Andrew and Laura McCain Art Gallery

Raku Firing 2026
2026-06-13 09:00 - 17:00 (America/Halifax)
Meet Tim!
“I’m originally from Brandon, Manitoba. I found my passion for clay about 35 years ago in Winnipeg, where I took a class with some inspiring young professional potters. My love for clay deepened in Waterloo, Ontario. I became a member of the local Potters’ Co-op while also finishing a degree at the University of Waterloo.”
Meet Jenna!
“Hi, I’m Jenna and I have a deep love of clay! As it turns out, I love getting my hands dirty. The walls of my home are even (unintentionally) covered in clay. I continue to be amazed at all the things this wonderful material can do. I’ve been drawn to the magical art of clay shape-shifting on the wheel from a blob to a form since I first watched a potter as a kid.”
Join artists Tim Isaac and Jenna Ross for a hands-on Raku workshop that brings fire, clay, and creativity together in an unforgettable outdoor experience. Whether you are a seasoned potter or new to ceramics, this is your chance to take part in the magic of Raku firing from pulling red-hot pots from the kiln to watching dramatic finishes emerge in real time!
Date: Saturday, June 13 from 9am-5pm
Fee: $60 per person
Location: Jenna’s house in Knowlesville (Address will be emailed to participants only for privacy reasons)
To register: Call (506) 392-6769 or email info@mccainartgallery.com
All pots must be bisque-fired prior to the workshop. Participants are encouraged to attend either a Make-it Day, or clay drop-in until April 30th. *Drop-in pricing applies.
What on Earth is Raku?
Raku is an exciting pottery technique involving red-hot pots and combustable materials which can create dramatic effects. Raku dates back to 16th century Japan, although “Western-style raku” has put its own variations on the technique. Raku firing is known for its unpredictability, and each piece is one-of-a-kind! Raku firing is one of the most natural pottery techniques, embracing imperfection and employing all of nature’s elements: Earth, fire, air, and water.
The word Raku translated to English means: ‘happiness in the accident’, pleasure, enjoyment, and delight!

Opening Reception: Saint-Pierre et Miquelon: Terre de passions, photographs by Gregory Pol
2026-06-20 14:00 - 16:00, 2026-06-24 - 2026-06-27, 2026-07-02 - 2026-07-04, 2026-07-07 - 2026-07-11

Summer of History
2026-06-25 - 2026-08-31
New Brunswick has over 110 heritage sites for you to explore including historic villages, galleries, industrial and military sites, museums, and more!
Come with us on a road trip this summer, and visit our local heritage sites for your chance to win.
Learn more by visiting www.summerofhistory.ca

Canada Day - Gallery Closed
2026-07-01

Art Camp: Hands-On Painting Ages 7-9
2026-07-07 09:00 - 2026-07-09 11:00

Art Camp: Hands-On Painting Ages 10-14
2026-07-07 13:00 - 2026-07-10 16:00

Art Camp: Drawing Outside the Lines Ages 7-9
2026-07-14 09:00 - 2026-07-16 11:00

Art Camp: Drawing, Make a Mark Ages 10-14
2026-07-14 13:00 - 2026-07-16 16:00

Art Camp: Exploring Art #1 Ages 5-6
2026-07-17 15:00 - 16:30

OPUS: A Handmade VIllage, Guest Curator John Leroux
2026-07-18 - 2026-08-22
Guest curator John Leroux, ONB

John has practiced in the fields of art history, architecture, visual art, curation, and education. He holds a Bachelor of Architecture (McGill), a M.A. in Art History (Concordia), and a PhD in History (UNB). He has worked at award-winning architecture firms in Canada and the United States, and has taught at the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design, the University of New Brunswick, and St. Thomas University. He has won awards for architectural and public art projects throughout Canada, and was a team member of Canada’s entry at the 2012 Venice Biennale in Architecture. For many years, he was chief curator at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery in Fredericton. A passionate advocate for the arts and for architectural conservancy, John has authored 21 books on architecture and visual culture.He has volunteered on boards dealing with heritage, health, technology, culture, and homeless housing. He was a personal tour guide to Prince (now King) Charles;been a cast member in four feature film documentaries on New Brunswick architecture and art;and played varsity university lacrosse at the age of 43. Along with his wife Meghan, he is the father of Tait and Ana. John was awarded the Order of New Brunswick in 2024.

Opening: Saturday 25 July 2026, 2:00-4:00 pm
Tour the exhibition with John Leroux starting at 2:30 pm.
The early 1970s were a time of deep social and cultural change in New Brunswick. The era witnessed diverging views on what it meant to be a connected citizen, and how material items held deeper consequence.
Mactaquac became a beacon for this movement, where a group of young artisans opened one of Canada’s most celebrated cultural enterprises: Opus Craft Village. Fuelled by the growing interest in the handmade and a back-to-the-land spirit, Opus and its artists are a fascinating tale of a creative destination briefly glowing bright and extinguished far too soon.

