A Memory Café is now happening in Wolfville/Kentville region of the Annapolis Valley. It's running every 4th Tuesday, starting December 7, 2021 between 2-3pm. This series combines virtual and in-person sessions. The events below identify which format is used on each date. In person sessions are held at Charts Café on 16 Elm St. in Wolfville.
Click the Download button to access the Registration Form.
Featured Artwork: Landscapes by Arnaud Béghin, a French Nova Scotian painter living in Hantsport..
Round table invitation to each guest:
“Here are two beautiful coastal scenes painted by French-Nova Scotian artist Arnaud Béghin. One scene shows luminous clouds with sun breaking through on the shore. The other shows a calm day with warm light over the dykes and the Minas Basin. Which scene would you like to be in most? If you were walking on a coastal path, where would you like to go?
We recommend downloading the PDF ahead of the session and displaying full-screen for the best viewing experience for participants.
After the round table art warm up, introduce the musical performance which will last approx. 20 mins. We recommend that facilitators download the video before the session to maximize the quality of the presentation in case of internet connection & bandwidth issues.
Featured Artist: Holly Carr – Learn to paint on silk
Round table invitation to each guest:
Here are two vibrant and whimsical nature scenes painted by rural Nova Scotian artist Holly Carr.
Which painting would you rather be in? In a rowboat hitching a ride on top of a whale or finding nectar among the garden flowers? Get ready for a fantastical journey with Holly Carr in this interactive art session!
We recommend downloading the PDFs ahead of the session and displaying full-screen for the best viewing experience for participants.
After the round table art warm up, introduce Holly Carr and her interactive art session.
Featured Artist: Loretta Groenendyk with music by Matt Martin
Round table invitation to each guest:
Here are an ocean and coastal scene painted by rural Nova Scotian artist Doretta Groenendyk. Where would you like to be? In a rowboat or looking out at the view of sea and sky from the shore?
We recommend downloading the PDF ahead of the session and displaying full-screen for the best viewing experience for participants.
After the round table art warm up, introduce Matt Martin’s music video which will last approx. 20 mins.
Featured Artist: Diane Nadon
Round table invitation to each guest:
“Here are two natural coastal scenes along the Acadian shore by rural Acadian artist Diane Nadon. One shows two boats moored in the harbor and the other shows a home surrounded by fields with the day’s colorful wash drying in the breeze. Which painting appeals to you most and which one would you prefer to be in?”
After the round table art warm up, introduce the local musical entertainment which will last approx. 20 mins.
Featured Artist: Arnaud Béghin
Round table invitation to each guest:
“Here are two scenes painted by French-Nova Scotian artist Arnaud Béghin. The first painting is at twilight with a twinkling light or beacon. The second shows a relaxed deck scene, perhaps early in the morning or toward the end of day. Which painting do you prefer? Which scene would you rather be in?”
After the round table art warm up, introduce the local musical entertainment which will last approx. 20 mins.
Featured Artwork: This is a virtual café featuring the artwork of Maud Lewis and interactive clay art with Elizabeth Sircom.
Round table invitation to each guest
“Here are two scenes with animals painted by Maud Lewis. One shows a girl feeding squirrels by a lake. The other shows a man feeding a horse surrounded by farm animals. Which painting appeals to you most and which one would you prefer to be in?”
After the round table art warm up, introduce Elizabeth Sircom and her interactive bilingual clay workshop.
We recommend downloading the PDF ahead of the session and displaying full-screen for the best viewing experience for participants.
Featured Artwork: Winter and Summer Scenes by Maud Lewis and music by John Tetrault.
Round table invitation to each guest:
“Take a look at these paintings by Maud Lewis. One painting shows a peaceful quiet winter scene and the other shows a summer scene on a beach. If you could be in one of these paintings, which one would you rather be in?”
We recommend downloading the PDF of these images ahead of the session and displaying full-screen for the best viewing experience for participants.
After the round table art warm up, introduce the musical performance by John Tetrault which will last approx. 20 mins. We recommend that facilitators download the video before the session to maximize the quality of the presentation in case of internet connection & bandwidth issues.
Featured Artwork and Music: This is a virtual café featuring the artwork of Maud Lewis with an interactive art session with Holly Carr.
Round table invitation to each guest
“Here are two scenes painted by Maud Lewis: One is a game of hide and seek and the other shows a man towing a woman and dog in a boat surrounded by water lilies. Which painting would you rather be in? Who would you like to be?”
After the round table art warm up, introduce Holly Carr and her interactive art session.
We recommend downloading the PDFs ahead of the session and displaying full-screen for the best viewing experience for participants.
Featured Artwork and Music: This is a virtual café featuring the artwork of Maud Lewis and live music with Chrissy Crowley and Collin Grant.
Round table invitation to each guest
“Here are two scenes by Maud Lewis: One is a parent cat with two kittens in the summer grass. The other is a doe and fawn in a winter forest. Which painting do you like better? Which painting would you rather be in?”
After the round table art warm up, introduce the local musical entertainment which will last approx. 20 mins:
We recommend downloading the PDF ahead of the session and displaying full-screen for the best viewing experience for participants.
Featured Artwork and Music: This is a virtual café featuring the artwork of Maud Lewis.
Round table invitation to each guest
“Here are two scenes painted by Maud Lewis. The first shows a sail boat moored in a quiet harbor. The second shows a busy harbor scene with a sailboat at sea and a fisherman busy bringing in his catch to the delight of the seagulls. . Which painting do you prefer? Which scene would you rather be in?”
We recommend downloading the PDF ahead of the session and displaying full-screen for the best viewing experience for participants.
