NSCAD University is opening its doors on Saturday, May 10, 2025, to offer a full day of hands-on art making. As part of Open City 2025, people for all ages and all skill levels can drop in for chance to try printmaking, embroidery sculpture, ceramics, motion capture animation, jewellery and much more!
Event Details:
When: Saturday, May 10, 2025
Time: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: NSCAD University, Port Campus, 1107 Marginal Road, Halifax.
No registration needed — just show up and GET YOUR ART ON!
Workshop and events:
Additive Mini-Sculpture (Darlene Morrison, alumna)
Darlene Morrison (alumna) – Build a mini-sculpture of mostly found materials. See how everyday waste materials can be reutilized in a fun hands-on process of creating something new. Recycled plastics, wire, rubber, wood, metal, etc. are combined with new and found objects to create sculptures.
Suminagashi (NSCAD Extended Studies)
A Japanese art form of marbling on paper, also known as “floating ink”, involves ink on water and then transferring the patterns to paper to create swirling patterns. The process is simple and can be done with basic materials found in your home.
Lego Printmaking (NSCAD Extended Studies)
Harness the power of Lego to make art. Create a pattern with Lego pieces and then make a relief print of your art with ink and paper. This technique can be used at home to make editions of prints.
Stop Motion Animation (Mitchell Green, student)
Be part of a collaborative community project where you will create a portion of a stop motion animation that will run the entire event. Once complete, participants will receive the final video by email.
Architectural Embroidery
As part of a transformative site-specific project, visitors will use embroidery techniques to create architectural elements on the railings of the first floor of NSCAD’s Port Campus. Using yarn, participants will explore textiles as a free-flowing process, learning you don’t need many tools to create art.
Jewellery Chain Making (Abby Hamer, student)
Learn how to make a chain with fine metal with any shape of link. These can then be turned into a bracelet, earrings, a keychain and more. The only limit is your imagination.
Artistic Flower Recipe (Dian Zhang, student)
Pick a card, any card…then select a shape, colour rendering style and word. We’ll use the information to create an image from the natural world through paint and drawing. This session is part art, part improv. Let the creative magic begin!
Screenprint Printmaking (NSCAD Extended Studies)
Learn how to make layered prints using screen printing techniques, an ideal technique for creating multiples of a print.
Paint What You Can (MAK Creations, student)
A simple and fun painting project for people of all ages. The project freely allows them to paint through imagination and observation. Participants can sketch and use different types of medium to create their works of art.
Quick Quilting (Alexandra Esperanza, alumna)
Learn how to create a quilt block using simplified appliqué techniques. This method is a fun and rewarding way to play with different fabrics and material textures. Participants will experience the steps in the design process as well as complete a small quilt block in a short amount of time.
Shrinkies (NSCAD Extended Studies)
Create your own piece of art and then shrink it into a tiny decoration for a keychain or piece of jewellery.
Alternative Photography – Cyanotypes and Phytogram (Devon Pennick-Reilly, student)
Create your own botanical art using the magic of photosensitive paper and plants. Cyanotypes react to the shadow of an object creating a beautiful blue outline, while phytogram involves pressing real plants onto the surface, allowing sunlight to imprint the shapes and textures of the plants onto the paper.
Wet Felting (Marilyn Holm)
Making textile approaches accessible to everyone! Wet felting in a baggie, just add water, friction and creativity.
Virtual Dance Party (David Clark, alumnus & faculty)
Using 3D image capture technology, visitors get scanned, select a dance move for their digital selves and then bust a move in a virtual world with other visitors.
Gyotaku (Rachel Reeve, alumna)
Learn the traditional Japanese art of fish printing inspired a modern art form. In this workshop we get up close and personal with various local species of fish and crustacean as we create numerous detailed prints of each species on Japanese rice paper and organic cotton muslin using non-toxic ink.
Wearable Art Patch (Noah Check, student)
Explore textile sustainability while making patches, using iron on adhesive and recycled fabric scraps from the sewing studio. Visitors can also embellish their work with embroidery and beads. Keep your piece or take part in a swap with other participants.
Collograph Printing (Sush Kant, alumni)
Harness the power of recycled and foraged materials to make fine art prints. Make your own one-of-a-kind piece using stencils, stamping, unique textures and imprint techniques.
Drawing (Rebecca Strong, student)
A series of open-ended prompts will be given one at a time for participants to interpret and draw on paper. The goal of this project is to create a drawing with no expectations and to play with materials to create something unique!
Make A Face Sculptural Masks (Lydia LeBlanc, student)
Create unique mini masks using cardboard and paper mâché. Learn the steps to make your own full-scale masterpiece!
Recycled Clay Plant Pots (Becca Devenish, student)
Learn how to coil-build a pinch pot for your garden. Made from recycled clay and unfired, this pot will give your outdoor plant the perfect start. As the plant grows, the pot will slowly decompose and add nutrition to the soil.
Cardboard City (NSCAD students)
Repurposing cardboard waste, participants of all ages can construct and decorate their own building for our small-scale city. What will the future look like?