Spring 2026 Two Day Wire Workshops

There’s something magical about coaxing life out of a roll of wire and the process of turning this humble material into expressive, dimensional sculpture. My two day workshops serve as an introduction to this medium.

The sculptures are created with galvanized chicken wire mesh that won’t rust. Fisnished pieces allow wind to flow through them allowing pieces to be safely mounted in places you wouldn’t normally install a solid sculpture without engineering support. Students are encouraged to bring a base or pedestal for mounting their work; expressive pieces of driftwood make especially beautiful foundations.

Finished sculptures can be painted, and despite their size, they remain remarkably lightweight and easy to transport — a full-sized female dancer weighs around 15 lbs, while the average student workshop figure weighs about 6 lbs. Shipping is easily done with a cardboard container and these pieces are NOT fragile. Students choose their subject matter and go home with a piece approx 24" to 30" that is suitable for mounting indoors or out.

We begin by exploring the fundamentals — how to shape, twist, and build strength and movement into your form. Then we’ll dive right in: creating figures, animals, or abstract shapes that seem to breathe and dance in space. Don’t worry if you’ve never worked with wire before — the workshop is designed to meet you where you are. By the end of day one, you’ll already have a form taking shape in your hands, and by day two, you’ll be refining it into a finished piece ready to display.

What I love most about teaching wire sculpture is watching that moment when someone suddenly sees their creation come alive — a gesture caught mid-motion, a curl of wire that perfectly captures emotion. It’s equal parts drawing, building, and discovery.

The Cathouse Gallery offers the perfect setting for this kind of focused creativity — the buzz of inspiration in the air, and space to spread out and let your imagination roam. Campers/RVs are welcome behind the studio. Stay for the weekend. Enjoy the quick walk to the beach, chat with the alpacas, ducks and geese and explore this lovely piece of Vancouver Island.

If you’ve ever wanted to try sculpting but didn’t know where to start, this is your invitation. You’ll leave with new skills, a finished sculpture, and maybe even a few scratches to prove how much fun you had getting there.

Spaces are limited — I like to keep the group small so everyone gets hands-on guidance — so if this sounds like your kind of creative adventure, sign up early. Let’s make something unforgettable together in wire.

SPRING WORKSHOP SCHEDULE

Feb 21/22

Mar 21/22

April 25/26

May 23/24

I'll need a $50 deposit to hold your space. You can e-transfer to sheenam@shaw.ca or call me and I can take a credit card over the phone - 250-937-9991 -, or drop in to say hi with cash.. For more information on the the workshops, go to https://www.cathousegallery.com/2-day-workshops