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Classes in Kelowna UPCOMING SPECIAL WORKSHOP: A creative approach to Contemplating the Holiday Season  2 day workshop Sage-ing Through Sculpture led by Lori Mairs . Preparatory Session: December 1, 7-9 pm.   Sculpture Making Session: January 9, 10 am - 4:00 pm. Lori is artist in residence at the Woodhaven Nature Conservancy. Currently she is collaborating on an ECO ART research project with UBCO that brings artists into the park to interpret their work in direct response to nature. She was a participant in the Creative by Nature workshop held by the Sage-ing program earlier this fall and saw connections to her own sculpture practice. For  Sage-ing With Creative Spirit  she is developing a delightful approach to creatively contemplate abundance over the holiday season ­ another way of sharing with family and friends. In a preparatory session, December 1, 7-9PM Lori will introduce the approach for setting up creative connections with the bits of 'stuff' man-made and natural, that you encounter over the season. Lori will then lead you to translate 'your collection' into a personal expression in a full day workshop January 9th, 10AM to 4PM. Thoughts and emotions go through a kind of alchemy when viewed creatively. We find wisdom we might have missed by revisiting memories. Sign up early. Class size is limited. The workshop is free but participants must purchase an $8.00 journal to be used throughout December. Click here to register. Lori Mairs Lori Mairs graduated from UBCO in 2005 with an honours degree in Fine Arts. She was born and spent her early childhood in Auckland New Zealand although her matrilineal heritage is 9th generation Canadian. Her family arrived in Canada via Trinity Bay Newfoundland prior to the turn of the 19th century, settled in Montreal then migrated west to Haida Gwaii where her grandmother was born. She has deep roots to the earth and a keen interest in history. Lori currently acts as caretaker at the Woodhaven Nature Conservancy in Kelowna BC. She knows where the deer sleep. Her work is shown in public galleries and housed in both private and public collections. Lori often uses steel as a base note for her sculptural work adding highlights of beeswax, rope, bone and fabric. Rare and unusual items from the natural world integrate with tools and industrial materials to describe time in a state of flux. She deconstructs, repositions, and reframes the elements in her works to give voice to relationships both visible and invisible, and the common experience that informs us of our citizenship on the planet. She invites us to make connections we might not otherwise have seen. www.lorimairs.com Lori also has a complimentary commercial art practice designing high end jewellery made with naturally shed antler pieces sourced from deer, moose, elk and caribou. www.publicbone.com Relax Into Art "What I dream of is an art of balance ... a soothing, calming influence on the mind, rather like a good armchair which provides relaxation from physical fatigue." - Henri Matisse Tuesdays in the Drawing and Painting Studio at The Rotary Centre for the Arts. Go to Contact to register or make inquiries. 9:30-12 noon:  HeART FIT classes in Spontaneous Process Painting A co-op group which was initiated by Karen Close and runs throughout the year. Supplies are available for your first class or bring your own. Depending on interest, the following classes will be scheduled for Tuesday afternoon times. Please contact keclose@yahoo.com  if you wish more information. 1-4:30 pm November 16 and November 23:  Fibre Art Play Pippa Dean-Veerman beckons you into the world of playful spaces and places. Journey into reflective moments from past 'eras' of your lives, intuitive  imaginings or simply make functional fibre art with its own story.  We will use colours to express our inklings - big and small - using processes of weaving, felting and basketry. $5-$10 supply cost ... depending on usage. November 9th 1:30 to 4:30 pm:  Playing With Creativity and Inspiration Exploring "self" through painting and/or writing - "Many people are convinced they lack an artistic side". Cheryl Hann and Carolyn Cowan believe everyone has the potential for creative expression and that creativity is essential for wellness. All that is lacking is a trust that creativity exists for each person and a process to tap into that imagination. Join them to tap into your own imagination and inspiration. A Sage-ing Experience   Text and image right by Dave Griffiths My Civil Engineering profession for 35 years took me into the Forensics of structure failures and the solutions if there were any. As a result, instead of following the design forms and processes and computer programs which were in some ways quite narrow and restrictive and commercially repetative, I was able to exercise "the little grey cells" in much more lateral and creative ways. The work was always exciting as each problem was completely different and I often got so absorbed in finding or inventing solutions (that often saved clients and their insurers huge amounts of money) that I seemed to live in an exciting world in which there were no limits to possibilities and options. The solutions were often times