#local-art — Public Fediverse posts

PAUL DROTOS’ GUIDE FOR YOUR IMPROV JOURNEY

Your Improv Journey is Paul Drotos’ treatise meant for beginners, veterans and randos. It is an easy read and is relevant even when considering teamwork, community and art in general.   

Improv is an art form where actors create scenes on the spot. In a show, troupes will usually have games they play with varying levels of audience input.   

When the scene ends, that is the end of […]

Greenroots Gallery: Art, Nature & Creative Business in One Space

https://sowetoapparel.wordpress.com/2026/05/10/greenroots-gallery-art-nature-creative-business-in-one-space/

#3goodthings

1. A day spent with my mom. Garage sales, helping out around the house.

2. Some helpful critiques for my writing.

3. A kickass art show featuring two dozen local artists.

What a lovely day. Now I am tired and will have ice cream. Ooh, good thing number four 😉

#today #writing #MothersDay #art #localart #saskatoon

Currently deep in magnet-painting mode for an upcoming art show! 🧲🎨

There's something really satisfying about working small; you have to commit to every stroke, and the colors have to hit hard. These little ones are turning out so fun.

I'll share show details as we get closer — come say hi if you're in the area! They'll be available to take home for your fridge or wherever you need a tiny piece of art.

#ArtShow #Magnets #SmallArt #HandmadeArt #LocalArt #ArtistLife #ComingSoon

RE: https://mastoart.social/@photosbygina_yeg/116211029390771007

It's today!!! 😄 Yes, you can RSVP at the door--tickets are pay-what-you-will. Stop by if you're in #YEG and you're into the #art scene 🎨 📷 See you there!

#yegArtist #yegArt #LocalArt #SupportLocalArt

KWARTZLAB PROVIDES MEMBERS ACCESS TO INVALUABLE TOOLS

Hobbies can quickly become expensive, especially if it’s one that requires specialized tools like a laser cutter or full-size floor loom. But what if you did not have to buy those tools or find space in your basement for them?  

That is the mission of Kwartzlab, a volunteer-led maker space located at 145 Bedford Rd. in Kitchener. Kwartzlab offers monthly memberships for $59 plus HST, which provides 24/7 access to the space’s wood, metal, textile, and pottery shops and tools.  

Kwartzlab opened in 2009 inside the Boehmer Box building on Duke St., before moving to a space near Kent St. and Charles St. 

Sarah Jones, Kwartzlab’s president, said the idea for the space came from a group of people who wanted to get together and build things. 

“It was very much a hacker type of place, and some of those people are still members today,” Jones said. 

“I used to have to tape every wooden corner because they would catch my sweater. Our metal, wood and welding shops would fit into one room here,” she said. 

Kwartzlab moved the space on Bedford Rd. in 2019, and has taken over additional space since to add a textile area with looms and knitting machines. Today, it offers 9,000 square feet of space to its 230 members.  

The membership base includes individuals and some small businesses. Jones said they have chosen to offer a single membership rate rather than a tier-based system. 

“There’s a fundamental belief [that] we don’t want businesses to pay more and then suddenly feel like they have more privileges. We often get asked about student rates and things like that, but honestly, our rates are so much lower than any other maker space that it’s kind of hard to lower it any more,” Jones said. 

In addition to memberships, Kwartzlab does offer rental spaces for members who need to store items onsite or for private workspaces. 

“Membership pays for the lights on, and then studios end up paying for all the extra tools that we want to buy,” she said. 

The general public can experience the Kwartzlab space at its Tuesday Open Nights, monthly mending and repair drop-ins, or at member-led workshops. At the Tuesday Open Nights, non-members can come to Kwartzlab and use general tools like sewing machines or hand drills. Specialized tools like the laser cutter or CNC machine are reserved for members. 

“So, if you have something to sew and you want to just borrow a sewing machine, you could come in and do that. We’ve had in the past somebody who came in every Tuesday for two months and sewed a shirt,” Jones said. 

As the space approaches its 20th anniversary and begins planning for its next chapter, Jones said accessibility is the top priority, whether that means staying on Bedford Rd. or finding somewhere new. 

