"BRUSH"
Imagine: A group of Gallery Visitors viewing an exhibition of Tom Thomson paintings are literally drawn into the world of the artist, transforming into and experiencing the characters and the passages of this iconic painter’s life.

We are swept into the journey of a young artist as he struggles to find the style that will truthfully express the raw Canadian landscape.

Workshop Precis:
“Brush” focuses on the development of creative skills and an understanding of Canadian heritage through a community arts exploration of the life, times and art of Tom Thomson.

“Brush” explores artistic inspiration, creativity and commitment, and the artist’s relationship to their subject matter. While beginning with Tom Thomson, this exploration challenges the participants to look at these themes from their own perspective. Learning also focuses on such skills as communication, visual literacy, the individual's relation to the world, inter-relationship and human dynamics, co-operation and inter-dependence, community building, personal expression, artistic methods and production skills. Artistic skills include improvisation, story-telling and writing (prose, poetry, lyrics and melody). The educational benefits of “Brush” for the participants are potentially long-lasting and life enhancing.

A two week workshop hosted in the summer of 2002 resulted in a 22-minute performance piece, “Brush”, applauded by audiences of all ages. One in 2004 generated new material that doubled the length of the existing show. A number of songs created during the process and polished by David Sereda have become the basis of the concert tour, “Songs in the Key of Tom”.

Duration Of Workshop:
Variations of the workshop run from 3 hours to 5 days.
Select from the variety of packages below, or build one to suit your organization’s goals and interests.

Location:
Your community! We will visit the regional gallery and parks, and work in a studio or hall.

The Artists:
“Brush” is facilitated by director / playwright / producer Joan Chandler (facilitator/director of over 60 community collaboratives in Ontario, England and the US.) and singer / actor / composer David Sereda (Tarragon Theatre, The Music Gallery, Opera Hamilton).

Language Of The Activity:
English

Availability:
Immediately / ongoing

Participants:
About 12 people. Ages 12 to 70+. Younger groups can be accommodated.

All workshops employ the creative techniques of visualization, songwriting, automatic writing, dramatic improvisation, movement, storytelling, collective collaboration, appreciative feedback, and intuitive response.

Brush Explorer: ½ day (3 hours)
Relax and open your eyes. Step into Tom Thomson’s paintings, breathe in fresh ideas, and give your creative imagination free rein. Learn to create with spontaneity and joy. This fun-filled and inspirational short workshop will leave you singing a new song you write yourself, hearing melodies in the natural world around you, expressing the drama beyond the window, and carrying poetry in your pocket.

Fee: $500

The Tom Thomson Discovery: 1 day (5 hours)
Embark on a full-day exploration to connect with your own creative imagination. Hear the story of Tom Thomson as you’ve never heard it before, and look into his world through his paintings. Slow down and let go into a clearer vision. Tap into your own intuition and create music, poetry and drama. We will also work as a group to collectively improvise, write and dramatize a new song. Joyful, spontaneous, and thoughtful.
(An extension of the Brush Explorer, enabling a deeper experience of this creative process.)

Fee: $750

Brush - The Experience: 5 days (25 hours)
The embodiment of inspiration and tranquility, this exciting weeklong opportunity will focus and exercise your creative abilities. Hear the story of Tom Thomson, look into his amazing paintings, and experience the natural world available at your doorstep in heightened ways. We will spend some time gently hiking and creating outside, visit a local gallery, and work in a studio atmosphere. Render your experience in songs, poetry, movement and drama. Polish your work. A short group performance piece will emerge that can be offered back to your community. An outstanding experience.

Fee: $2500

On The Trail of Tom Thomson: 2 days (10 hours)
An exciting outdoor adventure opportunity coupled with creative studio work. We draw inspiration from Tom Thomson’s hearty lifestyle and artistic intuition. It’s more than a workshop… it’s a life experience.
(This offering requires the additional support of a local canoe excursion company or the presence of a good hiking trail and guide in your neighbourhood.)

Fee: $1250