remarkably simple and elegant as well, and as a result, extraordinarily satisfying. Whilst involved with a problem I found that there was actually a passion for the creative side that took "work" out of the formula limitations and into a whole new experience of life.  8 years ago I started painting and discovered the same passion and joy that could so absorb me that I was again living in a realm of such fullness that sight was more intense and focussed, colours were somehow more vibrant and I was being caught up in the breathlessness of a reality that folk around me seemed unaware of. I was seeing beauty in the most "mundane" objects.... only I realised that nothing in this world is mundane. With eyes to see and open-heartedness to accept, and the intuitive and creative (and often neglected) right brain beginning to come into play (and that's a good word for it) my experience with painting has brought me to a growingly integrated experience of life as a whole. Health and attitude has been so positively affected that the idea of "getting old" has become a joke. (I'm "never to old to have a happy childhood") The joy and expectation of all that life has on offer is really exciting Teaching recently I noticed that as long as one of the studentswas concentrating on the creation of a new watercolour the tremor that "Parkinson's" was causing was put on hold as the right brain took over issuing the instructions and as a result the brain and muscles (neither of which are faulty) were functioning as required with the unimpaired nerve links from the right side in charge. (This process is well documented scientifically, but it was marvellous to see.) It is my experience that regenerating the almost lost right brain functions and reintroducing the intuitive and creative "other half" our human life experience, physically, mentally and spiritually is brought into a synergy that is literally rejuvinating. Life takes on a "fulness" that we always dreamed existed! We can soar with Eagles and run with Unicorns as we did when we were young and now we also have experience and hopefully a growing wisdom with which to appreciate it! Facilitators Fall 2010: Karen Close BA, BEd (visual arts specialist). Study of Canadian Art History gave Karen an awakened sense of cultural inheritance and the need for creative expression. The history of fine art teaches that although art has value as a commodity, more importantly it is a resource to help us communicate with each other the beliefs and values that will be our legacy. Art is about discovering and sharing who we are. Teaching English and Visual Arts for 30 years also gave Karen deep appreciation for the healing benefits of creative expression. Retirement in 1995 gave her the opportunity to meet vibrant senior Canadian artists and to hear their stories. She resolved to share her discoveries and advocate for the preventative and healing benefits of ArtsCare. Karen is a painter and author of two books. Unfinished Women: Seeds From My Friendship With Reva Brooks chronicles Close's friendship with the Canadian photographer Reva Brooks. Their efforts created the exhibition Reva Brooks, photographer which opened January, 2000, at The National Gallery of Canada. Spirit of Kelowna: A Celebration of Art and Community profiles a community art project. In 2005, Karen presented at the international conference of the Society for the Arts in Healthcare, Edmonton, AB, and in 2006 at the Canadian Society for Education through Art, Winnipeg, MA. Her heART FIT classes at the Rotary Centre for the Arts, Kelowna, 9:30am every Tuesday, lead participants to "honour the urge to create ... for ourselves and for others." Carolyn Cowan My professional background is in business administration and project management in London , England and Toronto . These jobs required detailed, left brain functions. The work left me dissatisfied with the direction of my life. Privately, I continued to hone my writing skills and, late last year, moved to Kelowna and have embarked on a creative journey. I want to explore with fresh curiosity the creative process involved in writing and painting. Creativity is, I believe, born in everyone: all that's required is getting your head out of creativity's way. One constant in my life has been writing. From an early age, writing skits at summer camp and then keeping a daily journal, writing advertising copy and completing a variety of writing and related courses infused some balance in my life. I prefer the short forms, like poems and copywriting. Their process requires concise, exact, visual and compelling phrases that express an idea with subtlety in a few persuasive words. Then, just over a month ago, I discovered painting. With a paint brush and canvas, I had another vehicle to continue the discipline started 30 years ago of trying to live in the moment or become conscious for long periods of time. That was my base for creativity. After many years of practice off and on (I'm lazy), I had what I call a "shift of consciousness". Where before daily life unfolded sequentially -- one event after another -- suddenly I saw the same event occurring simultaneously in time. My journey has instilled enthusiasm and ideas I want to explore with others ready to discover