Updates
For the safety of MOCA staff, our visitors, participants and community, MOCA will be postponing in-person programming until further notice.
Instead, please do join us on Zoom for two virtual art-making workshops on Wednesday, December 29 and Thursday, December 30 from 1:00–2:00 pm, descriptions of which may be found below. You can also find additional activity guides for art-making ideas with step-by-step instructions. If you have any questions about these changes please do not hesitate to contact us at learning@moca.ca. Thank you for your understanding and we hope to see you virtually this holiday season.
Activity 1
Paper Cutouts
Virtual Workshop on Wednesday, December 29, 1:00 – 2:00 pm
Activity 2
Shadowed Mark Making
Virtual Workshop on Thursday, December 30, 1:00 – 2:00 pm
Activity 3
Activity 4
Activity 5
Paper Cutouts
Wednesday, December 29, 1:00 – 2:00 pm
Paper Cutouts will explore the concept of light and shadow by carving and/or cutting away negative space to create an intricate design catered to any artistic level. This programme is inspired by GTA21 artist Ghazaleh Avarzamani and her work Mashrabiya, which plays with the complexities of shape and shadow by controlling how much light enters the Museum space. Participants are also invited to look at Ashoona Ashoona’s and Alexa Hatanaka’s work Uummatima trillirninga, I can feel my heart beat, which provides an excellent demonstration of a black and white printed composition, where shadows create forms. The construction of this work also creates a lantern light effect upon the back wall.
This virtual workshop will take place via Zoom from 1:00–2:00 pm. Please see the activity guide below containing additional details. This workshop will contain demonstrations and instructions on various ways to fold, cut, shape and project your paper designs.
Virtual Workshop
This virtual workshop will take place via Zoom from 1:00–2:00 pm. Please see the activity guide below containing additional details. This workshop will contain demonstrations and instructions on various ways to fold, cut, shape and project your paper designs.
Shadowed Mark Making
Thursday, December 30, 1:00 – 2:00 pm
Shadowed Mark Making looks to the uniquely cast shadows of the works and objects found throughout the Museum for inspiration. Specific prompts include the shadows cast by Oluseye’s work Ploughing Liberty, the organic shapes thrown by the structures in Jennifer Rose Sciarrino’s work Huddled Sigh, and the abstracted figures cast by Walter Scott in his work Read the Room. Can you find any interesting shadows in your own home? The shadows cast in your own home, and the shapes seen through the shadows of the exhibition will be used as a guide for abstracted and organic mark making.
This virtual workshop will take place via Zoom from 1:00–2:00 pm. Please see the activity guide below containing additional details. This workshop will contain demonstrations to explore mark making techniques, though this programme requires little instruction.
Virtual Workshop
This virtual workshop will take place via Zoom from 1:00–2:00 pm. Please see the activity guide below containing additional details. This workshop will contain demonstrations to explore mark making techniques, though this programme requires little instruction.
Additional Activity Guides
Please look to the list below for additional activities that can be enjoyed during the remaining days of the week. We encourage you to share your work with MOCA through social media or send an image to learning@moca.ca. We look forward to seeing what you create!
Vibrant Sceneries
Vibrant Sceneries invites participants to explore colour, collaging, and image-making, using transparent and opaque paper. This programme is inspired by the vibrant colours and scenes shown in Pamela Phatsimo Sunstrum’s work Dynasty. Participants can also look to Filtered Embrace by Can Altay (found on the window of the third floor south stairwell) to continue their exploration of colour and transparency and observe how the idea of filtering plays a role in the perception of our reality. While making, you will be able to observe how the layered colour paper changes with different levels of light, builds up a scene and can be used to create silhouettes.
Clay Shadows
Clay Shadows is inspired by Ghazaleh Avarzamani’s work Broken Circle in which she explores shape through the shadow of one original wooden spin top. To create this work, Ghazaleh used a digital modelling programme which allowed her to translate 2D shadows into 3D forms. An iPad will be available that hosts Ghazaleh’s modelling programme for further inspiration. As with Broken Circle, each spin top made will cast a unique shadowed form. Once your spin top is complete, you are invited to test its spinning abilities. Each clay spin top will take approximately 24 hours to dry.
Stargazing with Oil Pastels
Stargazing with Oil Pastels explores the light of the night sky as represented through Native Art Department International (NADI)‘s Double Gazebo. Within an online conversation titled Walk East for Sun Rise Walk West for Sunset: Star Knowledge, NADI artists Maria Hupfield and Jason Lujan talk with astronomer Dr. Hilding Neilson to explore various relationships to the moon and stars. Oftentimes the light of day is seen as a positive force, but in many cultures it is the night—the depth of black—that speaks of opportunity. In this workshop participants are invited to explore the dichotomy between light and dark through the use of oil pastels. The activity will involve the layering of colours on thick cardstock paper. A final layer of matte black will create a base to carve into—illuminating the colours beneath.
Please note that these activities are family friendly and geared toward all ages. Every activity can be adapted to suit the needs and capabilities of each participant. Parental supervision is recommended.
