronger connection to a particular medicine or direction depending on what is needed in their life at the time.
Chantal delves into the science behind the Medicines and explains how every Nation has their own unique way of looking at and learning from the Medicine Wheel. Although traditions, medicines and stories may be slightly different depending on the Nation, Region or individual sharing the teachings, the message is always of balance and healing. Chantal will share the importance of protocol and how to harvest medicine sustainably and respectfully. Chantal will explain the significance and balance of the Smudge, why we do it, the science and story behind it as we participate in a Traditional Smudge ceremony together.
Chantal will then lead us into creating a Medicine Bag. Medicine Bags, also called Medicine Pouches, carry our four sacred medicines close to our hearts. They protect and guide us along our journey, reminding us of our connection to Mother Earth, all living things and ourselves. Sometimes they contain stones, shells, feathers, keepsakes or items of significance in addition to the sacred medicines.
Materials we will use in this workshop include:
The Four Sacred Medicines - Sweetgrass, Cedar, Sage and Cansasa (Red Willow Bark in Place of Tobacco)
Deer, Moose, Elk or Buffalo Hide for the Bags
Suede or Leather Lacing
Bone or Antler Beads for Button Closure
Sinew for Stitching
About Chantal Chagnon
Chantal Chagnon is a Cree/Métis Multidisciplinary Artist, Educator, Knowledge Keeper and Activist with roots in Muskeg Lake Cree Nation, Saskatchewan. Cultural Wisdom and Traditional Ceremony are always present in her Teaching Artistry, as she carries her Ancestral Knowledge forward in a good way. Offering Storytelling, Songs, Drumming, Cultural Teachings, Traditional Indigenous Craftsmanship, Art Creation and collaboration has allowed Chantal to share throughout Canada and the World.
Chantal is a Two Spirit single mother of four, overcoming difficult personal experiences has cultivated a deep understanding of societal struggle. Chantal has been an activist organizing events and publicly speaking as an advocate for over 30 years. Chantal recognizes connections, culture and community are integral parts of creating understanding and acceptance. Chantal believes an equitable, sustainable World is possible when we honour Mother Earth, Learn from our Ancestors and acknowledge our Responsibility to leave a better World for Future Generations.
Nourish The Quiet Wild Opening Night
FREE, drop-in
Join us for a night of connection, joy and reflection while celebrating the dual exhibition of photographers Sarah Comber and Kristy Drake. From breathtaking landscapes that invite us to pause and reflect, to stunning, emotive still life prints and food photography that delights the senses, Sarah and Kristy’s work explores themes of womanhood, resilience, and the soft rebellion of rediscovery. Their images call us to slow down, notice beauty in the ordinary, and reclaim creativity. The evening will begin at 5 p.m., with live music, light refreshments, to enjoy while you wander through the exhibition.
Guests are also encouraged to participate in two interactive art installations, and share their favourite pieces to social media — tagging @kristydrakephotography and @sarah.comber.
New Work Exhibition and Closing Reception
FREE, drop-in
In Process Exhibition showcases artwork created during Abstract 6's month-long residency at Sparrow Artspace.
Sparrow Arts Society AGM & Art Party!
FREE, please register, everyone welcome!
7:00-7:30 pm: AGM with food & drinks.
7:30-9:00 pm: ART PARTY: Patchwork of Home – Mixed Media Workshop
Sparrow Arts Society invites you to join us for our 2nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) followed by a creative community workshop, Patchwork of Home, led by board member and artist Doro Buch.
The evening begins with a 30-minute AGM where you can hear updates on Sparrow’s past year, celebrate our achievements, and look ahead to future goals. This is a wonderful way to learn more about our work, get involved, and be part of Sparrow’s growing arts community.
After the AGM, we’ll transition into the Patchwork of Home mixed media workshop. Each participant will design a unique 20x20 cm “Home Square” using paint, collage, textiles, and found objects. You are also welcome to bring objects or supplies that remind you of home. Together, the squares will be assembled into a giant patchwork — a temporary community artwork that reflects the many ways we understand and experience home. Participants may choose to leave their piece for exhibition or take it home as a personal keepsake.
AGM AGENDA:
Call to Order
Land Acknowledgement
Declaration of Quorum
Approval of Agenda
Approval of AGM Minutes from October 30, 2024
Report from the President
Approval of Financial Statements
Appointment of Auditor/Financial Reviewer: Anne Fitz (Motion to appoint for the next fiscal year)
Adjournment
ART PARTY!
Creative Imagination
$60, please register, 16+ with some art experience
Unleash your inner artist in this imaginative workshop abstracting from photos. There will be two parts to this workshops.
a)PLAY with partial photos to create abstract designs through simplification and finding design elements. Create unique abstracts through play and experimentation.
b) Simplifying shapes and lines from a printed photo in 4 steps. Then enjoy refining with colour and mark making. Keep playing and create more unique abstract designs. Expect plenty of inspiration, creativity, and fun as you explore simplification.
Taught by artist-in-resident Ghislaine Cleiren.
Mini Abstracts on Paper
$60, please register, 18+
Join artist Claudia Lorenz for a playful evening of abstract artmaking at Sparrow ArtSpace. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll explore paint, collage, and mixed media through a guided layering process and create six unique mini abstracts to take home. All materials are included, and no experience is required—just bring your curiosity!
Artists Trading Cards: theme - HOME
FREE, please register
What does *home* mean to you? Is it a place, a memory, a community, or a feeling that lives within you? For some, home is where they’ve come from. For others, it’s where they are building a future. For some, home is deeply connected to ancestral land, traditions, and resilience.
Sparrow Artspace invites you to explore these ideas at an **Artists Trading Card (ATC) session**. ATCs are miniature works of art, created by hand and exchanged with others—tiny canvases that spark conversation, connection, and creativity.
This community art-making experience is connected to our upcoming **HOME Residency**, which brings together newcomer and Indigenous artists to reflect on, reimagine, and share perspectives on home through art.
Come create, share, and trade art that speaks to what HOME means to you. Leave with a pocket-sized collection of original artworks that hold many voices and many visions of home.
No prior art experience is needed, and people of all ages and backgrounds are welcome. All supplies are provided, with a wide range of materials—from paints and markers to collage paper, and more.
What Are Artist Trading Cards (ATCs)?Artist Trading Cards are miniature works of art measuring 2.5 x 3.5 inches—the size of a standard playing card. Originating in the 1990s, the ATC movement began in Switzerland with artist M. Vänçi Stirnemann, who envisioned a way for artists to exchange their creations without monetary transactions. The concept quickly gained global popularity, fostering artistic expression and collaboration. Today, ATCs are celebrated as an inclusive and accessible way to share art and build connections within creative communities.
YES, you Can Abstract!
$35, please register, 16+
Create unique, abstracts, using play and flow. Guided prompts and timed practices will help you into the more intuitive, right the brain flow state. Then enjoy refining, and creating additional artwork using colour and design simplification.
Taught by artist-in-residence Susan Hull.
Abstract Textile Collage
$30, please register, 16+ with some art experience
Create a collage using a variety of textile materials. The created work uses the textiles as a distinctive feature. Whether you're a beginner or looking to refine your style, this workshop will guide you through playful techniques: painting, collage, layering, painting, sewing,... Have fun playing and exploring possibilities with something unusual and unexpected.