“That last move was chaotic. We lost members, we burned out the rest. We’re already planning ahead for how we manage it better this time,” Jones said. 

Regardless of the space or the tools, Jones said what makes Kwartzlab work is the people and a willingness to try something new. 

“Here it’s okay to not know everything. You can say, ‘I’ve never rewired an outlet, could somebody show me?’ And somebody will. I joke that we’re all weird around here. You just want the right kind of weird,” she said. 

UNDERDOG STEPS UP PERFORMANCE TEAMS, COMPETES IN CALGARY

The Underdog Dance Corp. is Waterloo Region’s first beginner-focused adult dance studio. They introduced a more intensive training regimen for their performance team earlier this year, including strength and flexibility training in a second studio in Uptown Waterloo.   

“It’s just the consistency and the hard work to train the body to do it, and you literally practice showing up for yourself fully,” Emily Peat, the director of the Underdog studio, said.   

The studio sent its competitive teams to the Calgary International Salsa Congress from Mar. 26 to Mar. 30, 2026, which featured salsa and bachata dancers from around the world, as well as local professionals and troupes from all over North America. Quinn Vandenheuvel and Emily Dodsworth placed second in the amateur heated bachata division. Peat and Jorge Pablos placed first in the professional bachata heated division. Peat and Phil Roy placed second in the professional salsa showcase division. Bani Singh placed third in the professional-amateur (pro-am) open showcase division with Phil Roy.  

There are 13 students in three teams, who competed. The Bachata Partner amateur team, the Bachata Ladies Styling pro-am team and the Salsa Shines pro-am team. All teams were trained to compete in amateur categories.  

“It all kind of comes down to that in the end. If we teach good fundamentals to people right, then we’ll succeed with our students. And they’ll succeed, whether it’s in our class or out on the dance floor,” Phil Roy, the Experience Manager at Underdog and an instructor, said.  

The team’s six-hour training regimen has included strength training, flexibility training and acro training alongside running through their dance routines. The conditioning, cross-training and technique work help make sure the dancers are prepared for competition.   

“They’re low stakes, relatively—if you win a dance competition, whatever. But you practice discipline. You practice being there for yourself. You practice, ‘how can I react in moments of high stress?’,” Peat said.  

Many of the dancers also competed in “heats”, which require them to improvise for one and a half minutes to a random song within their registered category and style.   

“Because everyone’s relying on everybody else, to make sure that everybody comes away from the competition with a good experience. So, it does take that the group effort to achieve a shared goal,” Victoria Giampaolo, an Underdog student and team captain, said.  

In the week leading up to the Calgary International Salsa Congress, the students are performing in front of their peers periodically in the studio.   

The Calgary congress is one of many competitions that the Underdog Dance Corp. are planning to participate in this year—other cities include Montreal and Toronto.   

“[Competition] really brings the social aspect of dance to the front in a way that a showcase team doesn’t as much. So I really like that. It makes me push myself,” Giampaolo said. 

A vibrant gateway to local creativity and coastal heritage.

Esperance, Western Australia.

© All Rights Reserved by Kev Peirce.

#Photo #Photography #Australia #WesternAustralia #Esperance #LocalArt #ArtGallery #Sign

Three good things:

+ Jarrah seems to be feeling a bit better? Now he's wondering why I'm starving him (I'm not, just being careful with his sensitive system at the moment)

+ enjoying this cool book Kid2 bought about Japanese traditional mending stitch/art and looking forward to trying it out

+ took three of the Kids to see the last night of Lighting the Sound and it was really great. There was an awesome DJ playing some atmospheric tunes, and food vans (we'd already eaten at home but Kid1 decided he and his brother needed ice cream so he bought some), and lots of people thoroughly enjoying the lights and the whole event. I'm glad we went – it was down in front of the Peace Park and so we got to see some of the First Nations artwork and there was some traditional music playing there as well

#LocalArt #reading #family #ThreeGoodThings

A vibrant gateway to local creativity and coastal heritage.

Esperance, Western Australia.

