Senior Art Students Visit ArtCan Kitchen and Studios — Issue 9

Senior School art students had the opportunity to visit an exhibit and participate in a printmaking workshop at ArtCan Kitchen and Studios in Canning, Nova Scotia, a wonderful gem of a gallery.

The gallery, owned by Ron Hayes, a distinguished painter himself, regularly features artists’ work and offers workshops and classes. Monique Silver and Basah Kavanagh, both artists and printmakers, are exhibiting there for the month of October. The exhibit, largely titled Heart in three languages, displayed detailed and nature-inspired works exploring light and shadow through printmaking, embroidery, quilting, and exquisite coloured pencil.

Monique led a hands-on block printmaking workshop using some of her own lino plates. Not only did the students ink and print, but they were also encouraged to explore beyond the print using pastels, markers, and words. Students were given the chance to reflect on the artists’ intentions behind the exhibited pieces and to ask questions about process, artist statements, materials, and more.

Part of the experience was understanding that, professionally, creative exploration is essential for developing artwork and being able to speak about it. With Monique’s expert guidance and experience as a professional artist, it was a highly engaging experience. The energy among the students was vibrant and inspiring, and the opportunity to reflect at the café afterward made the morning especially memorable.