Nurture your Creativity and Spirit!  Become your best self! 

Register online or at 306.653.3549

2024 Winter Program - Open for Registration!

Note to Participants:  At this time, face masks remain welcome inside our facilities and hand sanitizer is provided.  We respect the individual choices made by our guests.  

ZUMBA®  with WENDY ROY 

Bring your body and mind together in the rhythm of life!  Zumba®  is a dance-based fitness program that uses Latin and World music.  Slow and fast rhythms help to tone the body and at the same time provide interval training that can boost aerobic fitness.  Experience the joy of movement with Wendy, a licensed Zumba®  instructor with a long background in dance-based activities.

Session 1:  10 Mondays - Jan 8 - Mar 25 (no class on Jan 29 & Feb 5)

6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Class Fee:  $80 per session 

Session 2:  10 Wednesdays - Jan 3 - Mar 27 (no class on Jan 24, 31 & Feb 7)

6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Class Fee:  $80 per session 

or $140 when registering for both session 1 & 2

Drop-in fee:  $10 per class

Zumba®  will be held  in the upper level Theatre of The Refinery

Maximum 12 participants per session;   

Monday Class -  3 spaces remain

Wednesday Class -  This session is full

A vibrant and accessible arts community is one of the many gifts that our city offers us.  We are excited to have several local artists sharing their time and talents with us this spring.  We hope you are able to participate and create 'art with artists' in our space!

CROCHET LEVEL 2 with BECKY SCHARFSTEIN-McGETTIGAN

Looking to expand your knowledge and skills?  Join Becky for Crochet Level 2.  


In this 4-week workshop you will learn increasing, decreasing, stitch combinations, connecting blocks and so much more!


Please bring a 5.5mm or 5mm hook.  All other materials will be provided.

4 Mondays - Jan 15 - Feb 5

7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Class Fee:  $75 - including materials

Crochet Level 2 will be held  in the lower level of The Refinery

Maximum 10 participants;  9 spaces remain

WATERCOLOR with SUSAN HUNTLEY

Susan Huntley will lead this class designed for those who have little or no experience in watercolor.  This class will focus on getting comfortable with watercolor painting techniques and enjoying the process of mixing colors to create your own palette.  The basics of materials, tools, techniques, color, and “seeing” your subject will be explored.  The class is meant to be fun, inspirational and will focus on how to relax and enjoy the process of painting.

6 Mondays - Jan 15 - Feb 26 (no class on Feb 19)

10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Class Fee:  $110 - materials are not included.  Participants will receive a material list at time of registration. 

Watercolor will be held  in the lower level of The Refinery

Maximum 12 participants;  This session is full

WATERCOLOR II with SUSAN HUNTLEY

This course will focus on developing fundamental watercolor skills. Each week participants will be taken through the stages of design and composition, drawing, and painting. We will tackle a variety of subjects from landscapes and skies to still life and florals.

This course is designed to be fun and inspirational and will focus on how to relax and enjoy the creative process of watercolor painting. 

6 Wednesdays - Jan 17 - Feb 21

10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Class Fee:  $110 - materials are not included.  Participants will receive a material list at time of registration. 

Watercolor II will be held  in the lower level of The Refinery

Maximum 12 participants;  3 spaces remain

CHAKRA CONNECTION with ALLISON BACHMEIER

Chakra is a Sanskrit word meaning ‘wheel’ or ‘disc’.  Thought to be the seat of transformation, these energy centers in your body process subtle energy and convert it into chemical, hormonal or cellular changes in your body.  Your chakras are your energy generators.  Understanding your chakras leads to better health, personal growth and spiritual awareness.

In this workshop, we will review the different chakras, their functions, their consciousness and your balance in them along with suggested homework to further cultivate your chakra connection to your life force. 

 

The chakras are closely situated to where the body receives its life force.  Each of the chakras relate to different levels of consciousness, developmental stages of life, thoughts, colors, sounds, physiological functions in your body and much more.  The chakras are often though of as seats of consciousness through which we ideally express ourselves.  The beliefs that we develop and our experiences will stop the chakras from opening, developing as they should, thus, limiting our expression.  


