Homeschool Programs – Art Gallery of St. Albert

Art Gallery of St. Albert Homeschool Art Programs are designed to provide weekday morning and afternoon flexibility for families.

Our not-for-profit educational art programs are fun and engaging for children who are 5 to 13 years of age, who do not attend daytime school regularly.

Programs are 1.5 hours long and are led by experienced professional artist instructors.
Parents are encouraged to stay and assist if their children are under 7 years of age.

We have implemented comprehensive safety protocols to protect students and staff so that they can attend and safely enjoy our field trips. Please Note: Art Gallery of St. Albert homeschool programs are operated under the provincial Restrictions Exemption Program. Parents and students aged 12 and up must provide valid proof of vaccination, proof of a negative COVID-19 rapid test result taken within 72 hours of the program, or documentation of a medical exemption. Learn more about our safety protocols here.

Additional safety protocols include:

Student sign-in for each class will include a health check prior to each class, those experiencing symptoms are required to stay home
Increased cleaning of high-touch surfaces
Individual supplies for each student -Hand sanitizer and gloves available in class
Maximum class size of 10 students and socially distanced workspaces
Students and parents required to wear a mask or face shield when in the studio or moving about the space
Instructors required to be vaccinated and wear a mask or face shield

Homeschool Art & Clay Days

Homeschool Art & Clay Days provide a full day of studio art and clay programs designed for families wanting to get out of the house and be creative!

Art Gallery of St. Albert provides educational art programs instructed by professional art instructors right in the heart of downtown St. Albert.

Our not-for-profit art programs are perfectly designed for children who are 5 to 13 years of age (Those 12 and 13 years must show proof of vaccination to attend our programs). Programs are 1.5 hours in length and parents are welcome to stay and learn right along with us, especially if your children are less than 7 years old.

Dates: Tuesdays and Thursdays

Times: Clay Tuesdays: 10–11:30 am and Art Thursdays: 1:30–3 pm

Art and Clay Program Location: St. Albert Place Visual Art Studios, 5 St Anne Street

Exploring Art Program Location: Art Gallery of St. Albert, 19 Perron Street

Cost: $12 for clay programs and $15 for art programs (Recognized Homeschool Groups can save $2 per program using their Promo Code when registering)

CLAY TUESDAYS:

Welcome Sign
Students will be shown how to create a base shape for their own clay sign. It could be a welcome sign for the front door or a gone fishing or golfing sign, whatever they choose! A variety of hand-building techniques and incising will be used to add words, images and texture to your sign.

Inca Mask
October 26, 2021 at 10 am ($12) Students learn about the ancient Inca civilization and the metal masks they created from Copper, Silver and Gold. A variety of hand building techniques are explored during this class so children can create their very own unique mask.

Elephant World
November 16, 2021 at 10:30 am ($12) Did you know there are basically two main species of elephant in the world? The Asian elephant and the African Bush or Forest elephant. You can tell them apart by their ears; Asian elephants have smaller ears shaped like India and African elephants have larger ears shaped like Africa. Students examine photographs of both elephant species so they can learn the different traits before being led step by step through the process of how to build a low relief sculpture on a slab of clay. 

Greek Frieze
November 23, 2021 at 10:30 am ($12) A Frieze is a horizontal narrow band of sculpture that runs along the architrave or roof line of a Greek temple. Using high and low relief sculpture techniques on a slab of clay, students will create a unique clay piece inspired by imagery found on ancient Greek architecture and pottery. 

Tunisian Doors
November 30, 2021 at 10:30 am ($12) Tunisia is well known for its beautifully decorated doors. Wooden doors are adorned with nail head designs and symbols meant to represent the owner’s beliefs.  Doors are most often painted a vivid blue to represent blue sky and good fortune.

Manger and Star
December 7, 2021 at 10:30 am ($12) This nativity plaque depicts baby Jesus in a manger of straw. A guiding star shines down on the manger scene.

Lucky Dragon
December 14, 2021 at 10:30 am ($12) This magnificent dragon’s head holds a special pearl in its mouth. According to Chinese legend, anyone who is brave enough to rub this pearl is sure to have good luck. Make this lucky dragon to celebrate the Chinese New Year or just for a little good luck.

