Images
-
![]()
Photo by David May -
![]()
Photo by Emily Allan -
![]()
Inflating Waste/Spaces: Plastic Crafting with Studio Rat
In-person
Visual arts Sculpture & installation Fibre & textile arts Architecture CraftDate and time
Location
St. Albans Church
454 King Edward Avenue
Ottawa, ON
Directions: Address says King Edward Ave, however main entrance is actually on Daly Ave. Look for the bright red door: give it a good tug because it’s heavy, and come on in! The entrance to the church on Daly St. is on ground level. The doors are not automatic but there are greeters there to open the door if you knock. All church activities happen on the main level.
Access
Free.
Offered in English.
Wheelchair accessible.
About
This two-hour workshop introduces participants to the creative and speculative possibilities of inflatables and waste plastics. Led by artist duo Studio Rat, attendees will explore DIY techniques for heat-laminating soft plastic waste into new experimental materials, using household irons and an industrial heat press to craft their own personalized plastic collage.
Hands-on and community-focused, the afternoon opens with a short artist talk on Studio Rat's process and the history of inflatable art and architecture, then moves into time for open craft, offering participants an opportunity to collage, experiment with heat lamination, and even try out making their own mini inflatables.
What to Expect:
● Circularity and unique ways of re-working waste plastics
● Inflatable architecture history, ethos, and techniques
● The historical, cultural, and environmental impact of plastics
● Hands-on, playful experimentation as a method of learning
What to Bring:
● Comfortable clothing suitable for hands-on work
● Optional: a modest collection of clean, soft plastic waste (e.g. produce bags, packaging film) (you will have to take your leftovers with you!)
Plasticscapes is made possible thanks to the City of Ottawa through Ottawa Nightlife, the Province of Ontario, and the Ontario Arts Council. We acknowledge the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, and producing partners Congrego and St. Albans Church.
Organizer
Ontario Culture Days
Ontario Culture Days is a not-for-profit organization that celebrates artists and cultural groups in our communities.
The Ontario Culture Days Festival is an annual celebration of arts, culture and heritage taking place each fall across the province. Each year, we work with organizers of all disciplines to produce this province-wide festival. Organizers host programs throughout Ontario and invite the public to participate for free.
Ontario Culture Days lives at the local level. We support organizers from the smallest hamlets to the largest cities, while coordinating with other national and provincial Culture Days partners. We support the success of our sector colleagues through resources and network development, while highlighting the breadth and heterogeneity of Ontario’s arts and culture to the wider public
Other Events from this Organizer
Double Shadow Artist Talk, Tour, and Demo with Amanda McCavour @ Museum London
Ontario Culture Days
London, ON