Allison Bachmeier says....  "I help humans learn about their bodies and minds, looking at what seems to be a restriction, limitation or tension, and curiously exploring the information it holds while holding space for embodied awarenesses and transformation.  A melding of psychology and spirituality offers spaciousness on how we can meet ourselves in new ways, and connect to the aliveness of life’s moments organically and mindfully through loving presence."   Learn more about Allison at https://vibranttransformation.com/about.

Tuesday, Jan 16

6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Fee:  $45 - including materials 

Chakra Connection will be held  in the lower level of The Refinery

Maximum 10 participants;  4 spaces remain

CONTEMPLATIVE SELF-PORTRAIT COLLAGE with SHELLY MANLEY-TANNIS

In these two sessions we will begin to create a self-portrait through a mindful process of collage and mixed media.  We will start with some discussion and with tracing our silhouette, so no one is expected to be able to draw or paint themselves!  Then we will have the space to work/play with our own stories through archetype, image, and creativity.  Participants are invited to bring any personal materials they might wish to use in the process (i.e. Journal entries, trinkets, photos, historical documents of any sort – photocopies encouraged).   In the sample image, Shelly used copies of her grandmother’s journal, some of her own writing, some family photos, and even a grocery list she found in her father’s handwriting.  There are no rules and no limits!


Shelly is a minister, spiritual director, and artist with a certificate from the WHEAT (Winnipeg Holistic Expressive Arts Therapy) program.  She loves writing, visual journaling, upcycling, music, and photography.  Originally from Ontario, Shelly has lived on the prairies for 22 years.  She works with the folks at Mayfair United Church and enjoys offering workshops as well as one-on-one spiritual companioning.  She spends her time between Saskatoon and Manitou Beach, both part of Treaty 6 Territory, with her spouse and 2 active dogs.  Shelly loves encouraging others on their journey.


2 Tuesdays, Jan 23 & 30

7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Class Fee:  $50 - including materials.  

Contemplative Self-Portrait Collage will be held  in the lower level of The Refinery

Maximum 10 participants;  5 spaces remain

JUNK JOURNALS & BEYOND with KATE KADING

You’ve seen them on social media, at craft sales, maybe you’ve built some yourself - the term “junk journal” has become trendy…but do you really know what a junk journal is and where the concept came from?  This one day intensive with author and artist Kate Kading will give you the fundamental skills to build your own journals, turning trash into treasure.  Bindings, signatures, altered folios, dangles, ephemera, and more, you will leave with a book unique to you and your style filled with memorabilia, junk mail, photos, and recycled or vintage material significant and visually appealing to you.  Each book is a piece of art and you will never create the same journal twice in a lifetime.  Kate will share tips and tricks to save money, stretch supplies, use unconventional items, and go far beyond creating a simple book to write in.  Your junk journal will be a visual, textile, and creative experience that adds to your personal journey. 


Born and raised on the prairies, Kate Kading was a published paper artist long before she became a published author. Throw in a deep love of vintage pens, an unhealthy addiction to stationery, and a proclivity to glue herself to…herself and you get a creative soul that insists on making something from nothing. In a time where essentials are increasingly expensive, the beautiful extras are often not attainable but that shouldn’t get in the way of art. Kate’s frugal soul finds beauty in unlikely places and she loves sharing those talents with whoever will sit still long enough to listen. Kate lives in Rosthern with a family full of boys and spends her days making things and writing Saskatchewan crime books with her snack-driven corgi at her feet.

Saturday, Feb 3

10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Class Fee:  $65 - including materials

Junk Journals & Beyond will be held  in the lower level Emmanuel church hall

Maximum 12 participants4 spaces remain

EMBRACING SOUL with FRAN SCHMIDT

Embracing Soul is an opportunity for participants to explore and embrace their soul, as we awaken to the presence of the Divine within.  Focus is given in this course to the sense of spirituality within Jungian and mystical teachings.  Specifically, we will venture into the Psyche and its components, contemplative practices, creative expressions, myth, archetypes, and care of the soul as we hold a sacred container for one another and step into this holy space of the soul.


Fran Schmidt is a daughter, sister, writer, singer, seeker, pastor, and spiritual director.  She is the Priest at Emmanuel Anglican Church with The Refinery Arts & Spirit Centre, and graduates from the Haden Institute with her Spiritual Direction certification in January 2023.  Her deep interest is in the area of Jungian psycho-spirituality and helping others connect with their soul space.

