Art Socials

The Bentway works to ignite the urban imagination, using the city as site, subject, and canvas. Anchored under Toronto’s Gardiner Expressway and guiding its complex future, The Bentway is a growing public space, and much more. It is a new type of civic organization: an independent charity and a not-for-profit, powered by vital partnerships with the City of Toronto, residents, supporters, artists, creatives, city-builders, and dreamers. The Bentway is a catalyst rooted in experimentation, demonstration, and regeneration; leading a creative movement to re-imagine the opportunities of urban spaces.Since Phase 1 of The Bentway – under the Gardiner from Strachan Ave to Fort York Blvd – opened in 2018, it has proven to be a vital public space, backyard park, cultural platform, connector for the western Waterfront corridor and a demonstration of what is possible. In partnership with the City of Toronto, The Bentway is creating a network of public spaces, developing a cohesive vision for wayfinding and reconnecting the waterfront to the downtown core.Visit thebentway.ca and follow @thebentway on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram for details about upcoming programming and projects.www.thebentway.ca

The Bentway

Join us on Tuesday evenings for fun-filled, beginner-friendly art activities including textiles, painting, printmaking, and more!

The Bentway Studio

Our weekly Art Socials at The Bentway Studio are back! This summer, we invite you to join us on Tuesday evenings for fun-filled, beginner-friendly art activities. These weekly art workshops, hosted by Noble Space, give participants an opportunity to try something new, connect with neighbours, and learn a range of creative techniques with the support and guidance from an artist facilitator.Interested in drawing and painting but not sure where to start? Curious to learn more about the world of printmaking? Looking for creative ways to celebrate summer in the city? Explore a range of workshops through our weekly standalone sessions! All materials are provided. What to expect:<ul><li>All skills levels welcome – no experience necessary.</li><li>Youth under age 16 must be accompanied by a caregiver.</li><li>All materials are provided.</li><li>Registration is limited to a maximum of 65 people per week. No rush line will be available. Any available tickets will be visible on the Eventbrite ticket page; if it’s sold out, please try a different date.</li><li>Please arrive 10 minutes early to get settled before the start of the workshop.</li><li>Accessible and all-gender washrooms are available on-site.</li></ul> Workshops:Jun 2 Textiles: World Cup Bag CharmsJoin the World Cup fever and make a leather tassel bag charm to represent your favourite team in this workshop with Robin of Fitzy. No matter what country you’re rooting for, we've got you covered. Wear them to the stadium, put them on your bag, or rub them for good luck while you watch from home. No leatherwork or football cheering experience necessary.Jun 9 &amp; Jul 28 Textiles: Felted &amp; Embroidered PinsLearn how to “draw” with textiles this summer! Using needle felting, stitching, and other creative embellishments, design your own unique, wearable button. You'll learn how to work with wool roving, and some simple embroidery stitches that are useful for adding lines, dimension, and artistic expression.Jun 16 Letterpress Type Flags &amp; BannersFor sports fans and creatives alike! Get ready for World Cup game days or create new artwork for your home through this fun and traditional printmaking technique. Design and print your own pennant flag from antique wood type on a printing press. While your flag dries, experiment with banner making with cut-out letters from previously printed alphabets and assemble a unique text-based artwork.Jun 30 Sculpture: Miniature Polymer Clay Fruit, Pride EditionCome make an adorable one-of-a-kind miniature fruit charm bracelet to celebrate Pride month! In this 2-hour workshop, you will learn some of the basics of creating miniature fruits from polymer clay. Together we will mix clay to achieve realistic colours, shape the pieces and add details using clay and clay tools. We will make a series of fruit beads, bake them together, and assemble your very own fruit charm bracelets using string and other fun beads provided in the workshop.Jul 7 Still Life Painting: BYOO – Bring Your Own Object!BYOO – Bring Your Own Object from home and learn to paint a still life! This is a beginner friendly workshop where Mason will guide you through the creation process and help you discover just how fun and relaxing painting can be. Suggested objects: things that are nostalgic or sentimental. Bring something that you enjoy looking at and have good memories associated with! Mason will also bring his collection of interesting nostalgic objects in case you prefer to paint something new.Jul 14 Printmaking: Toronto Trading CardsWhether it’s cheering on your favourite Toronto sports teams this summer, grabbing a TTC transfer on the first day of a new year, spotting the elusive white squirrel of Trinity Bellwoods park, or grabbing a beef patty on your way home from school, this workshop is about commemorating the things that make Toronto a special place to you. You will learn how to create your own image on styrofoam blocks and then print a series of 5 “Toronto trading cards”. At the end of the workshop, you are invited to trade some of your cards with your fellow civic superfans and take home your own collection of uniquely Toronto experiences.Jul 21 &amp; Aug 18 Collage: ReExpressway EditionThis summer, Collage Grad is inspired by The Bentway’s vibrant public space under the Gardiner Expressway! This monthly session explores art, urbanism, and placemaking through collage. Work with a curated mix of archival photos of Toronto, urban planning publications, and vintage magazines to express your own take on citybuilding and create your own reimagined built environment.Aug 4 Watercolour Painting: Toronto SkiesCapture all the colours of our city’s beautiful summer skies in this 2-hour watercolour painting workshop. You'll learn an essential watercolour technique and then practice by painting a sunrise or sunset, completing it with a skyline of your favourite Toronto neighbourhood or public space.Aug 11 Printmaking: Letterpress Postcards from TorontoThis workshop will be something to write home about! Print your own letterpress postcards using two antique platen presses set up with an image and text. Learn about traditional typesetting from wood and metal type, how it was used historically and how it can still be used today. Add colour to your image and write on your postcard to share your favourite memory of your Toronto summer with a friend or loved one.Aug 25 Drawing: Art Games!Cap off Toronto’s World Cup summer with some friendly competition, at the Bentway’s final art social of the season. Join cartoonist Josh Rosen and put your art skills to the test as you compete and collaborate in a series of fun drawing games. Work as a team, invent new characters, and race to see which drawings will rise to the top. Beginner-friendly, and appropriate for all ages. Prizes will be awarded! A spirit of sportsmanship is encouraged! Full Schedule:June 2: Robin Fitzsimmons - Textiles: World Cup Bag CharmsJune 9: Erin Mackeen - Textiles: Felted &amp; Embroidered PinsJune 16: Phoebe Todd-Parrish - Printmaking: Letterpress Type Flags &amp; BannersJune 30: Kiana Simmons - Sculpture: Miniature Polymer Clay Fruit, Pride EditionJuly 7: Mason Barnes Crouse - Still Life Painting: Bring Your Own Object!July 14: Sarah Aranha - Printmaking: Toronto Trading CardsJuly 21: Collage Grad - Collage: ReExpressway EditionJuly 28: Erin MacKeen - Textiles: Felted &amp; Embroidered PinsAugust 4: Sarah Aranha - Watercolour Painting: Toronto SkiesAugust 11: Phoebe Todd-Parrish - Printmaking: Letterpress Postcards from TorontoAugust 18: Collage Grad - Collage: ReExpressway EditionAugust 25: Josh Rosen - Title: Drawing: Art Games!

Art Socials

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Art Socials

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