To all artists, curators, and curious people, this is not your usual critical writing course, if anything, it is a pretty unusual path towards writing but I trust that it will be eye-opening, inspiring, fun and real. We are artists, we have great creative skills, but we often feel restricted when asked to write or talk about our work. It is understandable, words don’t always convey the fullness of what we can express with our art. We are writers or curators, we want to enrich our writing process and explore new ways of connecting with our words. 

In this workshop, I want to propose an approach to writing an artist statement that does not differ much from a creative process, or at least, my idea of a creative process. Join this workshop and explore writing your artist statement from your guts, easily and intuitively, while tapping into your whole body through movement. You will walk away knowing what truly matters to you to be included in your statement, and hopefully having gained more confidence and trust in your voice as an artist.

 Structure:

The workshop total duration is 2h30min, divided into two parts: 

1. Guided movement: 1 hour

   (Break: 10 min)

2. Writing exercise: 1 hour and 20 min

Before the workshop, I will send you an email with the nuts and bolts of writing and I will share with you some examples of artists statements that have inspired me.

 To keep in mind:

• Expect to MOVE, a lot! Ideally barefoot. (Movement/dance experience is NOT required.)

• In this workshop, the more open your attitude is towards the unfamiliar, the more gain
  for you.

• This is an inclusive space, please share it gracefully and respectfully

• I wish to be filming/photographing the workshop, email me if you prefer that I don’t

•  The studio offers mats, tennis balls, yoga blocks and puzzle mats when needed

How to prepare:

• Please wear comfortable clothing

• Bring a notebook and a pen

• Bring water or your favorite hydrating drink

• Don’t come too full or too hungry

• It would help if you had a draft or some key points that you wish to include in your statement.

 Cost:

Early Bird (before February 23): $40
Before March 1st: $50
March 1st to March 8: $60

If you would really want to come but can't afford the ticket please connect with me.

Registration:

Click the button below or send me an email at info@ghinwayassine.com

If you have any questions or concerns please drop me an email. I would love to connect with you.

About the location:

45W is a new dance and rehearsal space in West Hastings operated by Vancouver-based, dance and performance organization, Future Leisure. The place has ample natural light, a waiting room with and a dance book library.
https://www.futureleisure.net/45w

Overview:

In this part-talk part-exercise session, you will take a close look at the impulses that drive autobiographical works of art and the intentions behind them. By looking at the process of different autobiographical artists and relating their work to MEMORY, HEALING, IDENTITY, and POWER, we will uncover the value of this art practice that is often misjudged as pure self-indulgence or narcissism. We will explore key concepts that will be directly put in practice through guided exercises.

Exercises:

These will be short briefs to conceptualize ideas inspired by the information above. The content is personal in nature hence you will be free to share or not share the work you create. You can also use the session to improve on a personal project that you have already initiated.

Is this workshop for me?

This course is for you if you fall under one or more from the following: 

• You identify yourself as someone whose life influences his/her art.

• You are interested in learning about famous artists who worked with material from their lives and how they did it.

• You have a project based on events from your life that you’d like to pursue and need inspiration to accomplish it.

• You are an emerging artist or art enthusiast looking to broaden your knowledge in art.

Tools to bring:

• Sketchbook

• Pencils

• Any medium that you're comfortable working with (DSLR, phone with camera, drawing material etc.)

Cost:

Regular: 45000L.L OR 30 USD

Note: If you really want to attend but can't afford the ticket please drop me an email.

Register online or by email to info@ghinwayassine.com

About the venue

Built in 1935, located in the heart of Beirut, this charming traditional house was the family home of Moustapha Yamouth (alias Zico). Lover of the arts and culture, he started using available spaces in the building for performance rehearsals. Today Zico House is space for Cultural Development Space for the freedom of Expression Experimental/ Alternative Space Space for Encounter Space for Creation.

Overview:

Narcissistic and self-indulgent are words often used arbitrarily to describe artists who choose to put themselves and their lives at the centre of their work. Well, there is much more to their work than pure self-indulgence. If you are an artist working with the "self", you probably know what I mean. In this 5-part monthly workshop series we will explore autobiographical art practices, the why and the how. We will take a look at the process of different artists and relate their work to memory, healing, identity, and power. We will also discuss the relationship of these artists to their audience and how their work is perceived.

The sessions are organized as part lectures part exercises that could be either individual or group exercises. There is a homework aspect although it is not mandatory. This course is for all levels and all fields in art. 

The sessions:

March 7: Past, Relived and Rites of Passage
April 4: Few Steps Back and the Artist as Artwork
May 2: From Private to Public
June 6: From Fact to Fiction
July 4: From Personal to Social

Exercises and homework:

You can decide whether to register for the whole series and develop one project throughout the course or take individual sessions and conceptualize mini-projects that you can develop on your own.

