FREE - please register, no art experience necessary, 18+

Welcome to the Healing Memories Through Art Workshop! Join us at Sparrow Artspace in Calgary for a workshop celebrating the transformative power of art in our lives. This workshop is designed to help you explore and heal past memories through artistic expression.

Facilitated by Artist Honey Jalali and Art Therapists Allan Rosales, this workshop is designed to offer a deeply supportive, reflective, and enriching experience for participants. We seek to create a space of care, creativity, and collective healing - nurturing resilience and celebrating the beauty of shared stories.

About the Facilitators

Honey Jalali is an Iranian contemporary activist artist based in Calgary, Alberta, since December 2020. She works across various mediums including installation, digital and acrylic painting, poetry, collage, and photography. Her creative expression derives from her thoughts, fears and dreams.

She obtained a Master’s Degree in Visual Communication at the Art and Architecture Azad University of Tehran and has been teaching visual arts at the university level for 15 years. Ever since her relocation to Calgary was quickly followed by the pandemic, she has continued with her art practice, including participating in Arts Commons’ RBC Emerging Artist and ICAI mentorship program.

Honey believes in art therapy that serves as a tool for healing. She explores memories, good and bad, through creative multimedia artworks. She wants to show stories about individuals, humanity, suffering, love, and real life all over the world.

Allan Rosales is an artist whose multi-disciplinary practice includes poetry, portraits and public art in relationship with the Filipinx Community of Calgary. He also holds a master’s degree in Art Therapy from Concordia University. Having worked extensively throughout Calgary as a community connector, Allan joined the Calgary Arts Development team as Community Investment Manager in 2023, approaching the role from the perspective of the artist.

FREE - please register

Join us on Thursday, June 6 from 6–9 PM at Sparrow ArtSpace for the Opening Reception of Alcove Photo Club’s very first exhibition! This show shines a light on Calgary’s emerging photographers — a talented crew of hobbyists, amateurs, and passionate visual storytellers. You’ll see a mix of perspectives, moments, and moods captured through fresh eyes and openshutters. Expect good vibes, good snacks, and even some live music as we toast to a month-long celebration of local photography. Bring your friends, your family, or just your curiosity — all are welcome and it's totally free. The exhibition will remain on view at Sparrow for the entire month of June, so if you can’t make the opening, don’t worry — the art will still be waiting for you!

FREE - please register, for Women ages 18+

Sitch & B.I.T.C.H Circle (Bold, Inspired, Thriving, Connected, Healing)

A cozy, come-as-you-choose space for WOMEN only who crave connection, creativity, and candid conversations. Whether you are stitching, creating, conspiring, or sipping tea and taking it all in, this is the space for you.

What to expect

• a warm and welcoming vibe where every woman belongs

• zero pressure, all presence -bring a project or start one here

• Honest chats, deep belly laughs, soft moments and shared stories

• a community built for us, by us, where care, creativity, support, and colle

Please note that this is a CHILDREN free space

Fundraiser by donation: pay what you can at the door (cash, e-transfer, card). We appreciate your support taking this project to the next level.
Space is limited—email ashley.and.arran@gmail.com to reserve your spot!

Casual show and tell of Pillow Fort Sessions month long residency. Come see what we’ve been working on! Drinks and light refreshments provided.

Calling all NEWCOMERS to Canada or Calgary!

FREE - please register, All ages welcome (accompanied by an adult), no experience necessary. Organized in conjunction with the Calgary Women's Centre!

Join us at Sparrow Artspace for a fun and creative event where you can make and trade your own Artists Trading Cards with other newcomers in Calgary! This is a great way to meet fellow newcomers and creatives, share your work, and connect with the local art community. All suplies will be provided.

Board members Yiting Hui and Sandra Neill will be in attendance to answer any questions about our artists-in-residence program and connect newcomers to other artists resources in the community!

What Are Artist Trading Cards (ATCs)?

Artist Trading Cards are miniature works of art measuring 2.5 x 3.5 inches—the size of a standard playing card. Originating in the 1990s, the ATC movement began in Switzerland with artist M. Vänçi Stirnemann, who envisioned a way for artists to exchange their creations without monetary transactions. The concept quickly gained global popularity, fostering artistic expression and collaboration. Today, ATCs are celebrated as an inclusive and accessible way to share art and build connections within creative communities.

