Facilitated by Sunny Kerr and Carina Magazzeni (October 17th, 2020)

This workshop is designed to immerse participants in the processes of developing an idea for an exhibition or other curatorial program. It will include a series of presentations on different curatorial approaches. In the second half of the workshop, participants will be asked to brief a curatorial proposal (real or imaginary). Participants will leave with the beginning stages of a proposal that they can continue to build upon.

Biographies

Sunny Kerr has developed numerous exhibitions, acquisitions, programs, texts and publications in his role as Curator of Contemporary Art at the Agnes Etherington Art Centre. His approach to curating focuses on emergent issues and practices in contemporary art, as well as experimental formats of presentation and participation. He brings an artist’s background to a curatorial practice developed through public sited intervention. His recent exhibitions include inventive work with collections and projects by artists such as Brendan Fernandes, Richard Ibghy and Marilou Lemmens, Chris Kline, Yam Lau, Tau Lewis and Walter Scott. Kerr completed his BFA at Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University and earned his MFA at York University in 2006. He has taught at several Canadian universities and is currently a PhD Candidate in Cultural Studies at Queen’s and a lecturer in the Screen Cultures and Curatorial Studies graduate program.

Carina Magazzeni is a femme settler of Italian-Scottish descent, born and raised in Onguiaahra/Niagara and currently based in Katarokwi/Kingston, situated on Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe territory. Magazzeni is the Director of Union Gallery at Queen’s University and maintains an independent curatorial practice. She holds an MA in Cultural Studies from Queen’s University, a Graduate Diploma in Event Management from Niagara College, and a BA Honours in History of Art and Visual Culture with a Concentration in Curatorial Studies from Brock University. Recent curatorial projects include, more light than heat: Teresa Carlesimo with Michael DiRisio (Rodman Hall Art Centre, Brock University); Let’s Talk About Sex, bb co-curated with Erin Sutherland (Agnes Etherington Art Centre, Queen’s University); Many Voices: Indigenous Art co-curated with Tania Willard (Bellevue House National Historic Site).

Facilitated by Taylor Norris (November 21st, 2020)

Join Taylor Norris, Public Art Coordinator for the City of Kingston to participate in a workshop on applying for Public Art opportunities in Kingston and beyond. Taylor will cover the submissions process for both temporary and permanent public art calls, including best practices and answering frequently asked questions artists commonly face in the application process.

Biographies

Taylor Norris is an artist, arts administrator, public servant, and activist based in Kingston, Ontario. Currently serving as the Public Art Coordinator for the City of Kingston, Taylor actively works to create accessible visual contemporary art and artist opportunities in a local and regional context. Taylor also holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts and Arts Administration from the University of Ottawa, as well as a Diploma in Media Art from Sheridan College. As a queer fifth generation Wolfe Islander of settler and Métis ancestry, Taylor is an active participant in many different communities and is always seeking opportunities for collaboration through the arts and environmental initiatives.

Anne-Sophie Grenier is the Executive Director of Modern Fuel Artist-Run Centre. She holds a Masters of Management in International Arts Management, from Southern Methodist University and HEC Montréal. In her graduate studies, she focused on the role that art co-ops and artist-run centres play in fostering innovation and creative placemaking. She also holds a B.A. in Communications Studies (Video Production) with a minor in Political Science from Concordia University and a Diploma of College Studies in Commerce from Champlain College. Her career has brought her across many different fields – from communications for a non-profit operating in Canada and Uganda, to documentary television production, and the production of major music, arts, and sporting events. Anne-Sophie is also a practicing performing artist and video producer.

Facilitated by Leah Cox (February 6th, 2021)

Leah Cox, Exhibition Coordinator, and Jenn Nicoll, Collections Manager/Exhibition Coordinator, share best practices and tips for packing and shipping artwork. They discuss all the materials used at the Agnes to wrap and secure invaluable artworks from our permanent collection. Learn which materials are best and which to avoid altogether. They provide suggestions to help you choose the best shipping methods for your art.

