October 15 – 17, 2010
(Friday evening to Sunday noon)
Join us for a wonderful weekend of drumming and printmaking, using rhythms and patterns from West Africa. African drumming integrates the body, mind and spirit and is a great stress reliever. Drumming, singing, and movement can also provide a wonderful physical metaphor for exploring themes of change and transition, unity and diversity. Taking part in this workshop will also give you an opportunity to develop active listening and focusing skills. Using drums and small percussion instruments from Ghana, you will all learn several traditional pieces of music, using layers of rhythms, and some simple songs. Traditional instruments will be provided, but your own hand drums are welcome. No prior experience is required in drumming or art-making to fully participate in what promises to be an inspiring weekend of activities.
Continue the exploration of the rhythms of West Africa with the visual patterns that come with the Adinkrasymbols of Ghana. Artist and screen printer Dawson Hamilton will show you how to use the Adrinka symbols and patterns, to embellish a cotton T-shirt and a tote bag (provided). You may also bring fabric or clothing with you, as there will be time, during the workshop, to make some additional pieces.
The workshop will begin Friday evening with dinner at the Wintergreen lodge. Following dinner, Kathy will lead the first drumming session and Dawson will familiarize you with the patterns that you will be using for your artistic creations. There will be a drumming session after breakfast on Saturday morning, followed by the first screen printing session. After lunch, you will have another opportunity to take part in a drumming circle and continue with your screen printing. Before dinner, there will be a chance to explore the many trails surrounding Wintergreen. Sunday morning will be spent finishing the screen prints and celebrating our time together with a final drumming circle before the closing lunch.
About the instructors
Kathy Armstrong shares her passion for African music and dance with diverse groups of people throughout North America and Europe. Trained as a percussionist and educator at the University of Toronto and in Ghana, her commitment to community development and cross-cultural understanding informs and strengthens the inherent power of this art form. Kathy is based in Ottawa where she directs Baobab Tree Drum Dance Community and teaches at Carleton University. She has been Artist-in-Residence at Queen’s University and the University of Wisconsin at Madison. For more information please visit her website.
Dawson Hamilton is an accomplished screen printer, and has taught the silk screening process to various groups including adults and high school aged students. He has sold his creations online, distributed his art in boutiques in eastern Canada, and has made commissioned pieces and designs for individuals and corporate and community organizations.
Tuition: $225, plus $35 for materials.
Accommodation and meals for the duration of the workshop: $220 (bunks p.p.), $260 (shared rooms or cabins, p.p.), $300 (double bed, single occupancy), $450 (double bed, shared). HST extra.
© 2010 Wintergreen Studios - PO Box 75, Yarker, ON, K0K 3N0, Canada - Phone: 613 273 8745