Summer programs at the Moose Jaw Museum & Art Gallery are going full tilt — highlights include puppet-making and fantasy world dioramas with artist Sylvia Ziemann, whose exhibition Keeping House at the End of the World is on display until August 28.
Ziemann’s first puppet-making workshop ran from July 11 to 15 with MJM&AG summer students Erica McMaster and Andree Stevens facilitating. Participants learned to make puppets using air dry clay, fabric, paint, and other repurposed materials, along with a persona and background story for their creation.
Stevens is from Montreal and was brought to Moose Jaw through the Katimavik National Experience program. She studies psychology and biology at Concordia University. She has previous experience working with children and has enjoyed helping with arts workshops this summer.
“It’s a lot more slow-paced (in Moose Jaw) than I’m used to,” Stevens smiled. “It feels like I’m relaxing … so it’s been nice and the people here are absolutely amazing. Especially right here in the museum … Christy and all my co-workers have made me feel super welcome.”
Christy Schweiger, the MJM&AG education co-ordinator, said that summer programs have been going very well and that the first puppet-making workshops were fantastic. “They made puppets related to what the artist is doing in the gallery. In fact, we’ve extended it to a program we’re offering for adults in August.”
The next workshop with Ziemann is August 13 and 14 from 1 to 3 p.m. and is for teens and adults. It is $75 to sign up with materials included.
“What people will be doing is creating a creature very much like those in my “Carnival at the End of the World” piece,” Ziemann explained in a phone interview. “I’ve done this workshop before online with the Dunlop Art Gallery, and it was hugely successful, people loved it.
“I think as adults, we don’t engage in that kind of play anymore … The creativity that comes out of people who have not had an art practice before is just amazing to see. … I think that’s what I like the most about doing these workshops for adults — when adults get into it, they realize, ‘Oh, I kind of forgot what it was like to play and to be totally focused on something creative.’”
Other upcoming classes include:
- Ages 5-6 ($80)
- July 25-29: A Bug’s Life/la vie d’un insecte (French), 9:30-11:30 a.m. with Andree Stevens
- August 15-19: Maritimes Art, 9:30-11:30 a.m. with Erica McMaster
- Ages 7-9 ($80)
- July 25-29: A Bug’s Life, 1-3 p.m. with Erica McMaster
- August 15-19: Maritimes Art, 1-3 p.m. with Cora Melanson
- August 22-26: Art from Your Kitchen, 9:30-11:30 a.m. with Erica McMaster
- Ages 10-11 ($80)
- August 8-12: Cartoons & Characters, 9:30-11:30 a.m. with Erica McMaster
- August 22-26: Art from Your Kitchen, 1-3 p.m. with Cora Melanson
- Ages 12+ ($90)
- August 8-12: Cartoon & Character Drawing, 1-4 p.m. with Charles Buchanan
Students 5 to 18 are required to wear medical grade masks for in-class activities. The MJM&AG is short-staffed, Schweiger explained, so masks are necessary to keep everyone healthy and prevent cancelled programs.
Individuals presenting financial need can contact the MJM&AG for information on sponsorships.
Call 306-992-4471; email [email protected]; register in-person at 461 Langdon Crescent; or register online at mjmag.ca/summer-art-programs.
