pARTicipate is a community festival of workshops and events that brings together professionals, amateurs, and the curious to participate in exploring art and nature. A collaboration between the Andrew & Laura McCain Art Gallery, Second Wind Music Centre, Sumac Culinary Group as well as other community partners, the festival provides unique and enriching creative experiences for everyone over three days on September 11, 12 & 13, the weekend after Labour Day.
The Festival is an opportunity to get to know the geographical beauty of the Upper St. John River Valley while enjoying the unique local culture that includes nature, arts and crafts, music and culinary expertise as well as featuring the beauty of the area in workshops and activities.
pARTicipate Arts and Nature Festival 2026 is still in progress, check this site again in July for the workshops!
Workshops are scheduled so participants can easily get from one to another in time and enjoy a variety of creative experiences over the weekend.
There are many options for places to stay, in the area including Shamrock Suites, Amsterdam Inn and many others
A huge thank you to our sponsors who help make this festival possible!
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Indigo Shibori Dyeing with Tzigane Caddell
Friday September 11, 9am-4pm
River Art Centre, 8746 Main Street, Florenceville-Bristol, NB, downstairs
$75, all materials included
Meet Tzigane!
Indigo dyeing is a labour-intensive, but magical process. Tzigane creates Shibori resist patterns on scarves and shawls and dyes them in organic natural indigo vats (Indigofera tinctoria). She grows Japanese Indigo (Persicaria tinctoria) in her garden and uses the leaves to fresh-dye and solar-dye silk and wool shawls
Join Tzigane Caddell to learn the fundamentals of Indigo dyeing, using Shibori resist techniques – binding, stitching & clamping – on a handwoven linen scarf and an organic cotton bandana. You will be given several examples of shibori patterns to choose from. Once you have applied these techniques to your shawl and bandana, your work will come to life in the Indigo Vat!
2-Hour Intro to Wheel with Jenna Ross
Friday, September 11, 10-12pm, 1-3pm, or 6-8pm
River Art Centre, Downstairs, 8746 Main St, Florenceville-Bristol
$40, all materials included
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 wonderful 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.
Learn the basics of “throwing” pottery on the wheel in these 2 hour sessions! Come ready to be messy, have fun, embrace imperfection, and enjoy the challenge of taming a spinning blob of clay! This class is perfect for absolute beginners of those who have tried in the past and want a refresher. This class includes one finished piece, which will be clear glazed and ready for pickup at a later date. Additional pieces can be. kept for $10 per piece.
Previous workshop feedback:
“Jenna has such an inspiring environment”
“Well explained, good guidance and support throughout!”
Artventure & Watercolour with Caitlin Wilson
Friday, September 11, 11:30AM-3PM
Community Hall, 8696 Main Street, Florenceville-Bristol, NB
$65, all materials included
Meet Caitlin!
Caitlin (she/her) is an ADHD printmaker working in Moncton, New Brunswick; the traditional unceded territory of the Wolastoqiyik and Mi’Kmaq Peoples. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Mount Allision University and moved to Moncton to become a member of Atelier Imago printmaking studio in 2009. In 2018, Caitlin established Maplewood Studio, from which she teaches art lessons, prepares her “Artventures” art and eco-tourism day trips, and hosts events. In her free time, Caitlin can be found with her horse Oliver, or exploring the wilderness with her sketchbook and her dog Sadie.
Your host, Cailtin, will hike with you to a scenic spot where you will enjoy a picnic catered by Noah’s Ark Café before setting up to practice field sketching. Caitlin will discuss how to make art “en plein air” without harming the local ecosystem and provide trail-friendly art supplies for the group. Everyone will then choose a spot to sit and draw their surroundings. It’s a rejuvenating way to connect with art and nature.
Lunch and art supplies are provided, bring a chair and a beverage!
Intro to Crochet with Emily Nigro
Friday September 11, 3-6pm
Recreation Community Room, 40 McCain Street, Florenceville-Bristol, NB
$65, all materials included
Meet Emily!
