Residents looking to try something new this fall will have plenty of opportunities to get creative, with the Slave Lake Regional Arts Council offering a series of hands-on workshops throughout September and October.

The lineup includes everything from watercolor and crochet to crystal jewelry, candles, stained glass and botanical lanterns.
The first event is a Chicken Paint Night, a watercolor class being held in collaboration with Flour and Hen on Sunday, Sept. 27, from 4 to 7 p.m.

Participants will create a chicken-themed watercolor painting while enjoying a fresh sourdough loaf, cookie and mocktail. The cost is $60 per person, with all painting supplies included. Space is limited, and registration is being handled through Flour and Hen.

On Saturday, Oct. 3, instructor Colleen Legge will lead a beginner-friendly crochet workshop at The Studio in the East Shore Athletics building.

The three-hour session, running from noon to 3 p.m., will introduce participants to basic crochet techniques while working on a traditional granny square. The $25 registration fee includes yarn, hooks and other supplies.

For those interested in wearable art, Anitta Jensen of Serendipity Wellness will lead a crystal bracelet-making workshop on Thursday, Oct. 9, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Participants can choose from more than 45 varieties of crystal beads, along with accent beads, charms and other embellishments, to create a custom bracelet.

The workshop costs $35 and is open to participants aged eight and older, although children must have an adult helper present.
Registration closes Oct. 5.

The council has also added a second stained-glass workshop after the first session filled quickly. Instructor Freda Delorme will lead the additional session on Oct. 16 from 4 to 9 p.m. at The Studio.

The workshop will introduce participants to the fundamentals of stained glass and allow them to create a project to take home.
The workshop is open to those 16 and older and costs $70. Registration closes Oct. 9, with space limited to 12 participants.

A second date has also been added for another popular workshop on Oct. 17, giving residents who missed the first session another chance to participate. The council said the venue, project and other details will remain the same as the original class.

Residents can also try their hand at candle-making during a workshop with Nektaria and Mark of Nine Mile Candle Company.
The session will take place Oct. 18 from 1 to 4 p.m. at The Studio. Participants will pour their own soy-wax candle into a wooden bowl and can decorate it with dried botanicals or leave it with a simpler design.

The workshop costs $75, including supplies, and is open to participants aged 16 and older. Class size is limited to 12 people, with registration closing Oct. 11.

The fall workshop schedule wraps up with a Pressed Lantern Workshop led by Braidi Locke of Boreal Botany on Sunday, Oct. 25.
From 4 to 6 p.m. at the East Shore Athletics building, participants will create lanterns using pressed plants and locally foraged twigs.

Battery-powered tea lights will be used to illuminate the finished pieces. Previous participation in a Boreal Botany plant-pressing workshop is not required, as additional plant samples will be provided.

The workshop costs $45, including supplies, and is open to those aged 16 and older. Registration closes Oct. 19, with a minimum of eight and maximum of 20 participants.

Registration information for the arts council workshops is available through the Slave Lake Regional Arts Council website.

Meanwhile, work continues on a new mural near the Lakeside Leader office, with artist Jessica Desmoulin recently sharing an update on the project.

Desmoulin thanked Alimo’s Pizzeria Slave Lake for providing pizza for the two artists working on the mural, saying the food was especially appreciated after a long day of work.

She has also invited the community to suggest a name for the mural, saying she would like the title to have a connection to Slave Lake and represent Indigenous culture.

Residents with suggestions for the mural’s name can contact Desmoulin or the Slave Lake Regional Arts Council.

William Hetherington
Lakeside Leader