Continue the Board Workshop Takeover by exploring the dynamic world of moving images with board member, animator, and educator Jacen Dennis.
// THIS IS A TWO-PART WORKSHOP. REGISTER ONCE, BUT ATTEND BOTH DAYS! // OCTOBER 8 & OCTOBER 22, 2026 //
Bring Art to Life // Stop-Frame Animation Workshop
Our Board of Directors are, before anything else, artists and creative professionals who believe in what this place does. This year, they are stepping out of the boardroom to share that inspiration with our community. The Board Workshop Takeover is a special fundraising series where our board members step into the gallery as lead facilitators, sharing their creative practices and professional expertise directly with our community. Every registration goes straight back to the Alternator, helping us meet our 2026 goals and keeping this space open for everyone.
About the Session
Curious about stop-motion animation? Join us in a two-part workshop designed for learners of any age where you will bring a "WORM STORY" (or another limbless creature—up to you!) to life!
Session 1: Plan your story centered on a limbless little creature overcoming an obstacle, craft your puppet and backdrop, and decide on sound effects.
Session 2: Bring it all together through frame-by-frame animating and editing!
Led by animator Jacen Dennis, this hands-on workshop will guide participants through the core principles of stop-frame animation. You will learn how to sequence frames, manipulate materials for smooth movement, and edit your work to create your very own short animated sequence.
What to Bring
All basic materials will be provided, including a phone tripod with lighting set up.
Details
Presenter: Jacen Dennis
Dates: Thursday, October 8 & Thursday, October 22, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Location: Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art (Onsite)
Cost: $60 for Members | $100 for Non-Members (Not a member yet? It pays to join!)
Who is this for?
This workshop is open to everyone—from curious beginners of any age who have never animated a single frame to practicing artists looking to integrate motion into their existing studio practices.
Meet Your Facilitator
Jacen Dennis is a transgender digital media artist and animator based in Kelowna BC who completed his Master of Fine Arts at the University of British Columbia Okanagan in 2021. Jacen has been the project coordinator or lead animator for several productions including Music of the Heavens (2017; performed in Kelowna and Vancouver), Celestial Bodies (forthcoming), Bridge Disaster of 1896 (2024; presented at 2026 CineVic Short Circuit), among other projects. Recent exhibitions from his solo practice include Vancouver (The Lind Prize 2021) and Kelowna (AR Bernard, Light Up Kelowna). Jacen has been employed as a sessional instructor teaching animation and digital media at UBC Okanagan since 2021, and has been a member of the board of directors for the Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art since 2022.