© 𝓐𝓵𝓵 𝓡𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼 𝓡𝓮𝓼𝓮𝓻𝓿𝓮𝓭 𝓫𝔂 𝟐 𝓟𝓮𝓮𝓹𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓪 𝓒𝓪𝓶𝓮𝓻𝓪.

(𝒟ℴ𝓊𝒷𝓁ℯ 𝓉𝒽ℯ 𝒫ℯℯ𝓅𝓈, 𝒹ℴ𝓊𝒷𝓁ℯ 𝓉𝒽ℯ 𝓅ℯ𝓇𝓈𝓅ℯ𝒸𝓉𝒾𝓋ℯ!)

#Photo #Photography #2PeepsAndACamera #Australia #WesternAustralia #Esperance #LocalArt #ArtGallery #Sign

COMMUNITY THROUGH KOLLECTIVE

At Kollective Studios, community is among their core tenants alongside creativity, choreography and just a little bit of chaos. Among Kitchener- Waterloo’s newest creative ventures, the Kollective Studios partnership introduced Kollective Kreations, a crafting space that focuses on the art of decoden. Decoden is derived from the Japanese words for decoration (deco) and phone (den). Known for its over-the-top cute designs, decoden is a DIY craft using whipped cream-inspired glue and adorablecharms to decorate items like phone cases, Polaroid frames and accessories.

Their grand opening weekend for their new venture took place over the weekend of Jan. 9 to 11, 2026. Community members came out en masse to try their hand at decoden and to support business duo Kezea Shayne Gamboa and Alex Duong.

Following up the successful launch of their dance studio Kollective Khaos on Aug. 22, 2025, the two are now offering alternative creative outlets to their dancers as well as the wider Waterloo Region audience.

As an immigrant who came to Canada from the Philippines with her family in 2017, Gamboa always found that community was a big part of her life. Being able to foster a creative community in a leadership role has been a lifelong dream of Gamboa’s, starting in high school where she choreographed dances and taught them to her classmates.

“I really want to build a community where it’s filled with different stories, different backgrounds and different types of creativity,” Gamboa said. Gamboa and Duong met in 2023, in one of Gamboa’s K-pop dance classes. They quickly became friends through the environment that Gamboa cultivated in her classes, with post-class group dinners to Korean BBQ.

Duong loved the atmosphere so much that he began encouraging Gamboa to open her own studio and further expand her ethos to more than just her own classes.

“That’s where Kollective Khaos dance comes from. We want everyone to feel like they’re part of it and that they’re not just coming for dance class. It’s a safe space and a place where you can feel empowered to be yourself or discover new parts of yourself,” Duong said. Gamboa’s ambitions were not just limited to the dance studio either; on weekends the dance studio used to sit empty, but now Saturdays and Sundays host bustling decoden workshops, allowing folks to come out and try a different kind of creativity.

“When people ask for my advice on how to get over a choreography creativity block, I always tell people to do something else. Do something else that fires up that creativity that’s not dancing,” Gamboa said. “

It really helped me a lot with my creativity blocks and then, because you’re still using your brain, it’s just not on the one thing that you’re stressing about. It’s like a different type [of creativity] and it’s making your brain happy again and allowing it to breathe,” she said.

At its core, Kollective Studios is all about community and connection. For both Gamboa and Duong, without opportunities to socialize together outside of class, they wouldn’t have some of the meaningful relationships they do now. Every month the studio holds a movie night in their space which they pair with a themed dance routine. In January, they watched Bring It On: All or Nothing and learned a routine with guest instructor Sky Pahl, Canadian Football League and National Lacrosse League cheerleader and dancer.

“[It’s] a great time, because we have like a little slumber party almost, so we get to talk to each other … we get to hang around, we get to laugh at the movie and talk about it. I think that’s a huge thing with building community, and I think we’ve had a good response,” Duong said.

Kollective Studios offers multi-week sessions and drop-in dance classes from Monday to Friday in the evenings. On weekends, Kreations runs from noon to 6 p.m. and offers a multitude of accessories for crafters to customize. The studio is moving on Feb. 8 from their current location at 275 Larch St. in Waterloo to a bigger space at 259 King St. W., Unit 203 in Kitchener.