Emily is a crochet artist and designer that has been developing her skills for over 25 years. She is the designer behind Willow&Wild, a popular crochet pattern brand in over 70 countries. Emily views crochet as both a creative outlet and a stress reliever, and she is excited to share that experience with others. The class is built to be welcoming, whether you’re picking up a hook for the first time, or looking to build on your skills.
Join local artist Emily Nigro for an introduction to crochet workshop!
During this workshop, Emily will lead you through creating a stitch sampler (mug-rug sized) to help familiarize yourself with the different stitches, tension, and get you comfortable with the hook. Following this intro, you’ll then apply what you’ve learned to a pot-holder, which you may finish in class, or take home to finish with the pattern and her YouTube tutorial.
Steamroller Print Demonstration with Stephen Hutchings and the Team
Saturday, September 12, starting at 10am
Brennan’s Home Hardware, 9079 Main St, Florenceville-Bristol
Free to watch!
Fish Steam Roller Print
Monster Fish Print from 2022
Every year during pARTicipate local and visiting artists get together and make a large over-sized print. They can only do it thanks to the “Steamroller” which makes it possible by delivering sufficient pressure to make the print. Two of the first ones are on hanging at the Boardwalk Cafe and the others have been up at various venues over the years. You can see this year’s at the Pop-up show on Sunday at 4:30 at the RAC if you can’t drop by to see them pull a print at Home Hardware.
Drop by to see the action at Brennan Home Hardware in Florenceville-Bristol at 9079 Main Street in Florenceville-Bristol, NB. This year artists from around NB have carved an image for the print. The theme is Birds and guest print makers Nat Cann and Caitlin Wilson will be part for the printing crew at the Home Hardware.
Oil Painting with Sophie Levesque
Saturday, September 12, 9am-4pm
2 Burnham Rd, Florenceville-Bristol, NB *Rain Location: 40 McCain St
$75, all materials included
Meet Sophie!
Clay Portrait Masks with Melissa Kennedy
Saturday September 12, 9am-4pm
River Art Centre, 8746 Main Street, Florenceville-Bristol, NB
$75, all materials included
Meet Melissa!
Born and raised in NB, Melissa now works out of her home studio near Saint John, Nb. She has classical training in figurative drawing and sculpture from the Florence Academy of Art.
Join Melissa Kennedy for this one-day workshop creating portrait masks! Students will use provided photographs to sculpt portraits, focusing on the face area. The course will guide students through the process of starting a sculpture, using reference images effectively and understanding the anatomy and features of the human head. The masks will be prepared for firing by the end of the day, and students can choose to glaze at a later date at clay drop-in or another glaze event.
*The images used are busts, this workshop will be creating masks – not full portrait busts.
Encaustic Painting with Elspeth Hagan
Saturday, September 12, 9am-12pm
River Art Centre, Downstairs, 8746 Main St, Florenceville-Bristol
$55, all materials included
Meet Elspeth!
Elspeth Hagan taught for almost a decade (part time) in the Studio program (ages 6-14) of the Royal Ontario Museum, as well as developing and delivering art-based museum programming to adults and children. Elspeth developed museum programming – including for seniors and differently abled adults – at the British Museum in London. Elspeth currently leads the River Valley 4-H Arts & Crafts program in Florenceville.
You will create two images on wood (one framed) using only wax, or if you choose, wax combined with other elements like paper, beads, or pictures. You are encouraged to bring your own elements to work with, or you can work with the supplied materials.
*Special care has been taken to adapt the process to ensure a fully non-toxic experience.
Previous workshop feedback:
“Wonderful Class!”
“Excellent instruction, great materials”
Felt a Frog with Michelle Landry
Saturday, September 12, 1-4pm
Community Hall, 8696 Main St, Florenceville-Bristol, NB
$75, ($55 workshop fee + $20 Materials) all materials included
Meet Michelle!