Biographies

Leah Cox is a Kingston-based museum professional. After graduating from Ryerson with a BAH in Arts and Contemporary Studies (History) she pursued a post graduate certificate in Museum Management and Curatorship from Fleming College (2012) which led to work at various cultural institutions including the Toronto International Film Festival and CBC Toronto’s Libraries and Archives. In her current role as Exhibition Coordinator for the Agnes Etherington Art Centre, Cox tackles everything from large scale nationally touring exhibitions (Leiden circa 1630: Rembrandt Emerges) to the safe installation of collection-based shows at the Agnes (Nocturne).

Jennifer Nicoll has been the Collections Manager/Exhibition Coordinator at the Agnes Etherington Art Centre since 2007, overseeing care of the permanent collection including shipping, housing and ensuring safe packing of artworks. She has worked previously as the Education Officer at the Woodstock Museum NHS in Woodstock Ontario and completed a Mellon fellowship in the Conservation laboratory at the Shelburne Museum in Shelburne Vermont.  Jennifer obtained a BAH in Classical Studies at Queen’s University and a diploma in Collections Conservation and Management from Fleming College.

Facilitated by Scott Wallis (March 6th, 2021)

This workshop covers the basics of artwork preparation and installation. Topics range from framing and hanging hardware, display fixtures and devices, to principles of exhibition design. And, with the diversity of media and installation approaches of contemporary art, generous time is given to questions and comments from attendees.

This workshop is held in-person at Union Gallery and online. There is a limited capacity for in-person registration. If you prefer not to attend in-person, or registration is full, register for the online delivery. Details about how to connect will be shared prior to the event.

Biography

Scott Wallis has worked as a preparator at the Agnes Etherington Art Centre since 2000. He is also a visual artist, and has been exhibiting his work since the early 1990s. Scott holds a B.A.H. in Philosophy and English from Queen’s University.

Facilitated by Julie Fossitt (September 21st, 2021) hosted by The Agnes Etherington Art Centre

Digital access offers an incredible opportunity for artists to document and demonstrate one’s creative process and product to the world. As an individual artist, your brand encompasses not only one’s work, but one’s vast online presence.

Does your digital footprint encourage connection and access across geography, language, gender, and culture? Can you separate yourself from art in a digital age? How can you connect your art with consumers and audiences online and beyond?

This workshop will explore these questions and will offer a snapshot of best practices and pitfalls for artists with the purpose to help share personal brand storytelling and identify the best tools to reach target audiences.

Speaker Biography

Currently living on the traditional lands of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe Peoples, Julie is a passionate advocate for access to arts, culture and heritage for everyone. She has held marketing positions at the National Arts Centre, the Victoria Symphony and is currently the Manager, Marketing and Public Engagement for the City of Kingston.

In 2015 Julie was awarded the John Hobday Award in Arts Management by the Canada Council for the Arts and in 2016 she earned both her Certificate in Cultural Planning from the University of British Columbia and her Masters Certificate in Marketing Communications Leadership from the Schulich School of Business. In 2019, she completed the Cultural Leadership Program at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. Julie is a part-time professor of Marketing Research and Analytics at St. Lawrence College and is currently a student at the University of Toronto, pursuing a Master in Education with a concentration in Online Teaching and Learning. You can find out more about Julie on social media @juliefossitt and at JulieFossitt.ca.

Facilitated by Greg Ivens and Liam Mills (October 19th, 2021) hosted by Modern Fuel

Professional artists and Modern Fuel board members, Greg Ivens and Liam Mills, offer insights, best practices and various avenues for monetizing your art outside of the realm of exhibitions.

This workshop will cover:
1. Prints, Commissions & Consignment (Online and physical art sales)
2. Merchandise/Drop shipping (Where, why & how)
3. NFTs (What are they? How to create, sell & navigate the crypto world)
4. Live Art & Collaborations (Event Opportunities/ Public Art)

Speaker Biographies

Greg Ivens is a Mixed Media/Digital Artist living in Napanee, Ontario. With a focus on bright and vibrant colour palettes, Greg’s primary medium is Liquid Light, a live artform first pioneered in the 1960’s Psychedelic Rock era. In an attempt to meld these live methods with digital distortion, mirroring and glitch art techniques, Greg creates unique and vivid images that span the spectrum of colour. With professional experience as a performer, educator and freelance artist, Greg combines these skills to merge digital and physical art, via NFTs and Live Art performances.

