Registration will close on December 29, 2023.
Join MOCA this holiday season for a winter camp exploring sculpture making from Tuesday, January 2 to Friday, January 5. On each day of camp, kids will be introduced to a different sculptural technique through a series of technical and skill-building workshops, followed by ample time for creative experimentation.
These workshops are informed by the sculptural methods and language of Liz Magor and Phyllida Barlow, who both have exhibitions at MOCA, and will explore aspects of both sculptors’ practices for inspiration.
Schedule
Day 1 of the programme will focus on the basics of papier mâché making and colour. Participants will learn how to make their own papier mâché pulp, how to build it up on surfaces and structures, and how to add colour to create unique sculptures. Inspiration will be drawn from the ways Phyllida Barlow worked and built the surface of her sculptures in her exhibition Eleven Columns on the Ground Floor.
On day 2, visual artist Julia Campisi will lead us as we learn about the foundations of mould making using simple one-off casts with alginate. Participants will learn all about the mould making procedure and will be able to create their own cast out of wax, which they can adorn and modify to their liking. We will draw inspiration from Liz Magor’s exhibition The Separation on the second floor.
Participants are encouraged to bring in something small and meaningful that they would like to cast in a mould as part of this workshop.
For day 3, participants will experiment with the creation of large-scale, free standing structures made from non-precious and discarded materials such as cardboard and textiles. This session will take inspiration from Phyllida Barlow’s large-scale sculptures and will invite participants to think through the challenges of gravity and balance in sculpture.
The final session will be an open ended exploration were participants will be able to create a work of their choosing, drawing from skills learned in the previous three sessions of the camp. This day will end with a small group display and exhibition of the campers’ work where the group will discuss and celebrate what they’ve created, and all loved ones are welcome to visit and see.
FAQ
Yes, campers are required to register for the entire week. The fee for the camp is for the full week, with registration covering Tuesday to Friday from 9 am–5 pm.
No, lunch and snacks are not provided for the campers. Campers should bring two snacks, a lunch, and water with them to camp. Parents/guardians will be emailed prior to the camp start date with additional details on what is needed for each day.
MOCA’s Learning Team has developed a series of activities and lessons that tie in exhibition themes, materials, and sculpture-making techniques in relation to the works and practices of exhibiting artists Liz Magor and Phylida Barlow. Each day has a balance of art-making activities, games, free time, and exhibition engagement.
Unfortunately, MOCA is only able to offer one week of the camp programme at this time. MOCA also offers camp models over the spring and summer holiday seasons.
Apart from food, all required materials are provided for campers.
Guest Artists
Julia Campisi is a visual artist working in sculpture, installation, and collage. Her studio practice explores the dynamics between material, colour, process, and the meaning that these things can imbue onto something ordinary. She often reproduces objects, including scaffolding, ladders, and hammers into alternative materials and colour as a way to highlight their social, psychological, and formal properties.
Based in Toronto, Campisi completed an H.BA at McMaster University followed by a BFA at Concordia which she completed at Toronto Metropolitan University. Her work has been shown in solo exhibitions, including Studio Sixty Six, Ottawa; Lonsdale Gallery, Toronto; presented in numerous group exhibitions, at The Plumb, Toronto; ArtWorxTO TOFA, Toronto; Equity Gallery, New York, and can be found in both public collections such as The Ottawa Art Gallery and in private collection such as Emmanuelle Gattuso Slaight.
