DAY ONE: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2024 - 9:00 AM (EST) - 6:00 PM (EST)

GUIDED TOUR: HAMILTON CRAFT STUDIOS WITH DAYNA GEDNEY

9:30 AM (EST)

Hamilton Craft Studios is situated within a spacious, 14,000 square foot multidisciplinary craft studio. HCS is housed in a historic 1904 wire factory, adding to its unique charm and character. Recently recognized by the Hamilton Municipal Heritage Committee for adaptive reuse of a heritage property, HCS is a community-focused studio for makers of all types. Makers include woodworkers, ceramicists, textile and fabric artists and more. HCS partners with craft professionals, craft enthusiasts, and provides an inclusive, accessible and inspiring place to practice craft. The studio provides access to workspace, machinery, tools, logistic networks, supply chains, and sales channels to makers of all skill levels. HCS offers the opportunity to share in the joy of creating and developing skills within a supportive, professionally run and well equipped studio space.

GUIDED TOUR: SMOKESTACK STUDIOS + GALLERY WITH TARA WESTERMANN + LAINE GROENEWEG

Smokestack Studios and Gallery is a printmaking studio based in Hamilton that services the creation and delivery of art focused print projects. Inclusive of Smokestack Analog, Smokestack Digital, and Smokestack Presentation, the studio provides professional support to artists from start to finish: production through to presentation. Smokestack Analog specializes in collaborative printmaking and production of limited editions. Set up for work to support etching, intaglio, screen print, relief, and mono-print projects, artists are provided the opportunity to work with Master Printmaker, Laine Groeneweg, to expertly realize the unique vision of their finely crafted print project. Smokestack Digital is focused on fine art print, graphic and imaging services. Smokestack Presentation supports the final stages of artist’s print projects with the provision of in-house mounting and framing services and select exhibition opportunities with Smokestack Gallery. In addition to the activities of individual artist projects and in-house workshop programs, Smokestack regularly participates in several wider-scale Hamilton arts public events. Smokestack’s presentation and participation with these events is dedicated to building audience awareness of the practices of those artists that Smokestack supports while also increasing the public’s physical interaction and familiarity with printmaking disciplines.

GUIDED TOUR: THE COTTON FACTORY WITH KAREN LOGAN

The former site of the Imperial Cotton Co. is a prime example of adaptive reuse.  The complex of buildings that remain at The Cotton Factory forms one of the most complete historic textile mill complexes remaining in the country. Built with brick and wood in the “slow burn” method, the three-storey Mill building, with its prominent tower, housed most of the original machinery. The architectural style of its tower suggests a gothic influence and was designed to compete with other architects of the day. Today, over 100 tenants currently call the Cotton Factory home for their artistic or creative practice. Among them are photographers, designers, curators, painters, potters, textile artists and woodworkers. Areas of the building have also been used for a wide variety of television and movie productions.

WELCOME DELEGATES RECEPTION: DUNDURN COACH HOUSE

1:30 PM (EST)

Enjoy a welcome reception on the historic grounds of Dundurn Castle. The Dundurn Coach House is a Victorian venue built in 1870 as a shelter for Dundurn Castle's carriages and horses. It is now a fully accessible banquet space used for special events. While onsite, participants will have the opportunity to view the 2-acre historic garden and network with symposium attendees. Coffee, tea and locally baked pastries will be made available to guests prior to our only presentation of the day.  

MASTERCLASS: DECORATION, PATTERN & MEMORY WITH CAROLYN SAMKO, PLANNING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TOURISM AND CULTURE, HERITAGE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, CITY OF HAMILTON

2:15 PM (EST)

Explore the decorative finishes of the Hamilton Civic Museums with Carolyn Samko. Carolyn's talk will explore heritage interior restoration at Dundurn Castle c1830, Whitehern Museum c1830 and Battlefield House c1799-1840 including historic wallpaper, paint finishes, carpets and fabrics and will show the inspiration behind the detail, colour and eclectic combinations. Be prepared to view and touch physical samples of fabrics and block printed wallpapers and discover the visual delights of the Historic House Museum. Follow up after Carolyn's talk by taking a guided tour of Dundurn Castle and Whitehern Museum.

GUIDED TOUR: DUNDURN CASTLE

Experience a guided tour of this 40-room Italianate-style villa built in the 1830’s on Burlington Heights; the former site of a fortified military encampment established by the British during the War of 1812. Once home to Sir Allan Napier MacNab, railway magnate, lawyer and Premier of the United Canadas (1854-1856) and his family, today Dundurn Castle tells the story of the family who lived above stairs and the servants who lived and worked below stairs. Her Majesty, The Queen Consort is the museum’s Patron and the great, great, great granddaughter of Sir Allan MacNab.