Liam Mills is a multidisciplinary designer and all-around creative, with a love for celebrating and promoting arts, culture, community, and out-of-the-box thinking. I have been a graphic designer for 12 years, and have professional experience public speaking, large-scale event creation, and more. Liam is working full-time as a Graphic Designer in downtown Kingston, but when he isn’t doing that, you can find him getting up to something creative – dabbling in visual arts, music, clothing design, and more.

Facilitated by Lisa Wöhrle (November 23rd, 2021) hosted by the Union Gallery

In this workshop, Lisa Wöhrle, Associate Visual Arts and Craft Officer at the Ontario Arts Council (OAC), will guide us through the OAC Exhibition Assistance program and address frequently asked and perhaps perplexing questions that artists face in preparing grant applications.

Exhibition Assistance is a funding opportunity that supports Ontario artists and artist collectives presenting their work in a public exhibition. The program provides grants of $500 to $2,000 to assist with presentation costs. Grants are made through third-party recommenders (public art galleries, artist-run centres and arts service organizations) throughout the province, including Modern Fuel Artist-Run Centre and Agnes Etherington Art Centre. During this workshop, Anne-Sophie Grenier (Executive Director, Modern Fuel) and Sunny Kerr (Curator of Contemporary Art, Agnes) will offer remarks on their perspectives as recommenders.

Please note: Students enrolled full-time at the undergraduate or graduate level are not eligible for OAC Exhibition Assistance during their studies, but this workshop aims to equip all those interested to best prepare for their future applications.

Speaker Biography

Lisa Wöhrle (she/her) is the Associate Visual Arts and Craft Officer at the Ontario Arts Council (OAC), the arts funding agency of Ontario’s Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries. In addition to the Exhibition Assistance program, she manages the operating program for Visual Arts Artist-Run Centres, and the Craft Projects, Visual Arts Projects (supports organizations, curators and collectives), and Indigenous Visual Artists Materials grant programs. Lisa has held this position since 2011; from 2001 to 2010 she served as associate officer in visual and media arts.

Now based in Toronto, Lisa grew up in Hamilton and holds a BA in Art and Art History from McMaster University. Before joining OAC, she held positions at the Carnegie Gallery and Visual Arts Ontario and was on the executive board of the Hamilton Artists Inc. Lisa was a member of Hamilton’s Contemporaries artist collective, active in the 90s. Her experiences as an exhibiting artist, as well as her ongoing connections with Ontario artists, curators and organizations inspire her current work at the Ontario Arts Council. Lisa can be reached at lwohrle@arts.on.ca.

Facilitated by Hiba Abdallah (March 15th, 2022) hosted by the Union Gallery

Do you get flustered when someone asks you about your art practice? Do you get nervous about being asked to speak on demand about your work—be it for a large audience at an event or a one-on-one conversation in your studio? You don’t need to be a wordsmith but finding the language and practicing talking about your art or even ideas behind your work can propel and even help define an artist’s career. In this professional development workshop, artist Hiba Abdallah walks us through the essentials of what goes into a meaningful artist talk and how to better structure our ideas.

Speaker Biography

Hiba Abdallah is a text-based artist who frequently works with others. Her practice explores the structural legacies and futures of cities by researching the intersections of hospitality, agitation, and disagreement as productive frameworks for re-imagining public agency. She has created work across media—from public interventions to community projects, gallery exhibitions, and publications.
Her recent exhibitions and public projects include 100 years then and hereafter at the Visual Arts Centre of Clarington, Everything I Wanted to Tell You for Nuit Blanche Scarborough, Rehearsing Disagreement for MOCA Toronto and A List of Antagonisms for the CAFKA Biennial in Kitchener, ON. She currently lives and works as an uninvited guest on the traditional land of the Anishinaabe, the Wendat, the Seneca, and most recently, the Mississauga’s of the Credit River.

