Barb MacLeod (left) and Downtown Collingwood BIA Manager Sue Nicholson (right) at the new downtown Collingwood location of ArtSpark
Barb MacLeod wants to help you ignite your creativity. "Whether you are a complete stranger to artistic pursuits, or a practising artist, we endeavour to light some creative sparks" she says. MacLeod has recently opened her new downtown Collingwood studio on the main floor of the Arlington building at 115 Hurontario Street.
Barb brings 30 years of experience in multimedia commissioned art and teaching to offer creative exercises and a variety of multimedia workshops. Her artwork can be seen hanging in private collections and corporate offices throughout Toronto. Barb is no stranger to the area, having served as an administrator with the Blue Mountain Foundation for the Arts. In fact, the association with the BMFA eventually led Barb to downtown Collingwood. "Having spent so much time at the BMFA Arts Centre, and having been Art Director for the murals project, I had a good feel for the downtown" MacLeod said. "The murals pulled me from Thornbury to Collingwood" she added.
MacLeod says people can expect to see what she calls "fibre art" when they visit the new downtown Collingwood location of ArtSpark. "You'll see watercolours, photography, jewellery, and I'll be selling some art materials used at our workshops that aren't easily found here" she added.
Barb encourages people of all artistic backgrounds to participate in her various workshops that are offered throughout the year. "Maybe they've been discouraged in the past, but that's ok. I'm trying to get them to do what they like to do themselves. That way, they'll have a relationship with their art" Barb said.
ArtSpark Workshops are taught by experienced Artist/Teachers on topics that include photography, painting, drawing, creative exercises, low-relief casting, fabric collage and spinning. ArtSpark workshops are offered in half, one and two day formats to fit into the schedules of local residents and visitors to the area. Barb often goes out to speak at various resorts including Cranberry and Royal Harbour in Thornbury. Visitors soon discover that attending a workshop is a fun and rewarding activity to take part in while on a holiday.
Fall programs include the popular Photoshop workshop and a new video editing workshop. For a complete list of upcoming workshops, and for further information about ArtSpark activities, visit the web site at www.artspark.com, and be sure to pop into the downtown Collingwood location to meet Barb and to make that first step in igniting your creativity! As Barb says, it is a part of life not to be missed.
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