Featured Artwork and Music: The artwork of Maud Lewis featuring local musical entertainment.
Round table invitation to each guest:
“Here are two scenes by Maud Lewis: One is a winter scene with skaters and horsedrawn sleighs. The other is a lighthouse and a steamer boat heading out on the Bay of Fundy.
Which painting do you like better? Which one would you rather be in?”
After the round table art warm up, introduce the local musical entertainment which will last approx. 20 mins:
We recommend downloading the PDF ahead of the session and displaying full-screen for the best viewing experience for participants.
Featured Artwork and Music: Birds feeding and deer crossing a stream by Maud Lewis.
Round table invitation to each guest:
“Take a look at these two paintings by Maud Lewis. Which painting would you rather be in and who would you be?
After the round table art warm up, introduce the 10 minute Gentle Chair Yoga video. We recommend that facilitators download images and videos ahead of the session and displaying full screen to maximize the quality of the presentation.
Featured Artwork & Music: The folk art of Doretta Groenendyk and the music of Cape Breton’s Jann Sheppard Family Trio
Round table invitation to each guest:
“Take a look at these two paintings by the Nova Scotian folk artist Doretta Groenedyk. If you could be in one of these paintings, which one would you rather be in?” Why?
After the round table art warm up, introduce “Tunes From Cape Breton” featuring musical entertainment by the Jann Sheppard Family Trio.
This theme of family and connection lends to storytelling in the group and discussion about the experience of social isolation especially during COVID-19, and the experience of being part of the Memory Café.
We recommend downloading the PDF and video ahead of the session and displaying full-screen for the best viewing experience for participants.Featured Artwork: Clay sculptures by artist Elizabeth Sircom
Round table invitation to each guest:
“Take a look at these two paintings by the Nova Scotian sculpture artist Elizabeth Sircom. If you could imagine being any age or stage, which age would you be? Which sculpture to you like the best?”
After the round table, view the interactive clay art video led by Elizabeth Sircom. Allow up to 1 hour to do the workshop, pausing the video as needed.
Following this, please leave some time for informal conversation about the café experience and feedback . The quality assurance questionnaire can be given or sent home for more formal feedback on the Memory Café experience to improve upon it and get suggestions for a next series. Please let us know your results and feedback too! We are always interested in learning more about how to make Memory Cafes valuable experiences for participants.
We recommend downloading the PDF and video ahead of the session and displaying full-screen for the best viewing experience for participants.
Featured Artwork and Music: Boat with birds and a dog chasing a car by Maud Lewis with music provided by Donovan Cassidy-Nolan accompanied by Steven Wilton.
Round table invitation to each guest:
“Take a look at these two paintings by Maud Lewis. Do you like to go on adventures by land, sea, or air and would you rather be one of the birds or the dog?
We recommend downloading the PDF of these images ahead of the session and displaying full-screen for the best viewing experience for participants.
Following the round table activity, start the musical performance by Donovan and Steven.
Featured Artwork and Music: Pair of deer and butterflies by Maud Lewis and music by John Tetrault.
Round table invitation to each guest:
“Take a look at these two paintings by Maud Lewis. Which painting would you rather be in? If you were one of the animals, who would you like to be and where would you like to go?”
We recommend downloading the PDF of these images and the music video ahead of the session and displaying full-screen for the best viewing experience for participants.
After the round table activity, start the musical performance by John Tetrault.
Following the fourth and final session, please leave some time for informal conversation about the café experience and feedback . The quality assurance questionnaire can be given or sent home for more formal feedback on the Memory Café experience to improve upon it and get suggestions for a next series. Please let us know your results and feedback too! We are always interested in learning more about how to make Memory Cafes valuable experiences for participants.
Featured Artwork and Music: The landscape painting of Arnaud Beghin and the music of Cape Breton fiddlers Chrissy Crowley and Colin Grant.
Round table invitation to each guest:
“Take a look at these two paintings by the painter Arnaud Beghin. If you could be in one of these paintings, which one would you rather be in? Which painting do you like best?”
After the round table art warm up, introduce the musical performance by Chrissy and Colin which will last approx. 20 mins:
We recommend downloading the PDF and music video ahead of the session and displaying full-screen for the best viewing experience for participants.
Featured artwork: Ocean paintings by interactive artist Holly Carr
Round table invitation to each guest:
“Take a look at these two paintings by the painter Holly Carr. If you could be in one of these paintings, which one would you rather be in?
After the round table art warm up, introduce the 20-minute interactive art session “What’s in Your Boat?” featuring Holly Carr. Afterward is a great opportunity to share stories among the group.
We recommend downloading the PDF and video ahead of the session and displaying full-screen for the best viewing experience for participants.
Originally from the Annapolis Valley, Elizabeth Sircom received her art training in Paris, France, and lived in Le Havre, Normandy for 20 years, working as a professional artist and art teacher, with a focus on portrait sculpture. She returned with her family to live in Nova Scotia in 2013 and since then has been an active member of Visual Arts Nova Scotia, CARFAC and the Nova Scotia Potters’ Guild, giving many workshops to adults and children. Her other centre of interest is music. She teaches cello and is the Program Director of the Acadia Regional Youth Orchestra in Wolfville.
Arnaud Béghin is a French painter presently living in Hantsport, Nova Scotia. He is represented by the Harvest Gallery in Wolfville and by Secord Gallery in Halifax. He is married to Canadian artist Elizabeth Sircom.
Doretta paints narrative, acrylic and collage images on board that are whimsical and playful. The work she creates is woven into her lifestyle, which is filled with stories and possibility. Just as the work is created within her family living space, so the images depict life in its familiar but poetic narrative.