Free workshops from Professional Artists
All workshops are appropriate for ages 10 and up. Classes are free and you can reserve a spot by following the links.
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Damian Schaab - Psaligrapher (Papercutter)
Saturday, September 4, 2pm-4:30pm Damian Schaab is a psaligrapher (papercutter) who was born in St. Paul, MN, and was primarily raised in the Frogtown Neighborhood by an artistic single mother. He has created art for as long as he can remember. For the last two decades, he has created hand-cut paper art that resonates with the broadest audience possible. He received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Minnesota, a Master of Arts from Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago, IL, and is a member of the Guild of American Papercutters. He has worked with students of all ages who seek to learn the rich and diverse cultural traditions of papercutting. He has taught at the Hyde Park Art Center in Chicago, IL, The Minnesota Grange in Edina, MN, and private workshops all around St. Paul. His art focuses on building bridges, which is the title of his beginning paper cutting classes. Schaab states, “In the art of papercutting, all the pieces of an image need to be connected (by a bridge), lest that image falls apart. By building those bridges into the composition, the frailties of the individual components are sustained by being integrated into the greater landscape of the whole. Our individual, human frailties are no different. Alone, our imperfections can be our downfall, but when they are incorporated into the fabric of our society, our unique characteristics become underpinnings of strength and solidarity—the very building blocks of community. It is impossible to allocate individual credit for the invention of the bridge. No singular entity can be credited with authoring the genius of this ubiquitous technological innovation...As an artist, I feel compelled to engage with subject matter that ranges from melancholy to whimsical, and back again. All the while I continuously challenge myself to push the boundaries of my ever-changing artistic discernment, as well as my technical acumen. ” - Damian Schaab |
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Divinewords - Macabre Street Artist
“Draw Your Dreams: Intro to Surrealism” Saturday, July 3, 5:30pm-6:30pm CT Zoom link: Click here or Meeting ID: 959 4651 1924 Passcode: surrealart Tap into your unconscious mind and unleash unlimited creative potential while learning about Surrealism with street artist Divinewords. Surrealism is a cultural arts movement that sprang from the Dada movement after World War I. In this workshop, you will learn the history of Surrealism, elements of composition, juxtaposition, and how you can use this genre of art to increase your creative potential! Participants will need paper, drawing tools of their choice (pencils, markers, crayons, etc), and three references. Sydney Latimer (aka Divinewords) is a writer, artist, and activist from the Rondo Neighborhood in St. Paul. Divine has developed and implemented community-based arts programs since 1997 and was a former contributor for the Huffington Post. For the last six years, they have turned their focus to Afro-Gothic Post -Apocalyptic Surrealism and uses shrines and memorials as a form of street art in provocative acts of remembrance. |
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Samantha Rei - Fashion Designer
How to Build Your Own Fashion Brand Tuesday, July 6, 6:30pm-7:30pm Reserve a Spot Here Samantha Rei started her first fashion label in 2000 in a time where information on how to enter the industry for indie designers was sparse. She doesn't want young designers to struggle to get that same info, so join her and learn how to get your start. Alternative Fashion on a Budget Tuesday, July 13, 6:30pm-7:30pm Reserve a Spot Here Style is style regardless of cost, so how do you put together your signature look without breaking the bank? Samantha Rei will help you learn how to put together your alternative capsule collection. |
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Samantha R. Crossland began her fashion design career with her label “Blasphemina’s Closet”, one of the first Lolita clothing lines in the US, in 2000. After closing “Blasphemina’s Closet” in September of 2013, she started anew with her new eponymous label “Samantha Rei”. “Samantha Rei” embodies the sweetness, femininity, and attention to detail that has come to be expected from the designer.
Samantha Rei draws her inspiration from such illustrators as Chris Riddell, Brom, Tony DiTerlizzi, Brett Helquist, and Mihara Mitsukazu as well as stories like Alice in Wonderland and Snow White. Her hero Alexander McQueen along with designers Vivienne Westwood, Hirooka Naoto, John Galliano, and Anna Sui have all influenced her style.