Is this workshop for me?

This course is for you if you fall under one or more from the following: 

• You identify yourself as someone whose life influences his/her art.
• You are interested in learning about famous artists who worked with material from their lives and how they did it.
• You have a project based on events from your life that you’d like to pursue and need inspiration to accomplish it.
• You are an emerging artist or art enthusiast looking to broaden your knowledge in art.

Tools to bring:

• Sketchbook
• Pencils
• Any medium that you're comfortable working with

Cost:

20 CAD per session per person including one drink

Note: If you really want to attend but can't afford the ticket please drop me an email.

About the venue

An Inspiring Workspace!

L’Atelier (french for "The Workshop") is a CO-WORKING space, Event Space, and NETWORKING HUB in Gastown for Creative Entrepreneurs, Startups, and Freelancers.

ateliervancouver.com/trial

Overview:

Narcissistic and self-indulgent are words often used arbitrarily to describe artists who choose to put themselves and their lives at the centre of their work. Well, there is much more to their work than pure self-indulgence. If you are an artist working with the "self", you probably know what I mean. In this 5-part monthly workshop series we will explore autobiographical art practices, the why and the how. We will take a look at the process of different artists and relate their work to memory, healing, identity, and power. We will also discuss the relationship of these artists to their audience and how their work is perceived.

The sessions are organized as part lectures part exercises that could be either individual or group exercises. There is a homework aspect although it is not mandatory. This course is for all levels and all fields in art. 

The sessions:

March 7: Past, Relived and Rites of Passage
April 4: Few Steps Back and the Artist as Artwork
May 2: From Private to Public
June 6: From Fact to Fiction
July 4: From Personal to Social

Exercises and homework:

You can decide whether to register for the whole series and develop one project throughout the course or take individual sessions and conceptualize mini-projects that you can develop on your own.

Is this workshop for me?

This course is for you if you fall under one or more from the following: 

• You identify yourself as someone whose life influences his/her art.
• You are interested in learning about famous artists who worked with material from their lives and how they did it.
• You have a project based on events from your life that you’d like to pursue and need inspiration to accomplish it.
• You are an emerging artist or art enthusiast looking to broaden your knowledge in art.

Tools to bring:

• Sketchbook
• Pencils
• Any medium that you're comfortable working with

Cost:

20 CAD per session per person including one drink

Note: If you really want to attend but can't afford the ticket please drop me an email.

About the venue

An Inspiring Workspace!

L’Atelier (french for "The Workshop") is a CO-WORKING space, Event Space, and NETWORKING HUB in Gastown for Creative Entrepreneurs, Startups, and Freelancers.

ateliervancouver.com/trial

Overview:

Narcissistic and self-indulgent are words often used arbitrarily to describe artists who choose to put themselves and their lives at the centre of their work. Well, there is much more to their work than pure self-indulgence. If you are an artist working with the "self", you probably know what I mean. In this 5-part monthly workshop series we will explore autobiographical art practices, the why and the how. We will take a look at the process of different artists and relate their work to memory, healing, identity, and power. We will also discuss the relationship of these artists to their audience and how their work is perceived.

The sessions are organized as part lectures part exercises that could be either individual or group exercises. There is a homework aspect although it is not mandatory. This course is for all levels and all fields in art. 

The sessions:

March 7: Past, Relived and Rites of Passage
April 4: Few Steps Back and the Artist as Artwork
May 2: From Private to Public
June 6: From Fact to Fiction
July 4: From Personal to Social

Exercises and homework:

You can decide whether to register for the whole series and develop one project throughout the course or take individual sessions and conceptualize mini-projects that you can develop on your own.

Is this workshop for me?

This course is for you if you fall under one or more from the following: 

• You identify yourself as someone whose life influences his/her art.
• You are interested in learning about famous artists who worked with material from their lives and how they did it.
• You have a project based on events from your life that you’d like to pursue and need inspiration to accomplish it.
• You are an emerging artist or art enthusiast looking to broaden your knowledge in art.

Tools to bring:

• Sketchbook
• Pencils
• Any medium that you're comfortable working with

Cost:

20 CAD per session per person including one drink

Note: If you really want to attend but can't afford the ticket please drop me an email.

About the venue

An Inspiring Workspace!

L’Atelier (french for "The Workshop") is a CO-WORKING space, Event Space, and NETWORKING HUB in Gastown for Creative Entrepreneurs, Startups, and Freelancers.

ateliervancouver.com/trial

Overview:

In this part-talk part-exercise session, you will take a close look at the impulses that drive autobiographical works of art and the intentions behind them. By looking at the process of different autobiographical artists and relating their work to MEMORY, HEALING, IDENTITY, and POWER, we will uncover the value of this art practice that is often misjudged as pure self-indulgence or narcissism. We will explore key concepts that will be directly put in practice through guided exercises.