ART THURSDAYS:

Tunisian Mosaics
November 4, 2021 at 1:30 pm ($15) Tunisia is home to one of the largest collections of mosaic art in the world. The Roman Empire spread this ancient art throughout its African settlements in the early centuries of the common era. Between the second and sixth centuries, intricate patterns, ornamental designs and complex imagery turned practical floor coverings into works of art. Students will design their own Tunisian inspired mosaic by gluing tiny coloured glass tiles onto a 4x4″ tile.

Linoleum Printing
November 18, 2021 at 1:30 pm ($15) Using professional linoleum cutting tools, students carve their own designs into Safety-Kut blocks. These lino blocks are then inked and transferred onto specialty rag paper. Students are shown techniques for printing without a press to create stunning imagery.

Needle Felted Landscape
November 25, 2021 at 1:30 pm ($15) Needle felting is a process where wool fibers are locked together using a special felting needle. Felting needles have angled barbs along their length that grab and bind fibers together. Students will learn the basic theory of two-dimensional needle felting. This new knowledge will be used to explore the nature of wool and binding wool fibers together in new and creative ways.

Needle Felted Animal in 3D
December 2, 2021 at 1:30 pm ($15) Felting is one of the oldest fiber arts crafts dating back to 6300 BC. It predates spinning, weaving and knitting. Needle felting is now a popular fiber arts craft allowing students to use a special barbed needle as a sculpting tool. Barbs catch the scales in a bundle of wool and bind them together forming a 3D sculpture of an animal of their choice.

South American Worry Dolls
December 9, 2021 at 1:30 pm ($15) These small colorful dolls are traditionally made in South American cultures such as Peru and Guatemala. According to legend, if you tell your worries to a doll before going to bed at night and put it under your pillow, you will wake up the next morning and your worries will be gone. Students learn to make their very own worry doll with colorful wire and embroidery thread. They then decorate a small wooden box in which to keep their doll safe.

Christmas Around the World
December 16, 2021 at 1:30 pm ($15) Students learn Christmas stories and traditions celebrated in other countries. The Story of Tinsel comes from the Ukraine, the Poinsettia comes from Mexico and the Pomander comes from England and the United States.

UPCOMING:

October 14, 2021 • 1:30 pm • $15 • Calligraphy – Discover the lost art of calligraphy! Learn how handwritten words can add varying lines of movement and visual interest to artwork and stationery. Children experiment with traditional ink pens and brushes, as well as contemporary ink pens with coloured inks. (Project image coming soon!)

October 21, 2021 • 1:30 pm • $15 • Abstract Multi-media Painting – Using stretched canvas, children will plan and explore how to design a cohesive piece of abstract art using charcoal, conté, oil pastels and acrylic paint. There will be a variety of equipment and tools available for discovering how texture and colour can be applied to canvas with great results! (Project image coming soon!)

October 28, 2021 • 1:30 pm • $15 • Creative Character Masks – Children learn a few traditional mask making techniques before they dive into planning their own unique mask using a variety of materials such as feathers, fake fur, wool, string, yarn, wood and plastic. They will learn how to best assemble these materials using different glues, tapes, and sewing techniques. Children will take home a mask that effectively balances shape, line, texture and colour. (Project image coming soon!)

EXPLORING ART WEDNESDAYS:

Our not-for-profit educational art and tour programs are fun and engaging for families with children 5 to 13 years of age. In-person and virtual programs run from 1:30 to 3 pm on one Wednesday per month and are led by experienced professional artist instructors and/or curators.

IN-PERSON CLASSES: We have implemented comprehensive safety protocols to protect students and staff so that they can attend and safely enjoy our field trips. Please Note: Art Gallery of St. Albert homeschool programs are operated under the provincial Restrictions Exemption Program. Parents and students aged 12 and up must provide valid proof of vaccination, proof of a negative COVID-19 rapid test result taken within 72 hours of the program, or documentation of a medical exemption. Learn more about our safety protocols here. Additional safety protocols include:

Student sign-in for each class will include a health check prior to each class, those experiencing symptoms are required to stay home
Increased cleaning of high-touch surfaces
Individual supplies for each student
Hand sanitizer and gloves available in class
Maximum class size of 10 students and socially distanced workspaces
Students and parents required to wear a mask or face shield when in the studio or moving about the space
Instructors required to be vaccinated and wear a mask or face shield

VIRTUAL CLASSES (If Provincial restrictions change): Virtual Art Kits are available for curb side pickup at our gallery location several days prior to the program date. In this case a virtual link will be emailed to each participant or you may request a full refund.