In 1998, Samantha began attending the Perpich Center for Arts Education in Golden Valley, Minnesota, choosing to hone her skills as an illustrator and painter so she could pursue comic book art. After graduating in 1999, she spent some time at the College of Visual Arts (CoVA) in Saint Paul to major in illustration before continuing her education at the Minneapolis Community and Technical College for Apparel Technologies. She’s been featured in Huffington Post, Shojo Beat, the American Gothic and Lolita Bible, Gothic Beauty, Glamour UK, and Vogue UK. Samantha was named one of the 2014 City Pages “Artists of the Year” and 2016 Best of the Twin Cities “Best Fashion Show” and 2016 and 2017 Reader’s Choice “Best Local Fashion Designer.” In 2015 she authored and illustrated a how-to book on subculture fashion design called Steampunk and Cosplay Fashion Design and Illustration. Samantha was a contestant on season 16 of Lifetime’s Project Runway, the final season to appear on the station. She’s on the cast of the upcoming The Collective.
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Brittany Frazier - Professional Mermaid and Prop/Cosplay artist
How to Make the Perfect Cosplay Friday, July 30, 6:30-7:30pm Reserve a spot HERE Have you ever wanted to cosplay but don’t know where to start? Are you an experienced cosplayer, but you want to take your costuming to the next level!? If so, this is the class for you. Brittany Frazier has designed this workshop to walk you through every aspect of designing and making the perfect cosplay. Frazier will teach you how to work within your budget to create high-quality costumes that will turn heads at any convention or Instagram post! Not only will you learn about how to put your costume together, but she will also tell you everything you need to know about attending your first convention! Making Professional Props Friday, August 6th, 6:30-7:30pm Reserve a spot HERE Learn the process of how to create professional cosplay props and accessories to make your cosplay stand out from the crowd. Details are what separates average costumes from outstanding ones, and the props and accessories you choose matter. This workshop focuses on using existing materials and your creativity to begin creating professional quality props that can be used at conventions, for photoshoots, movies, music videos, and more! This is the perfect opportunity to take your crafting up a notch! |
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Brittany Frazier is a queer cosplayer, master sewer, prop builder, and circus performer. She started drawing at 3 years old and got her first sewing machine when she was 5. Stories about monsters and heroes, like Conan the Barbarian, inspired her to want to make costumes like the ones she saw on TV. Her grandmother taught her the basics of sewing and she received her first sewing machine at 14-years-old and hasn’t stopped sewing since.
Although Frazier went to college for art and animation, she is largely self-taught. She learns from other skilled costume designers and artists through her expansive network on social media. She posts the progress of each project on Twitter to entice her fans to see her creations at various Conventions. She is a Final Fantasy superfan, which inspires her next-level fantasy costuming.
Frazier is a true eccentric who expresses herself through various art forms such as digital art and illustration, prop design, circus performance, drag, and unicycling. She is even a professional mermaid! She truly does it all. As an artist, she strives to teach others from the skills she’s learned for more than 16 years. She wants to make art more attainable and less intimidating for others and help them get to explore their artistic potential without boundaries.
Although Frazier went to college for art and animation, she is largely self-taught. She learns from other skilled costume designers and artists through her expansive network on social media. She posts the progress of each project on Twitter to entice her fans to see her creations at various Conventions. She is a Final Fantasy superfan, which inspires her next-level fantasy costuming.
Frazier is a true eccentric who expresses herself through various art forms such as digital art and illustration, prop design, circus performance, drag, and unicycling. She is even a professional mermaid! She truly does it all. As an artist, she strives to teach others from the skills she’s learned for more than 16 years. She wants to make art more attainable and less intimidating for others and help them get to explore their artistic potential without boundaries.