Exercises:

These will be short briefs to conceptualize ideas inspired by the information above. The content is personal in nature hence you will be free to share or not share the work you create. You can also use the session to improve on a personal project that you have already initiated.

Is this workshop for me?

This course is for you if you fall under one or more from the following: 

• You identify yourself as someone whose life influences his/her art.

• You are interested in learning about famous artists who worked with material from their lives and how they did it.

• You have a project based on events from your life that you’d like to pursue and need inspiration to accomplish it.

• You are an emerging artist or art enthusiast looking to broaden your knowledge in art.

Tools to bring:

• Sketchbook

• Pencils

• Any medium that you're comfortable working with (DSLR, phone with camera, drawing material etc.)

Cost:

Regular: 75 CAD
Student: 50 CAD

Note: If you really want to attend but can't afford the ticket please drop me an email.

About the venue

The James Black Gallery is dedicated to providing low cost space for artists to experiment, create, and show their work. The JBG is located in a heritage building in Mount Pleasant (est. 1889). The space hosts events, studio space, and a sculpture workshop. Artists are encouraged to try out different mediums and experiment with the equipment in house.

www.thejamesblack.gallery

Overview:

Narcissistic and self-indulgent are words often used arbitrarily to describe artists who choose to put themselves and their lives at the centre of their work. Well, there is much more to their work than pure self-indulgence. If you are an artist working with the "self", you probably know what I mean. In this 5-part monthly workshop series we will explore autobiographical art practices, the why and the how. We will take a look at the process of different artists and relate their work to memory, healing, identity, and power. We will also discuss the relationship of these artists to their audience and how their work is perceived.

The sessions are organized as part lectures part exercises that could be either individual or group exercises. There is a homework aspect although it is not mandatory. This course is for all levels and all fields in art. 

The sessions:

March 7: Past, Relived and Rites of Passage
April 4: Few Steps Back and the Artist as Artwork
May 2: From Private to Public
June 6: From Fact to Fiction
July 4: From Personal to Social

Exercises and homework:

You can decide whether to register for the whole series and develop one project throughout the course or take individual sessions and conceptualize mini-projects that you can develop on your own.

Is this workshop for me?

This course is for you if you fall under one or more from the following: 

• You identify yourself as someone whose life influences his/her art.
• You are interested in learning about famous artists who worked with material from their lives and how they did it.
• You have a project based on events from your life that you’d like to pursue and need inspiration to accomplish it.
• You are an emerging artist or art enthusiast looking to broaden your knowledge in art.

Tools to bring:

• Sketchbook
• Pencils
• Any medium that you're comfortable working with

Cost:

20 CAD per session per person including one drink

Note: If you really want to attend but can't afford the ticket please drop me an email.

About the venue

An Inspiring Workspace!

L’Atelier (french for "The Workshop") is a CO-WORKING space, Event Space, and NETWORKING HUB in Gastown for Creative Entrepreneurs, Startups, and Freelancers.

ateliervancouver.com/trial

Overview:

Narcissistic and self-indulgent are words often used arbitrarily to describe artists who choose to put themselves and their lives at the centre of their work. Well, there is much more to their work than pure self-indulgence. If you are an artist working with the "self", you probably know what I mean. In this 5-part monthly workshop series we will explore autobiographical art practices, the why and the how. We will take a look at the process of different artists and relate their work to memory, healing, identity, and power. We will also discuss the relationship of these artists to their audience and how their work is perceived.

The sessions are organized as part lectures part exercises that could be either individual or group exercises. There is a homework aspect although it is not mandatory. This course is for all levels and all fields in art. 

The sessions:

March 7: Past, Relived and Rites of Passage
April 4: Few Steps Back and the Artist as Artwork
May 2: From Private to Public
June 6: From Fact to Fiction
July 4: From Personal to Social

Exercises and homework:

You can decide whether to register for the whole series and develop one project throughout the course or take individual sessions and conceptualize mini-projects that you can develop on your own.

Is this workshop for me?

This course is for you if you fall under one or more from the following: 

• You identify yourself as someone whose life influences his/her art.
• You are interested in learning about famous artists who worked with material from their lives and how they did it.
• You have a project based on events from your life that you’d like to pursue and need inspiration to accomplish it.
• You are an emerging artist or art enthusiast looking to broaden your knowledge in art.

Tools to bring:

• Sketchbook
• Pencils
• Any medium that you're comfortable working with

Cost:

20 CAD per session per person including one drink

Note: If you really want to attend but can't afford the ticket please drop me an email.

About the venue

An Inspiring Workspace!

L’Atelier (french for "The Workshop") is a CO-WORKING space, Event Space, and NETWORKING HUB in Gastown for Creative Entrepreneurs, Startups, and Freelancers.

ateliervancouver.com/trial