Clay Animal Planter Workshop with Jenna Ross
2026-05-03 14:00 - 17:00 (America/Halifax)

A Different Light: Photo-based Works by Dianne Bos
2026-05-06 - 2026-05-09, 2026-05-13 - 2026-05-16, 2026-05-20 - 2026-05-23, 2026-05-27 - 2026-05-30, 2026-06-03 - 2026-06-06, 2026-06-10 - 2026-06-13

Clay Drop-in Newbie Night
2026-05-07 08:00 - 17:00, 2026-05-21 08:00 - 17:00

Pop-Up Art Show: Artworks by Colin Smith, Jenna Ross, and Celia Gallardo
2026-05-21 16:30 - 17:30 | River Art Centre, 8746 Main St., Florenceville-Bristol, New Brunswick
Join us at the River Art Centre on Thursday, May 21st for a Pop-Up Art Show made up of works by local Artists Colin Smith, Jenna Ross, and Celia Gallardo!
Colin, Jenna, and Celia were accepted into the 2026 Territorial Dialogue Residency, a residency designed to foster artistic research and creation in a linguistically diverse environment. This program is a collaboration between the New Brunswick Arts Centre Association and the Centre des arts d’Edmundston, with support from the Ministry of Official Languages.
This Pop-Up show will contain works created by Colin, Jenna, and Celia for everyone to come see!

We want your old iPhone!
2026-05-22 - 2026-06-30
space
We want your old iPhone!
Have an old iPhone kicking around? Consider donating it to the Andrew & Laura McCain Art Gallery’s Art in the Classroom program.
Your old iPhone will help students learn all about portraits, and will travel with one of our newest packages with works from Canadian photographer James Wilson.
Learn more about our Art in the Classroom program here.
Questions?
info@mccainartgallery.com | (506) 392-6769

Self-Portrait Workshop with Stephen Hutchings
2026-05-23 - 2026-05-24
Self-Portrait Drawing Workshop
with Stephen Hutchings
Join local artist Stephen Hutchings for a one and a half day Self-Portrait Drawing Workshop with guaranteed likeness!
Date: Saturday, May 23 from 10AM-12PM, and Sunday, May 24 from 10AM-4PM
Location: River Art Centre, 8746 Main St, Florenceville-Bristol
Cost: $55 early bird! $65 if after April 30, 2026
One of the greatest challenges in drawing is achieving a realistic, life-size self portrait using graphite pencils. In this one and a half day workshop, you will get that opportunity! You will use drawing paper with the features of your own face already lightly indicated on it. This establishes the overall positions of your facial features, thereby ensuring a more realistic result. Using a mirror and photograph of your face as a reference, you will draw your facial features and tones to complete your drawing.
Saturday morning, Stephen will photograph you, which will be your reference. You will study examples of eyes, mouths, and noses from photographs and your own face. Your photograph will be processes Saturday afternoon so that when you arrive Sunday morning, you will have a 12″ x 18″ sheet of drawing paper on which your features will be lightly indicated. You will finish your portrait through Sunday’s session, and throughout the day there will be demonstrations of material and technique, as well as plenty of one-on-one opportunity with Stephen.
Materials provided: Drawing paper; a photograph of your face for reference; graphite pencils; small hand held mirror.
*Bring a lunch on Sunday! There is a microwave in the building.

Out of stock

Self-Portrait Workshop with Stephen Hutchings

$65.00 You save (%)

Details

Portrait Workshop with Stephen Hutchings
2026-05-23 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-05-24 10:00 - 16:00 | River Art Centre, 8746 Main St., Florenceville-Bristol, New Brunswick

People's Choice Awards - ALMAG is a Finalist!
2026-05-25 - 2026-06-08
space
The Andrew & Laura McCain Art Gallery is so proud to be part of the 2026 Excellence NB People’s Choice Awards – a province-wide celebration of the best local businesses in New Brunswick!!
If you love what we do, we’d be honoured if you’d vote for us under the category “Best Gallery”, it only takes a minute, and it means the world to our team!
Your voice is the one that matters! We’re a finalist, and we’d be so grateful for your vote!
You can cast your vote here once per day from May 25 to June 8: https://excellencenb.ca/pages/peoples-choice-voting

Pop-Up Art Show - Portraits Drawn at Stephen's Workshop
2026-06-06 11:00 - 12:30

Terre de passions: St. Pierre et Miquelon
2026-06-13 - 2026-07-11
A Photographic Portrait by French artist, Gregory Pol
Grégory Pol is a renowned French photographer whose work explores landscapes and the natural environment. A former navigator and diver in the French Navy, he lived for three years in Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, an archipelago off the coast of Newfoundland. Since then, he has continued to return to the islands, developing a body of work shaped by his experiences on the islands with its open, wild spaces.
Through photography, Pol documents the landscapes and wildlife of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon. His images reflect his ongoing engagement with the territory and its environment, offering perspectives informed by recurrent observation and repeated encounters with the islands.
Grégory Pol’s practice is grounded in a sustained connection to the natural world. As an artist, sailor, and avid scuba diver, he brings an understanding of place that informs his photographic exploration of these islands.Often associated with a fishing history, Saint-Pierre and Miquelon remain unfamiliar to many people. This exhibition provides an opportunity to encounter the archipelago through his eyes, images taken over multiple visits explore the natural beauty of Saint-Pierre, Miquelon, and Langlade, tracing the changing conditions, landforms, wildlife and rhythms of the seasons.
Saint Pierre and Miquelon is a self-governing territory of France located near Newfoundland and Labrador. It is an archipelago of eight islands, covering 242 km2 (93 sq mi) of land. It had an estimated population of 5,513 in 2026 and its residents are French citizens; they elect their own deputy who represents them in the French National Assembly.

Raku Firing 2026
2026-06-13 09:00 - 17:00
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.
______________________________________________________
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