Facilitated by David McClyment (April 19th, 2022) hosted by Modern Fuel

Good enough is not enough. Not when it comes to presenting your portfolio. The competition for you as a creative professional is absolutely FIERCE! For EVERY opportunity! You have to assume that everyone else knows how to present their portfolio brilliantly. You have to be able to do the same. So that art directors, jurors, commissioners, clients – whoever looks at your portfolio – can assess your work clearly on its merits and be convinced. This workshop will go through basic do’s and don’ts, so that when you present your portfolio people pay attention.

David McClyment has been pitching portfolios for over 40 years as a professional fine artist. Of course, he has faced rejection many times. But he has also had success with galleries, curators, grant juries, and competitions. He has also served on juries and selection committees – and seen what works, and what doesn’t! Please note that McClyment’s personal professional experience is limited to the fine arts world. But the larger points in this workshop should apply to other creative disciplines. Wherever possible, he will endeavor to tailor the information to your specific situation.

You can check out McClyment’s own work and presentation skills by visiting www.flyingpiecreations.com

Facilitated by Jessica Thalmann (September 15th, 2022) hosted by the Union Gallery

Do you ever get to grant season and realize you didn’t take any quality documentation of the work you did? Do you want to learn how to take better documentation? In this workshop, Jessica Thalmann discusses and demonstrates techniques for portfolio documentation of artwork. Documentation techniques are largely photographic with a focus on managing lighting configurations, post-production, and how to archive and create a master inventory of all artworks and organize/manage images. You’ll learn handy tips and tricks for documenting artwork for grants or calls for submissions. No previous experience is necessary.

If you have any questions, please reach out: ugallery@queensu.ca / 613.533.3171

Biography

Jessica Thalmann is an artist and educator currently based in Toronto and New York City. She received an MFA in Advanced Photographic Studies from ICP-Bard College and a BFA in Visual Arts from York University. Thalmann has taught at the International Centre for Photography, Akin Collective, MacLaren Art Centre, Toronto School of Art, Gallery 44 and City College of New York. She has been an artist in residence at the Banff Center for Arts and Creativity, Alberta, Canada, and at the Southern California Institute of Architecture in Los Angeles, California, USA. She is a recipient of grants from the Toronto Arts Council, the Ontario Arts Council and the Canada Council.

Her work has been shown in group exhibitions at Aperture Foundation, International Centre for Photography, Camera Club of New York Baxter St, and Humble Arts Foundation (New York), VIVO Media Arts Centre (Vancouver), Museum of Contemporary Art, Harbourfront Centre, Art Gallery of Mississauga, Varley Art Gallery of Markham, Angell Gallery, Gallery TPW, Art Spin, and Gales Gallery at York University (Toronto).

Facilitated by Kelsey Newman Reed and Hannah Schaub (October 25th, 2022) hosted by Modern Fuel

Are you thinking of building a website for your art practice but not sure where to begin? Confused by all the different platforms out there? In this workshop, Kelsey Newman Reed and Hannah Schaub from Modern Fuel go over the website basics from planning to building. You learn how to plan your website (budget and goal setting), basics of creating a strong visual identity, and tips on building your artist website.

Biographies

Kelsey Newman Reed is an artist, published poet, and has always been passionate about the arts. She is currently the Assistant Director at Modern Fuel, and holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Art History with a Drama Minor from Queen’s University, as well as a Post-Graduate Certificate in Interactive Marketing Communications from St. Lawrence College. From working in communications roles, along with being a freelancer, she has extensive marketing experience from designing websites and print materials to content creation for social media.

Hannah Schaub is an artist, graphic designer, and web developer with experience helping local businesses bring their story to life. She has experience in marketing, e-commerce and graphic design. As the current Marketing Coordinator and Web Developer at Modern Fuel, Hannah is working on building a website for 45 years of archival materials, along with working in collaboration to enhance Modern Fuel’s branding and bring their marketing goals to fruition.

Facilitated by Chantal Rousseau (November 22nd, 2022) hosted by the Agnes Etherington

Facilitated by Jill Glatt (March 28th, 2023) and hosted by the Union Gallery

Do you want to know how to better tap into selling artwork online? Maybe you are a vendor at markets, and having e-commerce would help you manage inventory and payments. Maybe you want to reach a farther audience and be able to make more passive income from your artwork. Making a living as an artist means understanding how to build an audience, how to price art products, and the unique requirements for shipping art.