KITCHENER GETS NEW ARTS LEADERS

The City of Kitchener’s arts and entertainment department has added two local arts leaders to its team to support the launch of the recently announced Kitchener LIVE destination marketing brand. Green Light Arts’ co-founder and managing director Carin Lowerison will be taking on the role of Manager of Arts and Entertainment Venues and music industry veteran Will Muir will become the city’s Music Officer.  

Kitchener LIVE was first announced at Mayor Berry Vrbanovic’s State of the City address on Oct. 21, 2025 at Centre in the Square. In his address, Vrbanovic said Kitchener LIVE will be a centralized platform for residents to discover events, purchase tickets, and learn how to host an event at a city-owned facility.   

The new brand is a small part of the city’s growing Arts and Entertainment Department. Led by Director of Arts and Entertainment Jeremy Dueck, the department includes three divisions: Arts and Creative Industries, Special Events and Arts and Entertainment Venues.  

Arts and Creative Industries is managed by Andrea Hallam and includes calls for public arts, the 44 Gaukel Creative Workspace, and the city’s film and music offices. Special Events is led by Steve Roth and includes the city’s Canada Day celebration, Way Back Festival, and the Christkindl Market. Music Officer Will Muir will work with the Special Events team to integrate local talent into events like the Roos Island Music Series.  

Lowerison will lead the third division as the Manager of Arts and Entertainment Venues which oversees the Conrad Centre for the Performing Arts, the Victoria Park Pavilion, the City Hall Rotunda and Carl Zehr Square.   

The Arts and Entertainment Venues team is also responsible for the Kitchener LIVE platform. Dueck said the platform’s vision of “Your City. Your Stage.” is designed to help audiences and artists connect across all of the city’s venues, from Centre in the Square and The Aud to Roos Island and Carl Zehr Square. Kitchener LIVE will also include information on public art calls that are coming up and camp opportunities at THEMUSEUM and Centre in the Square.  

“How many times have you talked to people and they say they didn’t know that an event or concert was happening? We think all these events are common knowledge, but it’s not. Our community is growing so quickly that even for the people who’ve been here for a long time, they may not always know what’s happening,” Dueck said.  

For audiences, Kitchener LIVE will be the brand for its existing KW Tickets website and will include events at all city-owned venues and spaces. The new platform will also include information and tools for event hosts and producers to help book venue space.  

“There’s never been an easy entry point if you want to organize an event in one of the major event spaces. That’s what Kitchener LIVE will introduce,” he added.  

In addition to Kitchener LIVE, Dueck said the new department structure will help improve communication across the city’s owned and operated venues.   

“When the Mayor and Council created this division, one of the visions they had was, we need our venues to talk more. Now we meet monthly where we can share what’s coming up. Through those conversations, we get more insight as to what the other venues are doing,” Dueck said.  

While the new platform helps guide the public and event organizers, Dueck said the overarching goal is to present a cohesive brand to potential event hosts. The new structure can potentially help the city to attract major destination events, such as national award shows.  

“Down the road, if we’re trying to attract a major destination event, the Canadian Country Music Awards or the Junos, if we’re trying to go after an event brand, Kitchener LIVE helps us package and present our experience in the arts and entertainment scene here in Kitchener,” he said.  

THE LOCALIST: NOVEMBER 2025

Maiden Lane— BEDOUIN MEDICINE (LP)

Release Date: Nov. 7, 2025

City: Kitchener 

Genre: Garage Rock, Punk

Two years in the making, Maiden Lane presents their loudest and most intense performance to date. BEDOUIN MEDICINE draws its thematic inspiration from the band’s attempt to capture the feeling of modern-day chaos in an album. Blending the raw energy of punk with the simplicity of garage rock and the sonic experimentation of psychedelia, the band has truly hit their stride.

Sega Saturn the Console — Expansion Pak (EP) 

Release Date: Nov. 22, 2025

City: Kitchener 

Genre: Punk Rock

Expansion Pak is the debut EP from three-piece punk rockers Sega Saturn the Console. Their EP includes seven electrifyingly loud and fast punk tracks about life and the inevitability of death.  