6 Mondays, Feb 12 - Mar 18

7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Class Fee:  $120 - including materials

Embracing Soul will be held  in the lower level of the Refinery

Maximum 12 participants;  7 spaces remain

CREATE AN ACCORDION BOOK FOR ART JOURNALING with HEIDI GUENTHER

In this workshop you will first create your own accordion book with watercolor paper inside and then experience the joy of mixed media art journaling!  You can follow Heidi’s examples in class or come prepared with a theme in mind for your journaling.  You’ll have time to work on as much or as little of the journal pages as you want, time permitting.


You will explore a variety of art materials and Heidi will demonstrate a number of techniques to teach and inspire you:


Tuesday, Feb 27

7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

Class Fee:  $45 - including materials.  

Create an Accordion Book will be held  in the lower level of The Refinery

Maximum 12 participants;  7 spaces remain

ECO-PRINTING II with LORETTA HARTSOOK

Eco-printing is the process of creating unique prints of leaves, flowers, grasses and

Seeds. The process transfers the shapes and colors of botanicals to a variety of papers or fabrics. The results can be wonderfully surprising!

 

The first part of this workshop will focus on reviewing the eco-printing process and creating prints on watercolor paper.  Participants will have an opportunity to create a number of eco-prints.  Rehydrated botanicals will be provided.  Participants are welcome to bring botanicals from house plants which should be kept fresh in a damp cloth in a plastic bag prior to class. 

 

While the prints are being processed participants will have opportunity to try adding watercolor to pre-made eco-prints created and provided by Loretta.  There will be a variety of prints offered to choose from.  Prints made by  Loretta will be used as journal covers.  Covers will be filled with paper and bound.  Simple step-by-step instructions will be offered to complete your journal.

 

Eco-prints made in class will be taken home wet.  Once your prints are dry you will have the skills necessary to create easy journals using your own eco-printed covers.

 

If you have taken eco-printing workshops before, please feel free to bring some of your prints to use in class for the journal making process.  

Saturday, Mar 2

1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Class Fee:  $45 - including materials

Eco-Printing II will be held  in the lower level Emmanuel Church hall

Maximum 10 participants;  This session is full

SPIRIT DOLLS hosted by JANICE

The spirit dolls we’ll create are lovingly-crafted three-dimensional figures that act as a vessel for spiritual connection or heartfelt invitation – blessings, aspirations, protection, good fortune for yourself or someone else.

 

The act of creating a Spirit Doll is both contemplative and creative.  Nature will help ground us in the shaping of our dolls and our inner spirit will guide us through the rest of the creative adornment.  There are no special skills required for this project other than your own intention and your trust in the creative process.  Each spirit doll created will be unique and incredibly special – like each one of us.

 

Participants are required to bring a tree branch to the workshop to form the base of your doll.  The main branch should be at least 16” to 18” in length.  The time spent outdoors looking for a tree branch can help set the intention of your doll – savor it.  If you have special fabric, ribbons or embellishments that you would like to use on your doll, please feel free to bring these items with you.

Saturday, Mar 9

1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Class Fee:  $40 - including materials

Spirit Dolls will be held  in the lower level of The Refinery

Maximum 10 participants;  3 spaces remain

ENNEAGRAM INTRODUCTION  with CAROL KAVANAGH

Enneagram (pronounced ANY - a - gram) is a system for understanding personality

differences and a tool for individual growth and enriched relationships.  It developed from

various traditions of spiritual wisdom and modern psychological insight.  Broadly

speaking, nine different personality types can be understood as developing

unconsciously, and once we become aware of our unconscious core motivation,

(Enneagram type), we can live more fully and freely.

 

In this two-evening workshop you will:  have fun, find your Enneagram number, explore

the abundance with which each type is gifted, and learn how Enneagram is far from labelling

or typing.  It’s about greater tolerance and compassion for yourself and others.  You will

learn how to use Enneagram for your growth to be able to live more fully and freely.  You

may even be able to better understand a significant relationship with a partner, parent,

child, friend, or colleague.


