In this newsletter: 

• On Exhibition
• Maker Space Update
• Artspace Hits the Big Smoke
• Call for Exhibition Proposals
• Volunteer Spotlight
• Artspace AGM

Odyssey of Forever Things / Sarah Elise Hall
June 10 - August 12, 2023

This last month in the Maker Space has been one for the books! Highlights (to name a few) include welcoming new volunteers to the team, getting our sewing machine up and running, assembling our new button maker, and tea and quality time with artists during our drop-in hours.

We’ve also had a great month of Monday Night Open Studios! This program has been a wonderful success, and we could not be more grateful to our volunteers, guest instructors, and each person who came through the door to make art with us.

Importantly, with folks away on holidays, and the business summertime can bring, we have decided to PAUSE our Open Studio for the month of August. We will taking the next few weeks to reflect, evaluate, and invite feedback from volunteers, community members, and staff, so that we can come back with a (sustainable) BANG this fall! Keep an eye on our socials for updates. 

Got a creative itch to scratch this August? NO WORRIES!  Our Maker Space drop-in hours on Fridays and Saturdays will remain, along with other days of the week by appointment.
 

Questions about the Maker Space? Don't hesitate to send Jillian an email at programming@artspaceptbo.ca!  She is happy to chat and answer any questions you might have.
 

Workshop Summary

Big thanks to everyone who participated in our two-part Garden Flag Printmaking Workshop! 

Over the course of two Sundays, participants learned how to create a block print from start to finish, along with techniques for transferring prints to fabric. Everyone brought a unique perspective and style to their work, and the results were simply charming. Take a look at the photos below for a snapshot of how the event turned out!

Sad to miss it? Not to worry! We will definitely be hosting this one again along with a series of exciting new workshops this fall, including acrylic painting, sustainable sewing, intaglio printmaking, and more. 

In July, Jillian, Leslie, and Eryn had the wonderful opportunity to travel to Toronto and participate in we are what we care for, a 5 day symposium on care and transformation in the arts sector. 

Over the course of the week, we learned from a fantastic line-up of artists, curators, art directors, and community art practitioners, and joined in discussions on how we can transform our practices, to centre rest, accessibility, and care.  

In representing Artspace, we were also grateful to learn a more complicated history of artist-run centers in Canada, and the ways we uphold and reproduce systems of white-supremacy, patriarchy, and settler colonialism to this day. 

We would like to thank the incredible team at Gallery TPW for all of their hard work in organizing and hosting this incredible event! We came home inspired, committed, hopeful, and with full hearts.

Stay tuned for further writing on this experience! We are looking forward to sharing all that we learned, along with our plans for turning the lessons into action. 

The call for proposals for 2025 exhibitions is
now open!!!
 

Closing Dec 31, 2023

Artspace is dedicated to presenting new work from contemporary artists working in a variety of disciplines. The centre strives to present art that reflects and promotes the diversity of disciplines and media that shape contemporary art practices. Proposals from emerging, mid-career, and senior artists whose works are alternative, experimental and/or critically engaged are welcome. Additionally, the centre invites proposals from not only individual artists, but artist collectives as well as prospective guest curators.

In keeping with our commitments to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, we encourage proposals from artists and curators from groups that have been historically underrepresented in Artspace's programming, such as BIPOC, migrant, 2SLGBTQIA+, disabled and/or low income artists.

Please visit our website to access our online submissions portal, and all other details. 

In short, our AGM was a perfectly lovely gathering, well attended, and equipped with ice cream. In broad strokes:

• Our outgoing Chair, Eryn Lidster, facilitated the meeting and gave her final report (there were a couple choked back tears).
• Our Interim Director, highlighted the previous Directors success, after some challenging pandemic months, in securing an OTF grant that has given all activities since a huge leg-up (kudos to Dylan Dammerman and Lucas Cabral).
• Our treasurer, Lauren Hill, delivered her first Review Engagement summary (no major surprises there).
• Our Board voted in 7 new members, expanding to its maximum capacity of 13 people. Woot!!!
• Our new Chair (former Vice Chair), Anne Pasek was voted into position, replaced by Vice Chair, Aaron Robitaille.

If you have spent some time at Artspace these past few months, chances are you’ve met our fantastic volunteer, Lauren van Eijk! 

When invited to reflect on her experience volunteering and what Artspace means to her, Lauren had this to share: 

“I am a Trent University graduate with a degree in psychology, pursuing a career in art therapy!

Artspace has been the perfect outlet for me to take my experience in psychology as well as my talents in art and combine them to help others, while also providing a means of my own personal therapy. As someone new to Peterborough, I have been introduced to the larger community of like minded artists and individuals. 

Artspace has been fulfilling and challenging. My experience as a young artist had restricted me to a specific medium, and volunteering at the centre challenged me to expand my artistic skills and push me outside my comfort zone. It has motivated me to try new styles and techniques which help me to become a better artist. 

These tools have contributed to my pursuits in reaching others through art and evoking self expression through art therapy and artistic practices. Moving forward, I look to continue to inspire and heal others as well as myself.”

Lauren brings so much warmth, positivity, and creativity to her role as a volunteer! Approachable and patient, she plays an important role in making Artspace a welcoming and friendly place to be! Join us in saying THANKS to Lauren for all that she does!