Michelle is passionate about natural fibres. She has been doing needle felting for 14 years and is self taught. Needle felting is like meditation, it is very relaxing.
Join Michelle Landry for an afternoon spent felting a 3D frog with a little teddy bear! Made up with core wool, wire armature for the arms, and mounted on a wood slice, this little guy is too cute to not create! The scarf will be provided (made up by Michelle prior) or it can be made by you, knitted, before or after the workshop.
Previous workshop reviews:
“Great teacher; enough time to finish. Enjoyable”
“Loved the felt workshop – please do them again!”
“Great instructions & very clear”
Sip & Sing with Peter McLaughlin
Saturday, September 12, 7pm
Second Wind Music Centre, 16 Curtis Road, Florenceville-Bristol, NB
$25, (includes a glass of wine and/or mocktail)
Registration is through the Gallery
Meet Peter!
Peter McLaughlin has been teaching, making music, and providing opportunities to make and enjoy music in Carleton County since 1982. He had directed numerous choirs and bands over the years and worked with a large number of community and professional musicians. Currently he is the co-owner of the Second Wind Music Centre, teaching and presenting musical performances across a wide swath of genres and styles. Collective, community singing is one of his musical passions.
The Sip & Sing is open to everyone who wishes to sing a few great songs, with other great friends-New and old. We will sing a selection of “Feel Good” songs. All will be singable, a few harmonies for those who wish to add something extra. There will be lots of fun, some beautiful noise and the joys of singing in a “collective”. All are welcome (no previous choir or singing experience necessary)
Guided Nature Walk with Jim Goltz
Sunday, September 13, 9-10am
Shiktehawk Trail, 9249 Main St, Florenceville-Bristol
By donation, registration through the Gallery
Meet Jim!
Jim Goltz has a deep concern for the living things that share our world; both plants and animals, and an insatiable curiosity about the natural world. “When you have a curious mind, you’re never bored.”
Goltz spent his career investigating causes of animal mortality as a veterinary pathologist with the New Brunswick Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries, becoming Chief Provincial Veterinarian prior to retiring a few years ago.
Enjoy a walk along the Shikitihawk trail, observing without disrupting, guided by Jim who will share his encyclopedic knowledge of animal and plant biology on this interpretive walk. This is a great opportunity to get to know a favourite local trail with one of New Brunswick’s foremost naturalists! Jim has been awarded the Lieutenant-Governor’s Award for Excellence in Land Conservation, so be sure to bring your questions along with your curiosity.
Tetra Pak Printing with Caitlin Wilson
Sunday, September 13, 12:30-4pm
River Art Centre, Downstairs, 8746 Main St, Florenceville-Bristol, NB
$55, please register at the Gallery.
Meet Caitlin!
Caitlin (she/her) is an ADHD printmaker working in Moncton, New Brunswick; the traditional unceded territory of the Wolastoqiyik and Mi’Kmaq Peoples. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Mount Allision University and moved to Moncton to become a member of Atelier Imago printmaking studio in 2009. In 2018, Caitlin established Maplewood Studio, from which she teaches art lessons, prepares her “Artventures” art and eco-tourism day trips, and hosts events. In her free time, Caitlin can be found with her horse Oliver, or exploring the wilderness with her sketchbook and her dog Sadie.
Join Moncton printmaker Caitlin Wilson for an afternoon of Tetrapak Printmaking! Participants will learn how to create a print with repurposed Tetrapak containers. This popular form of intaglio printmaking enables the printmaker to cut their matrix (the surface used to create a print) to a specific shape, making it the perfect medium for a collaborative piece! Following pARTicipate’s nature theme, everyone will choose a local species to describe with their matrix. Then, all participants will assemble their matrices on the press to create a collaborative print describing local ecosystems. You’ll experiment with additional techniques, such as poupée and Chîne collée, to integrate extra colour into the prints. Afterward, everyone will be invited to print their own matrix into an edition, which can be brought home as a souvenir.