Biography

Jill Glatt (she/her) is a Katarokwi/Kingston-based illustrator, printmaker, arts educator, and French teacher with the Limestone District School Board. Her artistic practice is based around and informed by ecology, community, and sustainability. She has developed and delivered programming for the Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning, Kingston Arts Council, Centre Culturel Frontenac, Modern Fuel and the Juvenis Festival. Jill is also the Volunteer Coordinator for the Skeleton Park Arts Festival and sits on their board of directors as Treasurer.

Hosted by the Agnes Etherington Art Centre (May 3, 2023)

Have you ever considered a career in the arts? Do you wonder what an average day looks like for a curator, or how to become an arts educator?

Join us for this special edition of Making Art Work, hosted by Agnes and supported by the Juvenis Festival. We invite youth ages 13–30 to attend this session where you’ll have the opportunity to hear from and chat with individuals working in a range of visual arts-related careers including artists, illustrators, professors, curators, conservators,preparators and more!

Light refreshments are provided.

The Juvenis Festival is an 11-day-long festival, running 27 April to 7 May 2023. It gives young people ages 30 and under an opportunity to act, sing, dance, perform, and showcase their artistic talents, as well as take free workshops and masterclasses to build on their interests and skills in the arts.

This program is made possible through the generous support of the Iva Speers Fund for Art Education and is a partnership with The Juvenis Festival.

Facilitated by Jill Glatt (October 11, 2023) and hosted by Modern Fuel

In this workshop, Mercedes Emeka-Maduka shares her tips, techniques and process for creating an artist statement from initial brainstorming to a final polished statement.

Biography

Mercedes Emeka-Maduka is a Nigerian-born multidisciplinary artist living and practicing in Winnipeg, Manitoba (Treaty 1). Her personal history of migration and displacement informs her work. She incorporates recognizable travel plastic bags known to her as “Ghana must-go bags” in most of her works. Maduka holds a BFA from the University of Manitoba and has exhibited artwork nationally and internationally. She has received grants and awards from Canada Council for the Arts, the Manitoba Arts Council and the Winnipeg Arts Council.

Facilitated by Emily Pittman (November 15, 2023) and hosted by Union Gallery

In this workshop artist and writer Emily Pittman will break down portfolio best practices, how to access and use online tools, and why portfolios are helpful ways to share your artwork. We will discuss sustainable ways to keep your portfolio up-to-date with your practice, and the basic do’s and don’ts, so that when you present your portfolio people pay attention.

Biography

Emily Pittman is a visual artist and writer based in St. John’s, NL. She earned an Honours BA (with Distinction) majoring in Studio Art and English from the University of Guelph. Emily grew up in Clarenville, NL, and moved to St. John’s in May 2016. Emily was a finalist for Arts NL’s 2019 Emerging Artist Award and has exhibited at venues including The Rooms, Eastern Edge Gallery (St. John’s) and Boarding House Gallery (Guelph), and created a mural for Bonavista’s Church Street Festival (St. John’s) in 2019. She has been featured on the cover of Visual Arts News, as well as in Newfoundland Quarterly, Riddle Fence, The Overcast, and The Telegram. Emily co-founded The Gathered Gallery, an independently-run visual arts and curatorial writing blog the Gathered Gallery.

Facilitated by Holly Chang (December 5, 2023) and hosted by Union Gallery

At this workshop, Holly Chang discusses how to find artist residencies, and best practices for applying and applying for grants. Chang has participated in over seven artist residencies internationally and brings her experience and expertise to this workshop.

Biography

Holly Chang is a Toronto-based artist working within the mediums of photography, natural dyeing, and installation. She has recently completed her master’s degree in Communication and Culture from TMU/York University. Her thesis was focused on developing new ways of retelling the stories of Chinese Canadians. Her artistic work explores the themes of her second-generation identity as a mixed-race person. She maintains cultural ties with her cross-cultural identity and draws on her hybrid background for inspiration.