Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Field Trip: Smokestack Studio at 270 Sherman

We were very fortunate to get a chance to visit Smokestack Studio this past Tuesday, where artists Laine and Jonathan Groenweg create prints using both traditional and modern techniques.

Students got to participate in the creation of a mezzotint print with Laine, using a traditional printing press that Laine brought over from Italy.

Laine inking a copper plate.

Amber at the wheel.

After learning about traditional and modern print making practices, and about life as an artist-entrepreneur, we were led on a tour of 270 Sherman - previously the Imperial Cotton Factory - and took in the myriad spaces the building has to offer.  
Walking through 270 Sherman, the former Imperial Cotton Factory
The view from atop 270 Sherman: railways, industry, and the escarpment.
270 Sherman is still under renovation, so we got a glimpse of many of the old features of the Imperial Cotton Factory, including the manual-operation elevators, and the rail lines running through the property.  We also saw some of the new artist studios being built, and were fortunate to catch the TH&B crew hard at work on their next project.

It was a perfect day for a field trip, and we all enjoyed a glimpse of the many exciting developments happening in our city.  

The intrepid travellers journey home.