For Adults, FREE, please register

Discover the bold and tactile art of linocut printing in this hands-on workshop perfect for beginners and creatives of all skill levels. Participants will learn the fundamentals of relief printmaking—from creating an image, to carving a 4” x 6” linoleum block using specialized tools. Once carved, you’ll explore inking techniques and use a hand tools to print your unique design onto 8” x 10” paper. By the end of the session, you’ll leave with your own handmade prints and a reusable block to continue printing at home. All materials provided, just bring your creativity!

Taught by Alison Frank

Alison Frank is an artist working in painting, drawing, and intaglio printmaking. She creates her surreal, whimsical artwork out of her home studio in Calgary, Alberta. She is also a professional mermaid who sets up submerged film equipment to capture the underwater art of her mermaid swimming. Alison studied at University of Regina where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2001. In 2004, she earned a Master of Fine Arts in Printmaking from Louisiana State University. Alison is a Sparrow residency alumnus from October 2023.

FREE (or by donation), register on Eventbrite

Join us for a special afternoon of creativity with nature, led by Irene Rasetti of Blooms by Bridgeland. An expert in floral arrangements, natural dyeing, and garment design, Irene will help us explore our imaginations and the creative possibilities of pressed flowers. Using traditionally pressed flowers, you’ll learn how to create temporary tattoos, and you’ll design your own framed, preserved flower artwork to take home. Enjoy refreshments as you work in a relaxed, inspiring, no pressure atmosphere.

This workshop is part of the Arts & Culture Sparrow Workshop Series funded by the City of Calgary.

$20 includes supplies for the workshop and 1 6"x6" gelli plate to take home. Workshop for adults, no experience necessary. Please Register on Eventbrite

In this fun hands-on class, students will explore the creative possibilities of mixed media collage using Gelli prints as a foundation.

• You will learn how to:

• Create unique monoprints with a Gelli plate, experimenting with layers of color, texture, and pattern.

• Incorporate you Gelli Prints into dynamic collage compositions

• Combine a variety of other materials such as acrylic paint, drawing media, image transfers, and found papers into your pieces.

The class encourages experimentation and personal expression, offering techniques for layering, composition, and intuitive mark-making. Whether you're new to mixed media or looking to expand your creative toolkit, this class offers a fun and inspiring way to create your own art pieces.

Ana Zanella is a mixed media artist with a deep interest in exploring a wide range of media, processes, and techniques to create compelling and innovative works of art. While she often works with acrylic paints, she thrives on the boundless possibilities offered by diverse materials, including inks, water-soluble media, collage, printmaking, image transfers, drawing, sewing, and more. Her passion for experimentation drives her creative process, and her paintings are developed intuitively.

In her latest series, Ana has been creating layered pieces that combine collage, paint, drawing, and text to depict memories in an abstract form. The initial layers, filled with paint and collage elements, reflect moments that are raw, chaotic, and full of life. As the work progresses, the layers become more refined and simplified. To bring structure and clarity to these representations of memory, she incorporates grids as a means of organization and presentation.

Ana is a Sparrow Artspace residency alumnus from June 2023

Space is limited - email arran.ashleymae@gmail.com to reserve your spot!

Pay what you can at the door: cash, e-transfer, card. Suggested price: $25 (but of course we welcome more if you are able to support Pillow Fort Projects)

Theatrically presented in an inspiring and cozy installation, this is not your ordinary life drawing session. We welcome artists of all skill levels, explore themes of the unconscious, dreams and the anima. Our model is a professional contemporary dance artist. Bring your preferred materials. We will have some materials if needed.

Ticket by donation (cash, e-transfer, card) Funds will go towards supporting the development of the Pillow Fort Project. Space is limited—email arran.ashleymae@gmail.com to reserve your spot!

Popcorn? Check. Drinks? Check-er-ooo Pillows? Ooooh yeah. Come to the PillowFort Join for a chill night of watching movies inspired by dreams and the unconscious. Stayed tuned for the movie selection.