Carol Kavanagh received an Honors B.A. from the University of Saskatchewan, Regina campus (as it was called then), a B.Ed. with distinction from the University of Saskatchewan and taught high school English.  After acquiring an M.Ed. from the University of Saskatchewan she counselled at the Sexual Assault and Information Centre and later worked as a family counsellor.  Carol and her husband had a small home business and among other things taught Enneagram, which they found exceedingly helpful in navigating the challenges of life.  For fourteen years she cared for her mother (four of them in her own home) until her death in 2016.  Carol is retired from professional work and lives in Saskatoon with her husband.

2 Tuesdays - Mar 12 & 19

7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Class Fee:  $50 - including materials

Enneagram Introduction will be held  in the lower level of The Refinery

Maximum 12 participants;  This session is full

IMPROVISATIONAL ABSTRACT MARK-MAKING  with KATHRYN GREEN

In this workshop, we'll experiment with spontaneous mark-making using a variety of art materials.  Discover the inner creativity that emerges when you silence your evaluative mind and let go of working towards a predetermined goal. 


Kathryn Green is a mixed-media artist who loves exploring new ways of making art.  Since shifting from representational to non-representational art many years ago, she has found great delight in working intuitively and spontaneously.  Kathryn was a member of the Saskatoon-based Artists' Workshop group for a decade and has shown her work in numerous group shows as well as solo exhibitions.  She enjoys providing opportunities for others to re-awaken their inborn creativity. 

Wednesday - Mar 20

7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Class Fee:  $45 - including materials

Improvisational Abstract Mark-Making will be held  in the lower level of The Refinery

Maximum 10 participants;  This session is full

CALM IN THE STORM  with SIMON LASAIR

Sometimes the world seems too much.  There is so much going on right now with politics, climate change, and so many other issues that it can all feel overwhelming. Wouldn’t it be incredible to find some calm within the storm?

Join Simon Lasair to explore some proven techniques that will help us find calm within the world’s storms.  By using humour and storytelling to share his ideas Simon will help participants find connection and community throughout the workshop. 


Simon Lasair is a husband, a father, and a lover of books, music, and deep conversations. He has worked for nearly a decade as a professional listener in his role as health care chaplain and has also published a few articles about chaplaincy work along the way. Simon’s workshops are warm, engaging, and stimulating, encouraging everyone present to experience themselves in new and different ways.  Come for times filled with laughter and reflection.  Come also to find yourself and your understanding of the world changed by the ideas Simon wants to share with you.

Tuesday - Mar 26

7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Class Fee:  $40 - including materials

Calm in the Storm will be held  in the lower level of The Refinery

Maximum 12 participants;  7 spaces remain

2023 Fall Program

Note to Participants:  At this time, face masks remain welcome inside our facilities and hand sanitizer is provided.  We respect the individual choices made by our guests.  

ZUMBA®  with WENDY ROY 

Bring your body and mind together in the rhythm of life!  Zumba®  is a dance-based fitness program that uses Latin and World music.  Slow and fast rhythms help to tone the body and at the same time provide interval training that can boost aerobic fitness.  Experience the joy of movement with Wendy, a licensed Zumba®  instructor with a long background in dance-based activities.

Session 1:  11 Mondays - Sept 11 - Dec 4  (No class on Oct 9 & Nov 6)

Class Fee:  $88 per session 

Session 2:  12 Wednesdays - Sept 13 - Dec 6  (No class on Nov 8)

6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Class Fee:  $96 per session 

or $161 when registering for both session 1 & 2

Drop-in fee:  $10 per class

Zumba®  will be held  in the upper level Theatre of The Refinery

Maximum 12 participants per session;  Drop in available only

MIXED MEDIA CANVAS with HEIDI GUENTHER

Join Heidi Guenther to work with and experience the wonderful layers of mixed media.  Using a variety of collage papers, stencils and mixed media materials you will create a beautiful mixed media painting on canvas. Heidi will lead you step by step through the project.  You can follow her design sample or let your imagination go and create your own unique design.

Tuesday, Dec 5

7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Fee:  $50 - including materials 

Mixed Media Canvas will be held  in the lower level of The Refinery

Maximum 10 participants;   This session is full