Filtering by: Workshop
Artwork Documentation Workshop with Andreas Rutkauskas
Sep
12
to Sep 13
Events, Workshop

Artwork Documentation Workshop with Andreas Rutkauskas

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Artwork Documentation Workshop with Andreas Rutkauskas

Building on the success of our spring sessions, the Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art is excited to launch the Fall lineup for our 2026 Artist Development Series. This ongoing series equips emerging and mid-career artists with actionable tools to build sustainable creative careers alongside regional experts. Stay tuned, as more Fall sessions will be announced soon!

Through these sessions, we aim to move beyond simple skill-building to help you build collaborative networks and gain the actionable tools needed to navigate your creative career with confidence.

Master camera controls, lighting, and editing in this 2-part workshop to photograph 2D & 3D art in a real gallery setup.

NOTE: This is a 2-part workshop (Saturday, September 12 & Sunday, September 13). Participants must attend both days.

REGISTER ON EVENTBRITE HERE

Date: Saturday, September 12 & Sunday, September 13, 2026
Time: 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm daily
Where: The Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art

In this comprehensive two-part workshop, visual artist and educator Andreas Rutkauskas will guide you through the fundamentals of capturing professional, high-quality documentation of your artwork. High-resolution images are essential for strong grant applications, exhibition proposals, and portfolio development.

Held in the gallery between exhibition installations, this workshop provides a unique opportunity to photograph your work in a professional gallery setting. Day one focuses on a formal presentation and technical demonstration covering camera controls and foundational image editing techniques. Day two is an interactive, hands-on session where you will bring your own 2D or 3D artwork into the gallery to put your new technical skills into practice under expert guidance.

What to Bring:

Day 1: A notebook or digital device for taking notes.
Day 2: One or two pieces of original artwork (2D or 3D) and your camera or smartphone.

Attendance & Contributions

This workshop is free to attend. However, for those with the capacity to do so, we invite you to participate in our Pay It Forward program.

Pay It Forward

We believe in building a creative community where everyone belongs. This event is open to all. For those in a position to give, we invite you to pay it forward. Your generosity keeps our doors open to everyone, creates access for all, and sustains the programs that enrich our collective cultural life. We gratefully accept contributions by cash or online here. Unable to contribute? You are always welcome here.

About the Artist

Andreas Rutkauskas is a visual artist and photography instructor at UBC’s Okanagan campus. Using photography, video, and audio recordings, his practice explores the impacts of technological incursions within landscapes. Rutkauskas was the inaugural artist in residence at the Grantham Foundation for the Arts and the Environment, a Research Fellow with the Canadian Photography Institute, and a finalist for the Gabriele Basilico International Prize in Architecture and Landscape. His work is held in major public and private collections, including the Canadian War Museum, the Judith & Norman Alix Art Gallery, and the Kelowna Art Gallery.

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Navigating Taxes for Artists with Kathy Chin
Sep
26
to Oct 3
Events, Workshop

Navigating Taxes for Artists with Kathy Chin

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Navigating Taxes for Artists with Kathy Chin

Building on the success of our spring sessions, the Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art is excited to launch the Fall lineup for our 2026 Artist Development Series. This ongoing series equips emerging and mid-career artists with actionable tools to build sustainable creative careers alongside regional experts. Stay tuned, as more Fall sessions will be announced soon!

Through these sessions, we aim to move beyond simple skill-building to help you build collaborative networks and gain the actionable tools needed to navigate your creative career with confidence.

Taxes don't have to be intimidating!

In this accessible two-part workshop series, tax professional and former Alternator Board Treasurer Kathy Chin breaks down the fundamentals of managing tax obligations as an artist. Designed for creators at any stage, this program requires no prior financial or tax knowledge, and all workshop materials will be provided.

Session 1: Tax Workshop for Artists (In-Person at the Gallery)

Date: Saturday, September 26, 2026
Time: 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Where: The Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art

REGISTER ON EVENTBRITE HERE

Get step-by-step guidance on organizing your financial records, reporting business income and expenses, and filling out the business schedule for your tax return. Kathy will also cover essential topics such as determining whether you need to register for GST and how to properly report donations of your artwork or services.

Session 2: Artist Tax Q&A (Online via Zoom)

Date: Saturday, October 3, 2026
Time: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Where: Online via Zoom

REGISTER ON EVENTBRITE HERE

An informal, open discussion tackling real-life tax situations, with priority given to questions submitted in advance by participants. Whether you want to clarify points from Session 1 or get general guidance on common artist tax scenarios, this session provides a supportive environment to get answers. (Note: This session provides general information only and does not constitute formal personal tax advice.)

Note: Session 1 and Session 2 require separate registrations. You are welcome to attend either or both sessions!

What to Bring:

Session 1: A notebook or digital device for taking notes.

Session 2: A device with Zoom capability and any general questions regarding artist taxes.

Attendance & Contributions

This workshop is free to attend. However, for those with the capacity to do so, we invite you to participate in our Pay It Forward program.