FREE, ages 8+ (kids must be accompanied by an adult), please register

Celebrate Mother’s Day by reconnecting with the Earth through creativity and community. Guided by Lesia T. Bear, The Art of Mother Earth Workshop invites you on a journey to honor both Mother Earth and the mothers in our lives (past and present).

We will begin with a blessing following by a mindful walk to the river (weather dependent), taking time to connect with the land. Participants will have the opportunity to respectfully gather natural materials, with guidance on offering tobacco in gratitude—a practice rooted in Indigenous teachings of reciprocity and respect.

Returning from the river, Lesia will lead a hands-on art session where we will create an art piece using what we have gathered and other objects from nature and our own imaginations. This workshop welcomes friends, families, and individuals of all generations to share in a day of reflection, connection, and creativity.

Bring: Comfortable walking shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, and your sense of wonder.
No art experience necessary l all art materials provided and you are also welcome to bring your own object(s) that you would like to incorporate in your art.

About Lesia T. Bear

Lesia T Bear is a versatile artist with 44 years of professional experience in film. Lesia loves her many hobbies. Lesia is a true creative visionary who is inspired by the natural world, her Native culture and is passionate about empowering others to explore their own artistic expression. She believes in embracing creativity, supporting fellow artists, and recognizing the unique gifts in everyone. Lesia is a former Sparrow artist-in-residence and is on the board of Sparrow Arts Society.

FREE (or by donation), please register on Eventbrite

Please bring a yoga mat and/or blanket to lay on and any other comfortable items (pillow, bolster, etc.). We will have some available if needed.

A guided Introductory afternoon with a skilled & artful Dreamer to access your own gentle dreamscape material. Providing a structure for entering the dreamscape, being with it and exiting within respectful boundaries and with a ritual & reverent approach for the Dreamer, the Dream & the Great Mystery that beholds us in those realms.

Beginning with an Introductory teaching on Dreams and Accessing Dreamscape, Deirdre will share some methods of approach and guidance for how we approach these realms with kindness, kinship/relations,creativity and respect. Together we will respectfully enter the dreamscape with rhythmic sound and spend some time there to explore and respectfully return. We will integrate and discuss each entry and exit from the dreamscape as we build on 3 journeys together.

Participants will be invited to integrate their personal dream experience as an oil pastel on paper as well as synthesizing any simple words that come through as themes for their dreams. At the end of the workshop we will have a diverse expression of artful integration (a collective of oil pastel on paper & collections of words made by each participant) that becomes an invocation of dream emerging into this realm while kindly beheld in relationship to the land, the space, the Big Dream and the artists and the dreamers.

This workshop is part of the Arts & Culture Sparrow Workshop Series funded by the City of Calgary.

Facilitated by Dierdre Beresford

Deirdre lives, works, play and is guest on this land, Mohkinstis – Treaty 7 Territory. She is an ordained metaphysical minister and longtime ceremonialist & somatospirit practitioner (shamanic journeys, heart medicine & sacred songlines) who has worked for decades in palliative and hospice care. Deirdre is a natural Dreamer with training from the Foundation of Shamanic Studies, training workshops withRobert Moss and would be considered Grandmother Clan from a medicine wheel point of view thereby having organic, soul access and ease in the realms of spirit, dream & journey. She has been in this work and refining and evolving her creativity and connections since 1998.

Ticket by donation (cash, e-transfer, card) Funds will go towards supporting the development of the Pillow Fort Project. Space is limited—email arran.ashleymae@gmail.com to reserve your spot!

Popcorn? Check. Drinks? Check-er-ooo Pillows? Ooooh yeah. Come to the PillowFort Join for a chill night of watching movies inspired by dreams and the unconscious. Stayed tuned for the movie selection.

FREE, drop-in, in conjunction with Canadian Art Hop

Join us for a dreamy, hands-on art experience inspired by "Pillow Fort Sessions: Ashley Johnston & Arran Brownlee", the May 2025 residency at Sparrow Artspace. Rooted in Jungian psychology, this residency explores the feminine aspect of the unconscious mind and the mysterious figure of a woman known only through dreams.