Cooking at Sumac with Chef Bouwe Van der Hoek
Sunday, September 13, 2-8pm.
Sumac, 8754 Main Street, Florenceville-Bristol, NB
$150, registration is through the Gallery
Chef Bouwe looks forward to sharing an afternoon of cooking, learning, and great food with you.
Meet Chef Bouwe Van der Hoek
Chef Bouwe van der Hoek is part of the cullinary team at Sumac, Carleton County’s newest destination for dining. With years of experience in professional kitchens and a passion for sharing his craft, Bouwe is known for his calm approach, attention to detail, and love of teaching others.
For this special Kitchen Experience, Chef Bouwe will welcome guests behind the scenes to demonstrate professional techniques and offer hands-on guidance as participants prepare elements of the evening’s meal. It’s a unique opportunity to learn from a talented chef, experience the rhythm of a working restaurant kitchen, and gain a deeper appreciation for the care and craftsmanship behind every plate.
Previous Feedback:
“I loved the welcoming nature and expertise of the instructor”
“I loved the whole workshop, and the comraderie”
Foraged Fibre Basket Weaving with Ralph Simpson
Sunday September 13, 9am-3pm
Community Hall, 8696 Main St, Florenceville-Bristol, NB
$125, all materials included ($75 for workshop + $50 materials)
Meet Ralph!
Nationally acclaimed Canadian plant fibre artist, Ralph Simpson has developed an innovative method of weaving and sculpting plant fibre into pleasing sculptural forms. He was raised in the fields and forests of New Brunswick along the Petitcodiac River and there developed a keen interest in plants. His personal motivation arises from a deep connection with nature and an implicit desire to promote environmental sustainability. Currently, he resides in Fredericton working full time in his studio there.
This is a one day workshop, where each participant will create a basket woven with locally foraged plant fibres. Part of the experience will be learning about the plant fibres in use, their names, how to collect them, process, store, and prepare them for weaving as well as important aspects of environmentally sustainable collection methods. All necessary materials for this workshop will be provided.
Students are asked to bring scissors, measuring tape, spray bottle, and a tea towel. Although it’s not necessary, you’re invited to bring any plant fibres or other textiles that you might like to weave into your basket to personalize it.
Please bring your own lunch, snacks, and water. Everyone will finish their basket during the workshop.
Previous workshop feedback:
“I liked his style of teaching, sense of humor, and his patience”
“He was calm and hands on, he also found time for everyone when we needed it”
Landscape Pinch Pot Planter with Nicole Manuel
Sunday, September 13, 11:30AM-3:30PM
River Art Centre, Upstairs, 8746 Main St, Florenceville-Bristol
$55, all materials included
Meet Nicole!
Nicole is an accomplished artist and dedicated teacher with over 25 years experience working with young artists and adults. She enjoys exploring a wide range of mediums, believing that each material has its own voice and potential. By allowing the medium to speak and highlighting its greatest attributes, she creates unique and expressive artworks and shares that skill with her students.
Join Nicole for this clay planter workshop where you’ll create a charming clay pinch pot rimmed with a landscape you love! Nicole’s pots are inspired by costal homes of the East Coast, however yours can be your home, a loved one’s home, a sentimental location and on!
Nicole will share a demonstration on creating the pinch pots, sharing technique, creative ideas, and more. You’ll have the option of adding a drainage hole, and have time to underglaze your piece to add colour!
This intimate class offers a perfect opportunity to create unique, handcrafted pieces that are great gifts, or a fun way to display your cherished spot. These planters will be fired and receive a clear coat glaze following the workshop, ready for pickup at a later date. These add the perfect touch of charm to your home or garden!
Pop-Up Exhibition of pARTicipate Workshops!
Sunday September 13, 4-5:30pm
Come join us at the River Art Centre – 8746 Main Street, Florenceville-Bristol!
This is a free event for everyone, participant or not, to hear about the workshops, see the art, chat, and enjoy a refreshment in good company.
