Guardian Arts blog on VAB workshop

Back on Friday, Ashley Goodfellow at the Guardian posted "Me? An artist?" to her blog, where she comments on a Christmas card making workshop she took at the Visual Arts Brampton Creative Studios, talking about the process involved in creating the cards.

Fridge Front Gallery bookings

So far, Fridge Front Gallery at Shoppers World is booked twice this year. During unbooked times, the space shows Visual Arts Brampton youth student work.

• December 27, 2008-January 2, 2009: Roberta Bondar Public School
• March 9-20, 2009: Roberta Bondar Public School

Roberta Bondar is a returning exhibitor, having exhibited in October/November 2005 and April 2008. We welcome them back.

WANT TO EXHIBIT?
If you'd like to have an exhibit of works at Fridge Front, just call us at 905-453-9142, or email us at visualartsbrampton@gmail.com, and we'll get back to you as soon as possible. Have a rough date range in mind, of when you'd likely be able to have a class/school/club exhibit.

Keith on Daytime tomorrow

Group president Keith Moreau is scheduled to appear on Rogers Cable's Mississauga and Brampton's daytime program tomorrow, to talk about our upcoming Artway exhibit 'Tis the Season, and invite all Peel and area artists to display their Christmas, winter, and toy-themed artworks.

To the right is Devere Wint's new illustration, created specifically for the exhibit. He recently started creating on the computer program Corel Painter, and this is one of his first creations with the software.

Volunteer for VAB

Visual Arts Brampton now has a special site for volunteers, particularly teens looking to get their 40 hours completed.

• Become a "fan" of VABvolunteer on Facebook;
• Go through the notes, and reply to whatever opportunities you're interested in;
• When we're in need of someone for that particular position, we'll message you, to see if you're available to help;
• If you ever stop being interested in the opportunity, simply delete your post to the page.
  

VAB in Santa's Arrival Parade; photos posted

Previously, we mentioned that Visual Arts Brampton would be in the Santa's Arrival Parade at Shoppers World. The parade went quite well, and there seemed to be more people in attendance this year than either of the past two years.

VAB's entry featured some of our youth students in costume, including some students in costumes made from painted cardboard boxes.

Much to our surprise, we just found out today that we are one of the Holiday Spirit Award winners, meaning the group has received mall gift certificates, that we'll use to buy supplies for the studio. Our appreciation goes to Shoppers World for inviting us back to the parade, and for this generous recognition of our efforts.

The parade was Sunday, November 16, at 11 am. As promised, two live reindeer did lead Santa's sleigh around the mall. Pictures of his ground-bound steeds, Blizzard and Snow, are among the images in our Picasa photo album.

Artway hours "extended"

Shoppers World Brampton (home of Artway Gallery, Fridge Front, and World Art Gallery) has extended its hours for the Christmas shopping season. Hours are below... (Note that all three exhibit spaces are viewable before and after mall hours, as the mall prepares to open for the day, and closes down for the night.)

Commencing December 1st
Monday to Friday 9:30 am - 9:30 pm
Saturdays 9:30 am - 9:00 pm
Sundays 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

Fri Dec 19th 9:30 am - 11:00 pm
Wed Dec 24th 8:30 am - 6:00 pm
Thurs Dec 25 - Mall Closed
Fri Dec 26 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
Wed Dec 31 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

Regarding Curry's discount for VAB members

At the end of the year, the discount cards Curry's issued to Bramptonians will become invalid. (They were issued in 2004, when the Brampton location was shuttered.) Visual Arts Brampton members still qualify for the Student Discount program, which has been around since the early-1990s, if not before.

Here's the details, as recently email to art groups:

Our new Student Discount program offers all students or art group members that show Student/Member ID at our Curry’s retail stores a 10% discount of all non-sale items (items that are at our everyday Regular Price). You will be pleased to know that this discount will apply to most products except during huge promotional periods like September’s Back to School Sale!

VAB to be in Shoppers World parade

Visual Arts Brampton is going to participate in the Shoppers World Santa Parade again this year. The parade marches Sunday, November 16, at 11 am. It starts in Winners Court, goes counterclockwise around the mall, ending back at Winners Court.

This Saturday, Nick will be asking for volunteer parade marchers from each class. Kids participating will be asked to wear a Christmas or fairy tale costume, 0r one of the cartoony box costumes currently being made. Millie will also be at the parade.

Two live reindeer, Blizzard and Snow, will lead Santa's sled through the mall, following numerous community groups.

Check out photos of past years of the parade.

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Four students from the VAB classes have volunteered to march in the parade, in costume. We're looking for extra help, so if you're a high school student looking to get volunteer hours, contact us by e-mail or Facebook, we need people to:

• march in costumes, or
  
• serve as escorts to make sure those in costumes march safely.
  

Guardian writer blogs about the arts

Ashley Goodfellow, The Brampton Guardian's arts and entertainment reporter, has started a blog named What's On in the Arts. Started on October 30, the blog is already three posts in, and allows for comments.