In this special Artists Trading Cards (ATC) session, you'll be invited to channel your own dreams, symbols, and inner visions onto pocket-sized canvases. Using provided supplies, you'll create a series of "dream" cards that reflect your unique connection to the unconscious—be it through surreal imagery, symbolic storytelling, or emotional expression.

Once your cards are complete, exchange them with fellow artists in a spirit of community and curiosity, and take home a piece of someone else’s dreamscape. This event is a playful yet meaningful way to explore the inner self and take part in the larger conversation around dreams, identity, and the creative process unfolding throughout Pillow Fort Sessions.

No experience necessary—just bring your imagination and a willingness to wander through the world of dreams.

FREE, drop-in

In conjunction with Canadian Art Hop

Pillow Fort Sessions: Ashley Johnston & Arran Brownlee - meet the artists!

Pillow Fort Sessions is a multidisciplinary residency by dancer Ashley Johnston and filmmaker Arran Brownlee that explores the feminine aspect of the unconscious through Jung’s concept of the Anima. Using movement, film, and personal symbolism, the artists will collaboratively create a dream-inspired portrait of a woman known only through dreams.

FREE, drop-in

In conjunction with Canadian Art Hop

Pillow Fort Sessions: Ashley Johnston & Arran Brownlee - meet the artists!

Pillow Fort Sessions is a multidisciplinary residency by dancer Ashley Johnston and filmmaker Arran Brownlee that explores the feminine aspect of the unconscious through Jung’s concept of the Anima. Using movement, film, and personal symbolism, the artists will collaboratively create a dream-inspired portrait of a woman known only through dreams.

FREE, ages 16+, please register

Create your own beaded red dress pin and learn about the significance of the red dress symbol in raising awareness about missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2-Spirit people. Artist Pearl White Quills will teach edge beading technique with other teachings and storytelling. We are also honoured to have Jackie Bromley join us - she is an Elder involved in several social initiatives helping improve the lives of Indigenous people and preserving culture.

This workshop is part of the Arts & Culture Sparrow Workshop Series gratefully funded by the City of Calgary.

Pearl White Quills, from the Siksikaitsitapi (Blackfoot Confederacy), Niitsitapi(The Real People) Siksika, Kainai and Amskapi Piikani Nations. Blessed with the name Aa koa miyanist tsi'nih kiaki ~ Sings Many Different Songs Woman, Pearl is the owner and founder of Bright Swan Creations, which began simply with beads, needles, thread and earring hooks in 2008, bringing her skills back to life from childhood knowledge. By 2012, Pearl and her children began selling her beadwork on small displays walking around the pow wows. In 2013, she gained basic sewing skills. By 2016 drum and songs began to play a significant role in her life. In 2019 her and her grandson were initiated into pow wow.

Facilitating workshops in all these areas is the highlight to pass teachings on to many. Bright Swan Creations mission statement is: "Empowering First Nations in all forms of artistry having our Spirituality as the foundation. Inspiring healing throught unity, as one".

FREE: please register, Ages 16+, no experience necessary, supplies included

Discover a powerful journaling technique that sparks creativity and self-exploration! Whether you love writing, prefer visual expression, or enjoy a mix of both, this method offers space for your unique style. Artist and Therapist Jake Joy developed this process a few years ago, and it has been gaining momentum ever since. Last year, she presented it at a national conference for psychologists and therapists, where it was a huge hit. More recently, a wellness magazine featured an article on this technique! Now, Jake is excited to share it with you. You’ll leave with a fresh tool for self-reflection, creativity, and personal growth. All supplies included!

About Jake Joy

Jake Joy is an artist and psychotherapist who combines both practices to offer a unique approach to journaling—one that fosters clarity and deeper connection to your intuition. As an artist, she has long been curious about the creative process and its impact on mental health. How do we access the deep wisdom and creative soul that exists beyond external expectations? This question guides much of her work. Jake brings that same spirit of curiosity and exploration into her workshops, creating a space where self-expression and emotional insight can unfold together. Jake is a Sparrow residency Alumnus from October 2021!

FREE, drop-in

Join us for the grand finale Allison Bayt & Carly Hynes’ Embellished Unknown residency with a festive evening full of art, music, and community spirit! Come celebrate the creativity and collaboration of the past month with live music by Malcom Camsell and Tad & the Toads, and great company in a beautifully curated space.