The project packs a punch, flying through the track list in the span of just ten minutes. Physical copies available locally via Pink Lemonade Records. 

Arcade Allstars—Destined for Disaster (LP) 

Release Date: Nov. 7, 2025

City: Kitchener 

Genre: Ska, Punk

Arcade Allstars follow up on their 2023 EP Insert Coin with their debut full length album Destined for Disaster. Originally formed during the tail end of the pandemic, the group sounds more cohesive than ever. Their album is loaded with catchy, energetic hooks that will invoke an irresistible urge to get up and dance. Physical copies available locally via Pink Lemonade Records.

Frankie Teardrop — Black Grasshopper Stew (EP) 

Release Date: Nov. 28, 2025

City: Kitchener-Waterloo

Genre: No Wave

The experimental no wave duo Frankie Teardrop, known for their unique live performances, have recorded their thought-provoking sound on their debut EP Black Grasshopper Stew. Driven by hypnotizing metronomic drum machines paired alongside guitars and vocals soaked in noise, distortion and feedback, the album is abrasive and anarchic, prioritizing an exploration of musical texture in exchange of traditional melodies. The album is available exclusively on Bandcamp.

Red Carpet Revival — “Bang Bang!” (Single) 

Release Date: Nov. 14, 2025

City: Waterloo

Genre: Alternative Rock, Pop Punk

The female fronted rock band Red Carpet Revival returns with their newest single, “Bang Bang!” which features high energy riffs, anthemic vocals and hard-hitting lyrics. The song draws influence from the early 2000s alternative and emo scene, adding a modern twist to a nostalgic sound and assuring the track will find fans amongst the youth and elder emos alike.

Album artwork sourced from Bandcamp. 

#Accessible #alternativeRock #altnerative #Bandcamp #BirdDaniels #Column #ep #GarageRock #kitchener #LocalArt #localArtists #localMusic #localMusicians #Localist #lp #newReleases #noWave #popPunk #Punk #single #ska

Doing some #HolidayShopping? Stop by Le Marché Bohème at Bonnie Doon until 5pm, and #SupportLocalArtists this holiday season!

#ShopLocal #LocalArt #yegArt #yegPhotographer #yegArtist #MerryChristmas #HappyHilidays

📸 #MondayMotivation Looking ahead to Artists Sunday on
Nov. 30: Celebrating Creativity Worldwide! 🎨

📣Support local artists this holiday season! Discover unique, handcrafted gifts that tell a story and strengthen our local economy. What can you do?
• 🖼️ Visit a local art gallery
• 🎭 Attend a theatrical performance
• 🏛️ Explore a museum and its gift shop
• 🎁 Purchase a one-of-a-kind artisan gift
• 💃🏻View a dance performance, take a class
• 👩‍🎨More!

#Artists #ArtistsSunday #art #holiday #localart

The Triangle Entertainment Guide Tuesday October 21st Edition

The Triangle is buzzing this Tuesday with something for everyone — from seniors enjoying a free day at the NC State Fair to evening book clubs, art sessions, and open mics across the region. Whether you’re in Raleigh, Durham, or Chapel Hill, today is packed with culture, creativity, and community.

🎠 Senior Citizen Day at the NC State Fair

All Day | FREE for ages 65+ | NC State Fairgrounds, Raleigh

Celebrate Senior Citizen Day with free admission for guests aged 65 and older! Enjoy the rides, food, exhibits, and concerts at the North Carolina State Fair, a fall tradition that continues to bring smiles to all ages.

🎓 NC Countdown to College

All Day | FREE

Application fees are waived for many North Carolina colleges and universities this week. It’s the perfect opportunity for students to take a step toward their future — tuition-free applications and campus events included.

🎨 Sculpture in the Garden

9:00 AM – 5:00 PM | FREE ($5 Suggested Donation) | NC Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill

Take a peaceful stroll through the North Carolina Botanical Garden, where local artists showcase outdoor sculptures among lush greenery. A blend of art and nature, this exhibit is free and open to all.