In 1971, two young potters Allan Crimmins (1943-2020) and Bill Norman (b.1942) opened a studio near Mactaquac, and were soon joined by American-born glassblower Martin Demaine (b.1942). With audiences hungry for locally handmade objects, Crimmins devised a full-time craft village based on successful European precedents. A studio campus was built across the road from Mactaquac Provincial Park, and Opus Craft Village officially opened on June 21, 1975. New Brunswick Premier Richard Hatfield cut the ceremonial ribbon in front of an enthusiastic crowd of 500 onlookers – his white Bricklin in the parking lot nearby. In addition to Crimmins, Norman, and Demaine, the original Opus craftspeople included Martin’s wife Sue Demaine (wax candles), Bill Graff (ceramics), David and Barbara Murphy (leatherwork), Don Pell (blown glass and ironwork), Jane McLellan (wax candles), Paddy Ormiston (glass blowing), and other apprentices.
Opus set out to demystify how crafts are made and to promote craftsmanship in the province. Visitors and buyers were welcome to tour the studios and meet the makers in a real workshop setting. Opus positively affected the spirit and harmony of the community, and attitudes throughout the province incorporated new creative ideas and artistic experimentation.

At its peak, Opus Craft Village housed seven craft studios and 25 craftspeople. When Queen Elizabeth visited New Brunswick in 1976, her official gift from the province was a set of six hand-blown glass goblets made at Opus. But like all good things, it wouldn’t last. After Opus was sold to a local businessman in 1978-79, challenges arose between the artists and the new owner, and the original craftspeople left. By 1983, Opus Craft Village had closed its doors.
It was the end of an era, as the ensuing decade saw changes in the types of fine craft that appealed to the public. But for the original Opus artisans, it was a stepping stone to longer careers in craft. Beyond the handmade creativity Opus Craft Village offered, and its innumerable items that were sent around the world, perhaps the greatest gift Opus offered was a sharing and an understanding of different ways of living and creating.
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20 July 2026
Hi Jennifer,
This is wonderful news. Opus craft village was a wonderful adventure. We built the village and created wonderful art and craft. We learned we
could make any dream come true.
One story that comes to mind is that the three principals, Bill Norman, Alan Crimmins, and I, didn’t want to waste time in meetings. So we decided
anyone could make a decision for Opus Craft Village. We discovered that our decisions were very carefully made and likely better this way. We
wanted to spend time creating.
An extreme example of this was the checking account which required 2 signatures on each check. We practiced each others signatures so one person could sign both names. If two of us were available at the same time to sign a check, we would not sign our own names. We would sign each others name with a smile.
I remember Alan bought a woodlot, and the three of us would go and cut down trees to go to the sawmill to be used in Opus. We found an architect from
Montreal who was travelling through. He was excited about being part of crew constructing the buildings. It was a family atmosphere.
I am currently in San Diego and unable to come to the gallery.
The images you sent look fantastic.
Best,
Martin Demaine

Jennie Weeks: A Life with Art
2026-07-18 - 2026-08-29
Celebration reception, 22 August 2026, 2-4 pm. Everyone is welcome. Light refreshments will be served.
Jennie Weeks of Woodstock, New Brunswick, discovered her passion for painting as a child. After receiving art lessons as a Christmas gift from her husband, Dean, she studied with artist Lloyd Fitzgerald in Fredericton and Woodstock, where she developed a distinctive photorealist style in acrylic on canvas.
Throughout her artistic journey, Jennie found her greatest inspiration in the people and places she loved. Jennie’s studio was in the living room of the family home. Surrounded by the life of her musical family, she painted what was most important. Her children, and especially her grandchildren, became the subjects of a remarkable series of slightly larger-than-life portraits that capture their spirited expressions and individual personalities with warmth and sensitivity. Her body of work also reflects a lifelong commitment to mastering the figure, alongside paintings of the landscapes of Carleton County, cherished family pets, and carefully observed still lifes.
Influenced by the work of Mary Pratt, Jennie approached each painting with patience, precision, and an appreciation for the quiet beauty of everyday life. A dedicated member of the Woodstock Art Club, she continued to paint with unwavering enthusiasm throughout her life. Her final canvas remains on her easel, with only a few details left to complete—a poignant reminder of an artistic journey that, while unfinished, leaves behind a lasting legacy.
This exhibition celebrates Jennie’s enduring love of painting and the legacy of an artist whose work continues to reflect the people, places, and moments she held closest to her heart.

Art Camp: Clay Ages 7-9
2026-07-21 09:00 - 2026-07-23 11:00

Art Camp: Clay Ages 10-14
2026-07-21 13:00 - 2026-07-23 16:00

Drawing Trees with Stephen Hutchings - Workshop
2026-07-23 10:00 - 14:00
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Drawing Trees with Stephen Hutchings – Workshop