*Registration closes 5 days prior to each class so please contact shannonv@artsandheritage.ca to find out if spots are still available!

Gallery Tours and Art Projects

• Exploring Art tours offer a multi-faceted approach to art education that inspires deeper learning. Students learn about the cultural, historical, and social contexts of artworks on display and explore works of art through themes that are relevant, engaging and thought-provoking.

• Through interactive tours and hands-on art activities, students will engage with the arts in a way that develops their curiosity and knowledge, while exploring themes of Spaces and Places, Materials and Process, and Art and Society.

CURRENT GALLERY EXHIBITIONS:

THROUGH THE TIDE (August 7 to November 6):

Through the Tide honours the perseverance and growth that follows hardship. Reflecting on her own experiences, Edmonton artist Diana Ohiozebau’s work gives voice to self-belief celebrating the confidence that comes from confronting life’s ongoing challenges. Raised in Nigeria, Ohiozebau is inspired by her African heritage, and reflects on femininity, vulnerability, and place. “My studio practice is influenced by African themes and objects including masks, sculptures and fabrics. These elements form the basis of my paintings as I explore this rich historical and cultural heritage.” Through the Tide features a single work, Resilience II, installed in the Art Gallery of St. Albert’s staircase exhibition space. Created using acrylic paint, collaged Aso-ebi fabrics and yarn on white Aso-oke fabric, this striking work measure 1.8 meters long, with long looping braids trailing gracefully downwards Intuitive and free flowing lines merge the faces and hands of the women in Resilience II, linking each figure to the next. Ohiozebau captures an atmosphere of community, cherishing the knowledge that we are never truly alone.

Through the Tide Art Activity | October 13, 2021 at 1:30 pm ($8) : Following the tour, students will create an art piece representing their own heritage using patterned textiles and coloured yarns, to embellish a black and white design focused on flowing lines. This program can be adapted to any age or grade level.

Tour focus: Children will learn about Diana Ohiozebau’s work and discover how art can be used to research and explore one’s own heritage while reflecting your own unique life challenges.

Curriculum links: Social Studies – being together, belonging and connecting, action and participation, opportunities, and challenges. Science – space, shapes, colours, sight (opaque & translucent), light & shadow, recycling, planet earth. Art – student centered learning, broad artistic and cultural perspectives, connections and community, artistic competence, creativity, and design.

HOUSE ILLUMINATES  (Runs September 25 to November 13): 

House Illuminates presents works by Amy Loewan (RCA) that promote peace and well-being. These ideals are at the core of the artist’s life and practice.

House Inspiring Peace is at the centre of the exhibit. The house is constructed from shuen (rice) paper, canvas, silk and Canadian maple, the quintessential structure is encased by woven paper strips and cut paper. Messages, symbols and drawn elements of ink, charcoal, and acrylic adorn the structure. Loewan wanted a simple house, “like the house a child would draw” and the effect is powerful. Lit from within by Edison incandescent lights the house is an invitation to peace and harmony. It offers protection and a room for reflection.

At a time in human history when we have experienced tremendous challenge and uncertainty, House Illuminates is a beacon of hope.

House Illuminates Art Activity | November 10, 2021 at 1:30 pm ($8): Following the tour, students will create their own miniature house using bamboo and a variety of hand-made papers with cut out light panels. This program can be adapted to any age or grade level.

Tour focus: Children will learn how art and the act of creating has the power to heal and promote self-reflection and introspection. It also teaches them about the world around us and the people we share that world with.

Curriculum links: Social Studies – being together, belonging and connecting, action and participation, opportunities, and challenges. Science – space, shapes, colours, seasons, sight (opaque & translucent), light & shadow, recycling, planet earth. Art – student-centered learning, broad artistic and cultural perspectives, connections and community, artistic competence, creativity, and design.

“Your class is a favorite… It has inspired not only a love of clay (hand&pottery) but storytelling and connection…” – Samantha, Homeschool parent