Pay It Forward

We believe in building a creative community where everyone belongs. This event is open to all. For those in a position to give, we invite you to pay it forward. Your generosity keeps our doors open to everyone, creates access for all, and sustains the programs that enrich our collective cultural life. We gratefully accept contributions by cash or online here. Unable to contribute? You are always welcome here.

About the Facilitator

Kathy Chin (she/her) is a tax professional who worked in public practice until founding her own independent firm in 2025. Her client practice includes business owners, estates, non-profits, individuals navigating Indigenous taxation, and clients resolving complex matters with the Canada Revenue Agency. An Alternator alumna, Kathy previously served as the Board's Treasurer for several years. Outside of taxes, she enjoys ComiCon, rocks, cute office supplies, ice cream, wide-leg jeans, lists, and firmly believes that art represents the dreams of humanity.

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Bring Art to Life // Stop-Motion Animation Workshop
Oct
8
to Oct 22
Community Programming, Events, Members Events, Workshop

Bring Art to Life // Stop-Motion Animation Workshop

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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 //

RESERVE YOUR SPOT

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.

RESERVE YOUR SPOT

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.

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Capture the Sun // Experimental Cyanotype Workshop
Aug
22
11:00 AM11:00
Community Programming, Events, Workshop, Members Events

Capture the Sun // Experimental Cyanotype Workshop

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Continue the Board Workshop Takeover by exploring the magical world of sun-printing with board member Patty Leinemann.

RESERVE YOUR SPOT

Capture the Sun // Experimental Cyanotype 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
If you caught Patty’s beautiful Prussian blue cyanotype pieces in the Members Gallery earlier this year for her exhibition Whispers of a Peregrina, you already know how mesmerizing this medium can be. Now, she is offering her expertise in a hands-on, experimental workshop.

Cyanotype is a camera-less photographic printing technique that produces brilliant white and Prussian blue images. By placing objects on paper coated with a light-sensitive solution, exposing it to the sun, and washing it with water, the imagery beautifully reveals itself. In this session, you’ll learn the foundations of the craft and go beyond the traditional by experimenting with printing on cloth and wood, too!

All materials are provided, though you are welcome to bring flat objects with interesting silhouettes (like leaves, lace, or stencils) to experiment with.

Details
Presenter: Patty Leinemann
Date: Saturday, August 22, 2026
Time: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Location: Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art (Onsite)
Cost: $45 for Members | $75 for Non-Members (not a member yet? It pays to join!)

Who is this for?
This workshop is open to everyone — from curious beginners and hobbyists to practicing artists looking to expand their alternative printing skills.

RESERVE YOUR SPOT

Meet Your Facilitator
Patty Leinemann is an interdisciplinary artist with a BFA from UBCO whose work spans installation, photography, and performance. Her practice explores themes of family, memory, and space, and her recent work includes solo exhibitions in Kelowna and Mexico City.

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Go Back to Basics // Pinhole Camera & DIY Darkroom Workshop
Aug
13
to Aug 20
Community Programming, Events, Workshop

Go Back to Basics // Pinhole Camera & DIY Darkroom Workshop

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  • Google Calendar ICS

Continue the Board Workshop Takeover by exploring the very foundations of photography with board member and artist Connor Charlesworth!

// THIS IS A TWO-PART WORKSHOP. REGISTER ONCE, BUT ATTEND BOTH DAYS! // AUGUST 13 & AUGUST 20, 2026 //

RESERVE YOUR SPOT

Go Back to Basics // Pinhole Camera & DIY Darkroom 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
This unique, two-part hands-on workshop invites you to slow down and explore magic of analogue photography. Across two sessions you will construct your own camera obscura (pinhole camera), capture images on light-sensitive paper, and step into a DIY black-and-white darkroom to develop your prints.

  • Session 1 (August 13): We will cover the mechanics of camera obscura, construct our cameras, load the paper, and discuss exposure techniques. You will then take your custom cameras home to experiment and capture your images.

  • Session 2 (August 20): We will reunite to develop your photographs in a temporary darkroom, wash your prints, and convert them from negatives into striking positive images. We’ll wrap up the workshop with a group review to share findings and look at everyone’s work!

What to bring
Participants are asked to bring 3 objects that can be converted into a camera—such as clean paint cans, coffee cans, shoeboxes, or anything else that can be pricked with a pin and made completely light-tight. Bringing a few options allows you to experiment with different formats!

Details
Presenter: Connor Charlesworth
Dates: Thursday, August 13 & Thursday, August 20 (Two-part workshop)
Time: 6:00 - 9:00 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 and DIY hobbyists to practicing artists looking to add a resource-light, experimental photographic practice to their toolkit.

RESERVE YOUR SPOT

Meet Your Facilitator
Connor Charlesworth is an artist and educator born and currently based in Kelowna on unceded syilx territory. He received his MFA from The University of Victoria in 2018, and has since taught studio courses at UVic (Victoria), TRU (Kamloops), and UBCO (Kelowna). Connor maintains an active studio painting practice alongside a developing interest in darkroom photography. His work has been exhibited recently at The Lake Country Art Gallery, The Kelowna Community Theatre, The Audain Gallery, and the Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art.