📚 North Hills Kids: Bubbles & Books

9:30 AM – 11:30 AM | FREE | The Commons at North Hills, Raleigh

Bring the little ones for a morning of fun at North Hills Kids — enjoy bubbles, storytime, and sunshine in one of Raleigh’s most family-friendly gatherings.

💀 Día de Muertos Ofrenda at Duke Chapel

10:00 AM – 8:00 PM | FREE | Duke University Chapel

Visit the stunning Día de Muertos Ofrenda at Duke Chapel, a moving tribute honoring ancestors and loved ones through colorful altars and cultural symbolism.

🔥 Campfire Storytime

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM | FREE | Blooming Daisy Homestead, Spring Hope

Gather around the campfire for stories and songs at this cozy family event celebrating fall’s charm.

🧪 Science at the Museum

1:30 PM | FREE | NC Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh

Incredible Science: Hands-on learning fun for kids and curious minds. Window on Animal Health: Get an inside look at veterinary science and animal care at the Nature Research Center.

📖 Book Club: The Hunting Party

6:00 PM – 8:00 PM | FREE | Southern Peak Brewery, Apex

Unwind with a drink and good company at this month’s book club discussion of The Hunting Party — perfect for mystery lovers!

🍻 Evening Socials Around the Triangle

Pints & Pups – 6:00 PM–8:00 PM | Ponysaurus, Durham Adult Coloring Night – 6:00 PM–10:00 PM | Hi-Wire Brewing, Durham Bond Brothers Run Club – 6:00 PM | Cary Artful Evenings: Live Art Tuesdays – 6:00 PM | JB Duke Hotel, Durham Beer & Banjos Raleigh – 6:30 PM–9:00 PM | Bowstring Pizza & Brewyard Crafts & Drafts – 6:30 PM | Crank Arm Brewing, Raleigh Beginner Line Dancing – 6:30 PM–10:00 PM | Mystic Farm & Distillery, Durham

🎭 Nightlife & Music

Mystery Night – 7:00 PM | Ment Beverage Co., Durham Music Bingo – 7:00 PM | Gizmo Brew Works, Durham Beer & Banjos Carrboro – 7:00 PM | Speakeasy, Carrboro Video Game Night – 7:00 PM–11:00 PM | Moon Dog Meadery, Durham BEERthoven: Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle – 7:30 PM | Atomic Clock Brewing Co., Durham Open Mic Night – 7:30 PM | Yonder: Southern Cocktails & Brew, Hillsborough Swing Dancing & Lesson – 7:30 PM | Back Studio Stomp, Durham International Jazz Open Jam – 8:00 PM | Neptune’s Parlour, Raleigh Terror Tuesdays: Halloween Movie Night – 8:00 PM | Ponysaurus, Durham Karaoke Night – 8:00 PM | Boxcar Bar + Arcade, Durham Open Mic with Live Band – 9:00 PM | Slim’s, Raleigh

🌟 Make the Most of Your Tuesday

Whether you’re exploring art in Chapel Hill, enjoying a beer and banjo jam in Raleigh, or relaxing at a Durham brewery, the Triangle is alive with creativity and community. Step out and support your local venues, artists, and neighbors tonight!

Follow DoRaleigh.com for your daily Triangle entertainment guides — where to go, what to do, and how to make the most of every day in Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill.

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#Cary #ChapelHillEvents #DoRaleigh #Durham #DurhamEvents #events #FreeEvents #LiveMusic #LocalArt #NCCountdownToCollege #NCMuseumOfNaturalSciences #NCStateFair #News #raleigh #RaleighEvents #TriangleEntertainment #TriangleEntertainmentGuide

These beautiful works of functional art just arrived! I can't wait for them to find their way onto the walls of homes and offices.

Given current events here in Canada, it wasn't hard to come up with a theme for these 2026 calendars 🇨🇦

They will be at a few local markets this holiday season, and are also available for purchase via my online marketplace 👇🏻

https://artisans.coop/products/this-is-my-canada-2026-calendar

#CanadianPhotographer #ShopLocal #BuyLocal #LocalArt