Special Family Event at Art Gallery

Selected Windsor-Essex artists are hosting art-making workshops every Sunday at the Art Gallery of Windsor.

This month, the gallery has featured an indigenous artist, Kathryn Pasquach, who makes jewelery and moccasins as an expression of the traditional culture.

“I usually share my culture with the visitors,” said Pasquach. “In my sessions visitors learn how to make dream-catchers, painting feathers and jewelery making. Last Sunday, there was a mystery braided bracelet, necklace and fringe key-chain.”

Amanda Dupuis, 35, has been working as a gallery guide and studio volunteer instructor for three years. She is also the studio artist for February 2020.

“Being the studio artist for a month, my role is to set up four to five workshops in the month and help the visitors who come in,” said Dupuis.

In February, there will be creations of cardboard masks, Valentine gifts, wall silhouette canvas and the line work known as Zentangles.

“From the family side, it is a wonderful way to spend time with your family,” said Dupuis. “It is a great chance for an artist to work in an amazing studio space and create a workshop for the program from the artists’ viewpoint. For the city itself, it serves as a wonderful event for tourists.”

Chris Finn has been the education and public programs coordinator at the Art Gallery of Windsor since 2017.

“The featured artists are paid a certain stipend per week. This lets the gallery help the local artists and give them exposure,” said Finn.“The workshop is open for all ages, and if there’s a child under 12, we ask that they’re accompanied by an adult.”

But Pasquach wants to see more workshops with less involvement from adult participants.

“Parents who come with their children help them in making crafts. This is not beneficial for those kids,” said Pasquach.

These workshops are sponsored by Anne Safranyos and her family. This will be their ninth consecutive year in funding the Sunday workshops.

The workshop runs from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. on Sunday. The art gallery has entry charges, but the workshops are free. Participants who are not a member of the gallery will have to pay the entry charges. For adults it is $10 and for students it is $5.