FREE, please register on Eventbrite, Adults, or kids ages 10+ accompanied by an adult

Celebrate spring with a unique weaving experience led by Roots & Threads Collective. Combining our expertise in weaving, interior design, and visual art, this workshop offers a fresh, expressive take on traditional wall hangings. We'll guide you through a calming mindfulness weaving session to spark creativity and presence. Using bright colors, spring florals, and innovative materials, you'll create your own piece on a table loom.

No experience needed—just come ready to create, connect, and leave with your own handmade art.

About Roots & Threads

Roots & Threads is a Calgary-based artist collective founded by Saloni Sharma (Interior Designer & Visual Artist) and Mohar Gupta (Textile Designer & Visual Artist). We share a deep passion for community development through art, drawing from our backgrounds in textile and interior design.

Our journey began during the pandemic, when we connected at a City of Calgary-funded Tie and Dye workshop. Inspired by the need for creative connection, we co-founded the “Learn & Share” WhatsApp group, where we taught and supported women facing isolation. This initiative evolved into exhibiting our work at Signal Hill Library and Seton Library exploring traditional Indian tribal arts, and continuously seeking ways to support female artists in Calgary.

Saloni and Mohar will be the the artists-in-residence at Sparrow Artspace in July of 2025!

FREE (or by donation), please register!

This interactive workshop will guide participants through an intuitive painting activity inspired by Buddhist lantern festivals and dedicated to the water spirits. It celebrates the magic of decorations, lights, and the river, and gives us a chance to surrender to a wabi-sabi flow, find joy and connection in the unknown, and appreciate the natural beauty around us. Participants will have the opportunity to use gold leaf, origami paper, and acrylic paint to create a work of art and may either bring them home or leave one as an offering for Sparrow Art Space as a gift and a prayer.

Address: 36 4 Street Northeast, Calgary, AB, Canada

No experience necessary - all materials will be provided. Let's come together and spread peace through art!

As a self-taught artist, painting has been a stronghold for Allison’s exploration of meditation and yogic philosophy, and her pieces are informed by art nouveau, art deco, and Quaker ethos and design principles. She has lived, taught, and travelled overseas, with Germany as home base and a global diaspora of poets, creators, and innovators as inspiration.

FREE, drop-in

Let's come together and create something wonderful! Bring in whatever project you're currently working on, and feel free to come hang out with us. We would love to see what you’re up to and share ideas in a supportive environment.

FREE, please register, Ages 6+ (accompanied with an adult)

In this family workshop, inspired by the works of Paul Klee and M.C. Escher, we will create unique tessellation patterns while embracing the power of negative space and having fun with stencils and layering colors. Learning from the art of Klee and Escher, together we will explore how geometric shapes and negative space combine to create dynamic, contrasting, and balanced compositions, discovering how both solid and empty spaces work together to bring their captivating artwork to life.

Yiting Hui

Yiting is a Sparrow Artspace residency alumnus and a Director on our Sparrow Arts Society board. Yiting Hui is a nature-inspired artist and storyteller passionate about uncovering the enchanting magic found in everyday beauty. She earned her Master's degree in Architecture from McGill University, and has since embarked on a dual path as both an Architectural Designer and a dedicated artist.

The quiet competence and tranquil power of nature are her greatest inspirations. Yiting is interested in exploring the power of visual storytelling and seeks to craft works that resonate deeply with viewers, much like the silent language of the natural world. She believes in the therapeutic power of the arts and creativity and its ability to enhance well-being. She is interested in how the arts can facilitate meaningful dialogues and communication, promoting reconciliation with our inner selves and fostering self-awareness and personal growth.

FREE, drop-in

Let's come together and create something wonderful! Bring in whatever project you're currently working on, and feel free to come hang out with us. We would love to see what you’re up to and share ideas in a supportive environment.

FREE - please register
Adults and kids 7+ (accompanied by an adult) welcome, no experience needed

Come and learn some tips and techniques to create your own eye catching danglers. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned crafter, this workshop is perfect for anyone looking to add a unique touch to their projects.

