Contemplative Arts Festival of Saskatoon
Free Activities
2024 Festival Events
Photo: five sculptures by members of the Prairie Sculptors Association. Top left “Reg and Ethyl” by Paul Constable. Top right “Bison” by Kevin Quinlan. Lower left “Jumpin Juniper” by Lee Fuller. Lower centre “With In” by Patricia Oderkirk. Lower right “Bird Bath” by Zoltan Markan.
Exhibition: Prairie Sculptors Association
The Prairie Sculptors Association exhibited a collection of sculptures by multiple artists in varied media during the Festival, from Thursday May 23rd, 2024 at 6:30 pm until Sunday May 26th at 5:00 pm.
Location: Sanctuary and Grace Land.
Admission is free.
Opening Celebration:
Thursday May 23rd, 2024, 7:00 to 9:00 pm
Paul Constable, Chair of the Prairie Sculptors Association, gave a short talk at the Festival Opening to launch the exhibition.
Learn more at Special Events. Free.
Zoltan Markan led a Mixed Media Workshop on Saturday May 25, 2024
from 1:00 to 3:00 pm.
Info at Workshops.
Lee Fuller led a Wire Sculpture Workshop on Saturday May 25, 2024
from 3:00 to 5:00 pm.
More Info at Workshops.
Lee Fuller spoke on Discussion Panel 2: “Embodying the Spiritual.”
Sunday May 26, 2024 at 1:30 pm
More info on Discussion Panels.
Jacqueline, with the Grosvenor Artists.
Photo: Matt Smith
Grosvenor Artists
“Together in Art” is the motto of the Grosvenor Artists. Our growth as artists is realized through a lively exchange of ideas, technical experience, and personal encouragement. Members meet on Thursdays at Grosvenor Park United Church.
Our artists work in a variety of media including pencil, textiles, acrylics, oils and watercolour. An annual show and sale is held on the first weekend in November.
On Friday May 24th, 2024 some of our artists were at work in our meeting space at the church between 10:30 am and 3 pm. Participants were invited to stop by to observe us as we worked.
We are always happy to share with you how our participation in the Grosvenor Artists has influenced our creative and contemplative experience in the arts.
Free Drop in: Friday May 24, 2024,
from 10:30 am to 3:00 pm.
Location: Schnell Hall.
Learn more at Artists.
Origami at the Festival in 2023.
Photo by Matt Smith.
Origami with Nathaniel Trebish
Nathaniel Trebish (see Artists) shared the ancient art of paper folding and taught how to make a variety of origami pieces. For all ages, including beginners and those who have experience with origami.
Free Drop in:
Friday May 24 and Saturday May 25, 2024
from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Sunday May 26, 2024 from 1 to 5:00 pm.
Location: Purple Room
Clay - photo by Alex Jones on Unsplash
Play with Clay with Pat Krug
Potter Pat Krug (see Artists), provided an opportunity for participants to reflect upon the nature of clay, and see and feel how it responds to our hands.
Free Drop in:
Friday May 24 and Saturday May 25, 2024, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Sunday May 26, 2024,
from 1:00 to 5:00 pm.
Location: Schnell Hall.
Meditation Room at the Festival in 2023.
Meditation Room
The meditation room was available on all four days of the Festival in 2024. This quiet space offered comfortable seating, a water fountain, candles and stones to help focus your attention, and some written prompts for reflection and meditation. At certain times a leader offered a guided meditation.
Free Drop in:
Thursday May 23, 2024,
from 6:30 to 9:30 pm.
Friday May 24 and Saturday May 25
from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Sunday May 26, 2024,
from 1:00 to 5:00 pm.
Location: Yellow Room.
Rainbow labyrinth at the Festival in 2023
Labyrinth Walk
2024 Free drop-in times:
Friday May 24, 2024, 10:30 am - 3:30 pm
Saturday May 25, 12:00 - 4:00 pm
Sunday May 26, 12:00 - 1:30 pm,
and 4:00 - 5:00 pm.
A labyrinth is a walking meditation. It has one path in to the centre and the same path leads the walker out of the labyrinth. The labyrinth is meant to quiet the mind so that the heart may connect more deeply with the Divine.
“Walking in” is a time to let go of all that keeps us from connecting more deeply with the Spirit – purging the thoughts and illusions that might inhibit and distract us from connecting with the Divine. It is preparation for the time we will spend at the centre; and preparation to be open to the Spirit moving within us.
The Centre is the place where we come to the centre of ourselves – to the place within us where we meet the Divine, the place where the Spirit connects to our spirit. It is the place of prayer or meditation as we sit or stand with the Divine asking our questions, offering ourselves, and seeking guidance.
“Walking out” is a time to reflect on how we will integrate into our daily living our experience of being at the centre.
Many thanks to the Saskatoon Unitarians for the loan of this beautiful labyrinth.
Location: Sanctuary.
Piano player - photo by George Charpentier
Music for Quiet Contemplation
Recorded music was played in the Sanctuary. Listeners were invited to sit quietly and reflect, journal or draw, or walk the labyrinth.
Free Drop in:
Friday May 24, 2024, 10:30 am - 3:30 pm
Saturday May 25, 12:00 - 4:00 pm
Sunday May 26, 12:00 - 1:30 pm
and 4:00 - 5:00 pm.
Tipi at the Festival in 2019
Tipi Time
The tipi, provided by Knowledge Keeper, Lyndon J Linklater, offered participants a little time to sit quietly and rest. We were glad to go with the flow for a few minutes, reflect and contemplate.
Free Drop in:
Friday May 24 and Saturday May 25, 2024,
from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Sunday May 26, 2024 from 1:00 to 5:00 pm.
Zentangle examples from the 2019 Festival
Zentangle
Participants dropped in to practice the meditative art of Zentangle. Instructions and examples were posted, and paper, pencils and ink pens were provided. It was good to with the flow for a few minutes and see what patterns might emerge.
Location: Green Room.
Free Drop in:
Friday May 24 and Saturday May 25, 2024, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Sunday May 26, 2024,
from 1:00 to 4:30 pm.