their own creative spirits. Cheryl Hann RN, HN-BC Cheryl is passionate about people and their wellness. A registered nurse for 28 years and a US certified holistic nurse, she has devoted the last 15 years to expanding her knowledge in the areas of stress management and self-help tools. Over the years using imagery as a therapeutic tool in nursing practice, Cheryl developed a deep respect for the intelligence of the creative mind and the mind-body connection.. This has prompted her to explore various avenues of creative expression and develop a special interest in the relationship between creativity, health and wellness. She believes that by tapping into our creative self, we are tapping into the expert within and positively engaging in our own wellness process. http://www.wisdomquotes.com Pippa Dean-Veerman BA, Diploma of Fine Arts, B.Ed, M.Ed (art) The more Pippa teaches the languages of creative expression the more she realizes that it is all about inspiration. Regardless of whether it is a class or a presentation she offers students permission to play. She invites them to use whatever tools might be in hand at the time, be they silk fibres of intense colour, a camera to capture a reflection of light on a water droplet, or ideas for an exciting learning plan. Pippa loves to experiment with photography, plant gardens, and kayak/sail in wild places. Educating others on the 'art' of teaching in many visual art forms she urges them to entertain new ideas and ways of expression.  Although art has played a role in her health and wellness through life and its transitions, she has recently realized that art can be used to advocate for wilderness. Conceptual art using natural dyes has evolved into speaking with images and poetry on behalf of wild places to garner support for their protection.  This has emerged as a new ethereal art form for Pippa. Pippa lives in Lake Country with her family where she serves on the Public Art Advisory Commission, coordinates the fibre art at ArtWalk, teaches at UBCO, offers inspiration to educators, and travels to talk at art education conferences. Everyone has the potential to be creative is Pippa's philosophy. When we live in an artful and 'noticing' way our lives become enriched. The essence is tapping into the creative flow of energy where life and art are inseparable. Art making in nature develops self-awareness and connectedness to the planet.  Pippa believes both deliberate and incidental outcomes of the creative processes can be educational and healing, but that's not why we do it. We do it because it feels good. It connects us to inner and outer beauty. Outdoor art is supreme. www.quailrockstudio.ca | pippa.dv@gmail.com Bonnie Anderson Bonnie Anderson, well known artist and owner of Potters Addict Ceramic Art Centre, studied at the University of Calgary where she triple majored in painting, printmaking and ceramics. Before coming to Kelowna, Bonnie worked as a ceramic arts instructor for the City of Calgary from 1986-1990. In 1990, the lure of the Okanagan brought Bonnie to Kelowna with a dream and a goal of establishing a Ceramic Arts Centre. Since then Bonnie has been teaching pottery to children, youths, adults and seniors in her studio Potters Addict. Bonnie's love of clay is most vividly shown in her hand-built clay creations which are finished in the ancient method of Raku. All of Bonnie's clay works, sculpture and paintings are manufactured and sold in her studio/gallery at Potters Addict. As an artist, Bonnie has a thorough knowledge of Raku and smoke firing techniques. Paint media, such as watercolour, oil, gouache and acrylic painting techniques along with woodblock, intaglio, silkscreen, lithography, and photography all showcase Bonnie's amazing talents. Bonnie's clay works and paintings are collected all over the world. Artist Statement I try to stay away form the "Traditional Styles" of ceramics, and enjoy creating funky Raku products. Picasso and Matisse have been a great source of inspiration for me and are reflected in much of my clay work. Women are the main themes of most of my work and women with a good sense of humor are those who appreciate and purchase it. When I moved to the Rotary Centre for the Arts in 2002 from my studio on Sexsmith Rd. where I made pottery and taught about clay and its possibilities for thirteen years, I began to have an incredible yearning to pick up a paint brush and paint again. What else could I expect being surrounded by all kinds of painter personalities and their varied mediums? I am currently working on a series of landscapes using negative painting techniques on black canvas. (This is my black or dark period) But I must add this is one of the more enjoyable periods of my life and is not actually dark or black at all. I am also using negative glazing techniques on my latest line of porcelain ware which has motivated me to continue throwing again. It's great having more than one medium to occupy the mind and body for when one is at a low period in one medium another medium can be inspiring and uplifting. Going back and fourth can be a challenge but most of the time it's just plain fun. I just wish there were more hours in the day for me to play. www.bonnieandersonartist.com Alexandra Babbel Alexandra Kosachukova Babbel, being the only American-born member of her family, has approached her music with a great sense of privilege. Her German mother and Ukrainian father met and married in a displaced persons' refugee camp after fleeing the Stalinist terror in Ukraine and later immigrated to the United States where Ms. Babbel was born.   