Carly Hynes is a multidisciplinary artist based in Calgary, Alberta, who has a deep connection to her work with fibre materials. Her art celebrates the magic found in everyday life. She focuses on embellishments and decorations, transforming the mundane into the sacred. When she is not obsessively stitching in her studio, Carly writes folk songs and sings harmonies with the Calgary rock band Tad and the Toads. > learn more

FREE - please register, for FAMILIES (best for ages 5 and up)

The Colour Monsters are a little confused about how they feel. Are they feeling happy, sad, calm, angry? Inspired by the charming book by Anna Llenas we’ll create our own Colour Monster puppets and decide for ourselves what colour(s) best represent their emotion. In the final casual sharing session, we’ll also decide how are puppets move, what they might say, as well as how others might help them. A fun afternoon of creativity for the whole family.  

FREE - please register on Eventbrite, 18+

Calling all ARTISTS who are NEW to Canada or Calgary!

Join us at Sparrow Artspace for a fun and creative event where you can make and trade your own Artists Trading Cards with other newcomer artists in Calgary! This is a great way to meet fellow artists, share your work, and connect with the local art community. All suplies will be provided.

Board members Yiting Hui and Sandra Neill will be in attendance to answer any questions about our artists-in-residence program and connect newcomers to other artists resources in the community!

What Are Artist Trading Cards (ATCs)?
Artist Trading Cards are miniature works of art measuring 2.5 x 3.5 inches—the size of a standard playing card. Originating in the 1990s, the ATC movement began in Switzerland with artist M. Vänçi Stirnemann, who envisioned a way for artists to exchange their creations without monetary transactions. The concept quickly gained global popularity, fostering artistic expression and collaboration. Today, ATCs are celebrated as an inclusive and accessible way to share art and build connections within creative communities.

FREE or by donation, please register, ages 18+

Step into the colourful world of alebrijes, the fantastical creatures of Mexican folk art, with artist Jessica Chiapa. These imaginative beings combine physical elements from different real and mythical animals. In this hands-on workshop, you'll design, build, and paint your very own alebrije using wire, cardboard, and paper. Once your sculpture takes shape, you'll bring it to life with bright, cheerful colours and patterns.

About Jessica Chiapa

Jessica is a Sparrow Artspace Alumnus from July 2023. Jessica holds a Bachelor of Visual Arts in Painting which allows her to explore different techniques and create diverse pieces. She is currently creating a new paintings on canvas, and the materials allow her to analyze her cultural roots. Jessica is on the search for her being and the appreciation of an “I” without comparisons or standards. She found the true value of existence in her ancestors and nature, which led her to self-knowledge that she would like to reveal in-depth. Jessica is a freelance artist, and her work has been exhibited in Mexico and Canada, and in Calgary at cSpace King Edward, Central public Library, Sparrow Artspace and the Mexican consulate. Jessica has collaborated with SpanicArts, Mexican Woman Artists and the Mexican Consulate in Calgary. In 2023 she receive a gran from CADA (Calagary Arts Development).

FREE - Please register, for YOUTH 15-19, Facilitated by Annie Ahmad

Three hours of creative fun specially for youth ages 15 – 19. Guided by our artist – facilitator create a simple self-portrait-based puppet -mask. Explore your identity through your favourite things, your challenges, memories, community connections, goals, hopes and dreams. Artistically represent them in this immersive and engaging art project. Once complete present your artist’s statement in a casual group sharing.
Past student participants noted that VIEW “helped you accept yourself, all sides… love yourself”

 VIEW makes solid curriculum links the Career and Life Management Program of Studies as well as embedding Art and Drama concepts.

*ATB Healing through the Arts Award.

Facilitator: Annie Ahmad MA, RCAT, CT
Annie Ahmad holds a Master’s degree in Creative Arts Therapies from Concordia University. She is a Registered Member of the Canadian Art Therapy Association and a Professional Member of the Canadian Counseling and Psychotherapy Association. Annie has over 13 years of experience working as an Art Therapist with a variety of populations in diverse community settings. Annie works in private practice with the Blackbird Healing Arts Collective, facilitates art therapy groups with various organizations, as well as is an Associate Faculty member of the St. Stephen’s College at the University of Alberta.