After a summer full of creativity and fun, Meghan Krauss, AGGV Studio Coordinator, reminisces about the great times had by our Art Camp students, and looks ahead to the exciting educational opportunities coming up this fall.

The Art Gallery of Greater Victoria has had an incredible summer, filled with creativity and artistic exploration at our summer camps. We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the campers who brought their enthusiasm and imagination to our studio. Your art and energy made this summer truly special.

Image Credit: Meghan Krauss, AGGV Studio Coordinator in action!

As we embrace the transformative spirit of fall, we’re excited to continue nurturing creativity with a new array of educational offerings. For our youngest artists, we are introducing “Little Art Explorers,” a class tailored for toddlers and their caregivers one Friday a month. These classes aim to nurture early creativity through hands-on art-making and exploration.

Image Credit: Evidence of a studio buzzing with ideas, the students’ art hangs alongside examples of artworks from our current exhibitions.

Our after-school classes will provide a space for young artists to explore and create. Students can look forward to engaging in art experiments, recycling-based projects, and imaginative techniques designed for a range of ages and interests. Inspired by our exhibitions, students will interact with works such as Brian Jungen’s Prototype for New Understanding #19 from the exhibition, Generations: The Sobey Family and Canadian Art, which challenges conventional ideas through innovative sculpture, and Emily Carr’s evocative landscapes featured the exhibition, A View From Here: Reimagining the AGGV Collections.

Image Credit: A concentrating artist applying some finishing touches outside, under the Studio Tent.

Our Pro D Day camps, a new addition this fall, will offer full-day creative experiences that dive into art projects inspired by current exhibitions, including the 19th-century Chinese glazed porcelain from A View From Here and the rich array of works showcased in Generations. This exhibition highlights diverse perspectives on Canadian art, from Indigenous influences to contemporary responses, offering a broad canvas for creative exploration.

Image Credit: Jeri Engen, AGGV Educator, School and Family Programs, busy helping with classes amongst the summer studio ambience of flowers and paintbrushes.

Our upcoming family workshops invite you to explore art together, with sessions such as crafting Halloween-themed trick-or-treat bags and designing seasonal printmaking cards inspired by the Gallery’s inspiring collections.

Adults will have the chance to engage in various workshops, including sketching and painting inspired by artworks from our exhibitions, creating painted banners, and exploring clay sculpting and printing techniques. We are also excited to announce the return of “Open Studio” (formerly, “Art Social”). This program offers a relaxed environment for artists of all ages to come together, explore their creativity, and engage with ongoing projects.

Image Credit: Some dreamy effects created with oil pastels.

As we welcome this new season, we invite you to join us in celebrating and exploring the world of art. Whether you’re a young artist, a family, or an art enthusiast, come and discover the joy of creativity with us.

 

Written by Meghan Krauss, AGGV Studio Coordinator

 

Check out our Fall 2024 line-up of fun and engaging AGGV Studio classes, camps, workshops and more for all ages!
LEARN MORE

 

Feature Image: AGGV Studio Art Camp students taking inspiration for their creations behind the studio.  All images in this article, courtesy of the AGGV.