The river trails are calling, the trees are bare, and we’re not quite ready to give up our time outdoors.
We have a habit of taking the long way. A walk around the Forks turns into a few hours downtown. A stop on a park bench becomes a conversation. Sometimes we end up along the Red or Assiniboine, following the trails, checking out the riverbanks and seeing where the afternoon takes us.
It’s one of the things we love about living and making art in the city. There are so many places to spend time outside, and not all of them need to be formal parks or designated gathering spaces. A picnic table, an interesting stretch of riverbank or a quiet spot beneath the trees can be just as good.
Before the Snow Covers Everything
We also have a bit of collecting to do before winter arrives. The fallen leaves, interesting branches, twigs and other natural materials that catch our attention on a walk will soon be buried under snow. Now is the time to bring some of those things home and put them to use.
We like making art with what’s around us. Natural materials have their own textures, shapes and colours, and they give every project a connection to the places we spend time. A branch picked up along the river might become part of a wreath; leaves and other finds might inspire a handmade card.
A Winter of Making Things
We’ve got some Christmas workshops coming up, including wreath-making and handmade Christmas cards. There will be opportunities to participate in person and remotely, so people can join in from wherever they happen to be.
We’ll be bringing together natural materials, reused supplies, a few creative ideas and plenty of time to make things by hand. It’s a good excuse to get together, share ideas and put some of the season’s materials to work.
In the meantime, we’ll keep walking. There’s still time to enjoy the trails, meet outside and take a few more photographs before the snow changes the scenery. If you see us collecting interesting branches along the way, you’ll know what we’re up to.