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The Architecture of the Pause // Somatic Session with Kevin Jesuino
May
24
2:30 PM14:30
Workshop, Community Programming, Events

The Architecture of the Pause // Somatic Session with Kevin Jesuino

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The Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art is proud to introduce the 2026 Visiting Artist Mentorship Series, a new pilot program made possible through the generous support of the Central Okanagan Foundation. Over the coming year, we will facilitate four of these specialized sessions, each designed to foster meaningful connections, knowledge sharing, and networking between the Okanagan arts community and our national peers.

While the Central Okanagan is home to a vibrant community of creators, geography can sometimes limit access to the professional networks and "behind-the-scenes" knowledge found in larger urban hubs. This series brings national perspectives directly to Kelowna, offering a space for honest exchange about the realities of maintaining a professional practice today.

Moving away from traditional artist talks, these sessions focus on the "how" of a career: the lived experiences, the hurdles, and the practical strategies that keep a studio running. It is an invitation to move past formal presentations and engage in a real dialogue about building a sustainable, resilient, and connected creative community.

Session 2: Reclaiming the Creative Void

In this edition of the Visiting Artist Mentorship Series, Vancouver-based Portuguese-Canadian artist Kevin Jesuino invites us to dismantle the pervasive "hustle culture" of the arts industry. Together, we will work to reclaim rest, boredom, and self-care as vital somatic practices rather than luxury commodities.

For the professional artist, the pressure to be perpetually inspired often leads to a dysregulated nervous system. This session investigates the political act of doing nothing and its role in long-term creative sustainability. Our discussion and practice will center on the "Anatomy of the Pause," exploring:

  • Physiological Awareness: Identifying the urge to produce and learning how to consciously soften that impulse.

  • The Rehabilitation of Boredom: Viewing stillness not as a void, but as a fertile, liminal space for the imagination to reset.

  • The Radical Ritual: Transitioning from "fight or flight" (sympathetic) into a state of "rest and digest" (parasympathetic).

Participants will leave with a somatic toolkit to navigate the creative void, transforming self-care from a consumerist checkbox into a radical, embodied ritual of resistance and renewal.

Note to Participants: Please bring comfortable layers of clothing that allow you to move freely. We also recommend bringing socks if you are not comfortable being barefoot.

Attendance & Contributions

Register here to let us know you will be attending. This session is free to attend, However, for those with the capacity to do so, we invite you to participate in our Pay It Forward program.

Pay It Forward

We believe in building a creative community where everyone belongs. This event is open to all. For those in a position to give, we invite you to pay it forward. Your generosity keeps our doors open to everyone, creates access for all, and sustains the programs that enrich our collective cultural life. We gratefully accept contributions by cash or online here.

Unable to contribute? You are always welcome here.

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From Conversation to Paper: Writing Your Artist Statement
Apr
25
11:00 AM11:00
Events, Community Programming, Workshop

From Conversation to Paper: Writing Your Artist Statement

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  • Google Calendar ICS

From Conversation to Paper: Writing Your Artist Statement with Katherine Pickering

The Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art is pleased to present the 2026 Artist Development Series. This curated program is designed to help emerging and mid-career artists build sustainable careers by providing access to experienced local professionals who understand our regional creative landscape.

Through these sessions, we aim to move beyond simple skill-building to help you build collaborative networks and gain the actionable tools needed to navigate your creative career with confidence.

Workshop: Writing Compelling Artist Statements & Exhibition Proposals

In this hands-on workshop, visual artist and educator Katherine Pickering approaches the artist statement not as a daunting chore, but as a conversation. Writing about your own work can be a challenge, but Katherine will guide you through a process to articulate your ideas, methods, and intentions using clear and direct language.

The session begins with a short presentation on the anatomy of an effective artist statement and how it differs from an artist bio. Participants will then pair up to interview one another about their work. By recording these conversations and using audio-to-text tools, you will generate a natural first draft that captures your true voice. Through guided individual and peer editing, you’ll refine this text into a focused, professional statement suitable for exhibitions and applications.

What to Bring:

  • A laptop or mobile device (for recording and editing).

  • An original artwork or a high-quality image of your work to discuss.

This workshop is free to attend. However, for those with the capacity to do so, we invite you to participate in our Pay It Forward program.

Pay It Forward

We believe in building a creative community where everyone belongs. This event is open to all. For those in a position to give, we invite you to pay it forward. Your generosity keeps our doors open to everyone, creates access for all, and sustains the programs that enrich our collective cultural life. We gratefully accept contributions by cash or online here. Unable to contribute? You are always welcome here.

Register Here

Katherine Pickering is a visual artist and Lecturer at UBC Okanagan. Based on Syilx territory in Kelowna, her practice explores material experimentation and abstraction. Her work has been exhibited internationally and supported by residencies across Canada, the US, and Europe. Katherine holds an MFA from Concordia University and a BFA from UBC Okanagan.

Earlier this year she presented Weather, Window, Echo, Hum in our Main Gallery.

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