In April at the Art Gallery of Mississauga, we had a variety of different programs relating to our exhibitions, core public programming, and outreach efforts.
To kick us off, Toronto-based artist and ceramicist Luke Mohan led the group through an introduction to hand-building pottery, giving tips and tricks for making anything from pinch pots to clay figurines. This workshop was derived from the AGM’s last exhibition, Inside. Outside. Of., and participants were inspired with images of Shanie Tomassini’s ceramic and hand-built works. Tomassini’s work explores themes of ritual, renewable energies, and our relationship to the present and future, which were inspirational in this workshop to the possibilities of what participants could create.
Our next round of exhibition programming will reflect our current exhibition, My Mother’s Tongue. Check out our programming calendar for our next round of workshops!
We were invited to participate in the International Student Festival, hosted by Peel Schools for International Students. This event brought together approximately 300 international students from various school sites across Mississauga and Brampton for a day of interactive learning, networking, and cultural exchange. Centered on empowering international students with the knowledge, skills, and strategies they need to thrive in their new environment, the AGM hosted two workshops on forming an artistic identity through a series of simple drawing exercises. Our Community Activator, Abbey, instructed the students on blind and contour drawing techniques, tools they can take home to experiment with in their own time!
Lastly, the AGM ventured out to the Frank McKechnie Community Centre for another Art Hive on the Road session! Art Therapist and Art Hive Facilitator Cynthia Morin led the session with support from Toronto Art Therapy Institute students. With a focus on bettering the mental health of the larger Mississauga community, we welcomed community members from all walks of life to a community-based, inclusive space designed to foster creativity without the pressure of formal instruction. We had a whopping 42 participants for our last Art Hive on the Road – thank you to all of the community members who joined us the last few months!
Our last iteration of our “on the road” series will take place at Mississauga libraries as part of their Youth Weeks series, and this summer we will be continuing our Art Hive sessions in Celebration Square.