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Details

Join Stephen for an outdoors for a relaxed, hands-on Tree Drawing workshop, where participants will explore the natural forms, textures, and structure of trees through observational drawing.
Through the workshop, Stephen will guide you through techniques for seeing and simplifying complex natural shapes, capturing bark texture, branch movement, and overall composition. This workshop is suitable for beginners and more experienced artists alike, with an emphasis on slowing down, observing closely, and developing confidence in drawing from life.
Working directly in nature, you’ll have time to sketch, experiment, and develop your own interpretation of the surrounding landscape.
Participants need to bring:
-A sketchbook
-A graphite pencil
-An eraser
Optional:
Charcoal and/or Conte
Date: Thursday, July 23
Time: 10AM-2PM
Location: Beechwood Community Park, at the gate.
Cost: $45
Register by clicking the poster, or by contacting: (506) 392-6769 | info@mccainartgallery.com
Past workshop feedback with Stephen!
Portraits with Stephen: “Stephen is Fabulous!”
Drawing with Stephen: “I enjoyed it more than I thought I would, and learned a lot from every intervention”
Drawing with Stephen: “Very funny instructor”

Art Camp: Exploring Art #2 Ages 5-6
2026-07-24 15:00 - 16:30

Opening: OPUS:A Handmade Village on Sat. 25 July 2026, 2-4 pm
2026-07-25 14:00 - 16:00
“Opus Craft Village was the start of an era in New Brunswick. Fuelled by the growing interest in the handmade, a back-to-the-land spirit and the emergent counterculture of the 1970s, the artists of Opus and their story is a fascinating tale of a creative destination and enterprise that glowed briefly and was extinguished far too soon”. John Leroux
Everyone is welcome to attend the Opening. Curator John Leroux will tour the exhibition starting at 2:30 pm

Art Camp: All about Sculpture Ages 15+
2026-07-28 09:30 - 2026-07-31 17:00

Open Studio Art Camp for High School Students
2026-08-04 09:30 - 2026-08-08 15:00

Open Studio Art Camp - Pop-up Show!
2026-08-08 15:00 - 15:45 | River Art Centre, 8746 Main St., Florenceville-Bristol, New Brunswick

Art Camp: Building with Paper Ages 7-9
2026-08-11 09:00 - 2026-08-13 11:00

Art Camp: Making Comic Books Ages 10-14
2026-08-11 13:00 - 2026-08-13 16:00

Art Camp: Exploring Art #3 Ages 5-6
2026-08-14 15:00 - 16:30

Art Camp: STEAM - Science & Nature Ages 7-9
2026-08-18 09:00 - 2026-08-20 11:00

Art Camp: STEAM - Science & Nature Ages 10-14
2026-08-18 13:00 - 2026-08-21 16:00

Jennie Weeks, A Life in Art
2026-08-22 14:00 - 16:00 | Andrew & Laura McCain Art Gallery, 8 McCain Street, Florenceville-Bristol, New Brunswick, E7L 3H6, Canada

Clay Drop-in
2026-09-03 18:00 - 20:00
Whether you’ve got a current project or are a brand-newbie wanting to explore clay, join instructor Jenna Ross & other friendly clay-lovers for a casual evening of creativity at the River Art Centre & Studios.

No registration required. Basic instruction is provided to get you started. ….Bring your ideas, gusto, project dreams & we’ll see what happens!

Fee to attend each Drop-in is $5 per person. The first (bisque) firing of any pot you decide to keep costs $10 each piece. Then Glazing costs an additional $10 each piece.

Children aged 7-14 welcome to participate if accompanied by an adult. No experience necessary, just an openness to try! See you there!
For more information contact the Gallery. info@mccainartgallery.com 506-392-6769

Drop-in Days:
VETERANs meet almost every last Thursday of the month from 6-8pm at River Art Centre, 8746 Main St, Florenceville-Bristol

BEGINNERs meet almost every first Thursday of the month from 6-8pm at River Art Centre, 8746 Main St, Florenceville-Bristol

________________________________________________________________________________________________

So you want to get more practice using the wheels
at the River Art Centre…

WHO: The four wheels will be available to use for those who have completed the six week wheel course and have demonstrated an understanding of wheel care and clay management. (You!)

WHAT: You will have access to a wheel and materials during drop-in from 6 to 8. Kindly be prepared for this time to be entirely self-directed (my main focus has to be the drop-in hand-builders). I’ll help point you to clay and the proper reclaim spot when you start. During the evening I’ll gladly answer questions or help troubleshoot but only when/if I have downtime.
(As this setup evolves, we might introduce a system of each potter having their own clay to keep separate and manage on their own, but for now will use the common supply)

WHEN: At any of our monthly dropin sessions (both veteran or beginner, doesn’t matter). See my website or social media pages for upcoming dates. These always land on a Thursday, from 6 to 8 pm.

COST:
-The wheel rental is $20 per session, per person.
-The firing costs remains the same as dropin: $10 per piece per firing ($10 bisque, $10 glaze).

HOW: if you plan to come use a wheel please contact me by the Wednesday night before in order to guarantee a spot. If you don’t book in advance but show up and a wheel is free, you’re welcome to it (but of course this isn’t guaranteed)

2026 Clay Drop-in dates:
Newbies:
September 3, October 8, November 5, and December 3.
Intermediate:
September 24, October 29, November 26, and December 17.
BONUS DROP-IN:
Sunday, September 6, 1pm-3pm

Clay Drop-in: Newbie Night
2026-09-03 18:00 - 20:00