Ms. Babbel's opera career in Chicago included the title role in the World Premiere production of Philip Hagamman's opera, The Aspern Papers, together with soprano roles with the Lincoln Opera and the Milwaukee Opera Company in Puccini's La Boheme, performing both the roles of Mimi and Mussetta. Performances in Canada, Germany, England,Switzerland and solo concert tours in Russia and Ukraine included guest appearances with members of the Kiev Conservatory of Music, Moscow's conductor Evgeny Vechenko, and recital performances in association with the Britten-Pears School. Alexandra Babbel holds degrees from the University of Michigan, the University of Alberta and Northwestern University. Her accomplished background as a soprano soloist and her voice teaching has produced several successful young singers who have gone on to enjoy voice scholarships and careers in music. She held the faculty position of Voice Department Head at Trinity International University in Deerfield, Illinois before relocating to Canada.   Her contribution to the Okanagan has been remarkable as she continues to appear as soloist with numerous choirs, ensembles, and orchestras as well as produce shows including over a hundred participants with the intention of exposing new audiences to the beauty of classical music. She frequently collaborates with other art forms such as the ballet,stringed instruments, flamenco dance, and the pipe organ to present a kind of "Cirque de Solleil" of classical music. Devon L. Muhlert, B.Ed, CMP (Certified Music Practitioner) Devon L. Muhlert enjoys crossing the arts disciplines and encouraging people to leap the boundaries with her. Writer, musician, poet, music director and songwriter, she has spent decades working on different projects in those fields. She dramatized the life of several characters, including that of historic Catherine Schubert of Armstrong, who joined an all-male party journeying overland to B.C. Devon performed the monologue she'd written, titled: One Woman Can Make a Difference. Convinced that we can all make a difference by how we approach what happens to us, she facilitates many classes in creativity of one sort or another to coax those gems out of people to help enhance their life. Devon's column ran weekly for four years as Devon's Delusions. It was an excuse to poke fun at our world that takes it itself so seriously. Her choral music has been used in Australia and the U.S., as well as in Canada and by Devon's choirs. She recently released 2 CD's. Soothing Sounds for a Sound Body is a CD with two music meditations with guided imagery, including her flute improvisations, and waves of the Pacific. The other is Shimmers of Silver, with flute stylings of her original music. Often she has people crystallize their healing experience by expressing it in Haiku. She loves to dream up new ideas and hopes you will join her in reclaiming our valuable birthrights - our creativity. "The beauty of the arts is, even flaws can flow back into beauty." Haiku by Devon L. Muhlert, 2006 Tina Siddiqui Born and raised in Pakistan, Tina travelled within the country and overseas with her diplomat father. Trained as a Graphic Designer, her artistic journey has been that of an explorer. Working in a variety of mediums, pastels are the medium of preference. Often enjoying an "explosion" of colours, Tina finds working with a limited palette equally thrilling. Light cascading over forms, natural or manmade, is the driving force that compels her to paint as she strives to capture a specific moment in time. Her main interest is the multi-dimensional aspect of the human form; hence, a major part of her works is figures and faces. Since 1976 she has exhibited in group and solo shows in United Kingdom, USA, Canada, Pakistan and Dubai and awarded for portraiture and abstract paintings, namely 2003 Open International Portrait Competition in Toronto. In 2004 Tina moved to Kelowna after a 13 year stay in Dubai. As an art educator for over 25 years, she was the recipient for the Art Educator Award for the Okanagan Arts Awards 2009. Teaching for her is exciting as she finds joy in her students' journey for self expression and she firmly believes it enriches her as an artist. She currently teaches a variety of classes in Kelowna, West Kelowna and Vernon. http://creativepassion-tina.blogspot.com/ http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/tina-siddiqui.html Dona Sturmanis Dona Sturmanis, MFA Creative Writing, is a long-time professional writer, editor and teacher. In the business for 30 years, she has won 18 different awards for her fiction and poetry. She has taught classes in writing, publishing and presentation at Okanagan College and other venues since 1992. Her workshops are designed to foster trust and self-confidence in personal and public communication, both in writing and presentation. Home : About : Classes in Kelowna : Blog : Contact