GUIDED TOUR: WHITEHERN HISTORIC HOUSE & GARDEN

4:40 PM (EST)

Discover one of the finest examples of an intact historic home in Canada. The home has a multilayered character that reflects changes made over three generations from 1852-1968. It was restored in 1939 when the Honorable Thomas B. McQuesten was at the height of his influence as Minister of Highways and had just opened the Queen Elizabeth Way.  In 1959, the family bequeathed the home to the city with all its original contents. This National Historic Site provides a unique opportunity to explore the changing nature of family life, culture, health, politics and domestic technology in Hamilton. Whitehern contains elements from the Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian time periods, dating up to 1939. Explore the heritage of Victorian ideas and possessions that influenced life at Whitehern on the eve of World War II.

DAY TWO: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2024 - 10:30 AM (EST) - 4:30 PM (EST)

*Note: All of the day's presentations will be held in the same venue at Lister Block

**In-person and virtual packages (online, via Zoom) are available for these sessions.

MARIAN BRADSHAW LECTURE: UNBUILT HAMILTON WITH MARK OSBALDESTON

Mark Osbaldeston, author of Unbuilt Hamilton, presents the Ambitious City at its most ambitious, exploring unrealized building, planning, and transportation proposals spanning two centuries. Through archival illustrations and photographs, Mark will showcase abandoned projects such as a magnetically propelled, elevated transit system, and a 1917 city plan that would have created a North American Champs-Élysées. Alternate visions for landmarks such as Christ’s Church Cathedral, the Thomas McQuesten High Level Bridge and for Hamilton’s postwar foray into urban renewal cast new light on city landmarks. Unbuilt Hamilton presents the Hamilton that might have been.

MASTERCLASS: THE ART OF RESTORATION WITH WALTER FURLAN

Join Walter Furlan, conservationist and Willowbank School of Restoration Arts alumni as he addresses restoration practices, provides an overview of the conservation process and outlines the importance of using existing heritage materials whenever possible. This presentation will use a variety of case studies to illustrate how each restoration project is unique. By implementing techniques that are reversible and through the use of locally sourced materials, minimal intervention can be achieved. Furlan’s process is guided by robust conservation principles for preserving historic sites which help to ensure consistency in planning, intervening, and utilizing historical locations. These principles have been embraced by federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal authorities as the standard for evaluating proposed conservation efforts. Furlan has revived facets of various landmarks in Hamilton, including Whitehern Historic House, Dundurn Castle, Auchmar, and the Central Presbyterian Church.

MEET THE DESIGNER: CHALLENGING DEFINITIONS OF LUXURY - INDIGENOUS FASHION AS HOLISTIC LUXURY WITH ANGELA DEMONTIGNY

2:00 PM (EST)

Join Angela DeMontigny as she reveals her holistic approach to Indigenous Fashion. Angela DeMontigny is an award-winning designer, artist, entrepreneur and mentor of Cree/Métis heritage, who has been a pioneer of the Indigenous Luxury movement for over 2 decades and based in Hamilton, ON. Through the creation of her beautiful, authentic Indigenous fashion, accessories, lifestyle & wellness products (LODGE Soy Candles) under her label ‘DeMontigny’, she has not only been a trailblazer for Indigenous fashion nationally and internationally, but an example of reclaiming her identity as an indigenous woman by utilizing her gifts as a designer and entrepreneur. Official session description coming soon!

PANEL DISCUSSION: HEATING UP HAMILTON  - REFLECTIONS ON BLOWN AWAY

Join us for a lively conversation with cast and crew from the highly anticipated television series Blown Away. Panelists include Carly Spencer, Producer of season 4, Brad Turner, Canadian artist/competitor in season 2, Lindsey Adelman, Assistant in all seasons and Koen Vanderstukken, artist and professor at Sheridan College. Questions will be fielded from our live and virtual audience. The glass-blowing reality show is shot in a warehouse in Hamilton's northeast area. In order to create the perfect setting for the competition, the producers collaborated with Sheridan College's Craft and Design Glass Studio to design a unique space. This transformation resulted in the largest glass-blowing studio in North America, complete with 10 custom furnaces.

     6:30 PM (EST) Dinner (Optional) at Aberdeen Tavern (The Apartment) - Space is limited. We may be unable to accommodate specific food preferences (lunch) for anyone who registers on or after October 7th. A limited number of seats are still available for the private dinner at The Apartment / Aberdeen Tavern on Saturday, October 19^th. Email info@csda-ccad.org for more details.

GUIDED ARCHITECTURAL WALKING TOUR:

GEMS OF EDWARDIAN HAMILTON WITH BILL KING

Join us for a fascinating educational experience and take in the sites! Enjoy learning about the architecture and history of Hamilton from local historian and writer, Bill King. Participants will be treated to a guided walking tour that has been specifically tailored to suit the interests of our members. .

DISTRICT TOUR: OTTAWA STREET

Hamilton is known for its thriving arts scene, and Ottawa Street is at the heart of it all! Hamilton's historic textile district has over 100 shops and offers an endless supply of creative combinations. From antique galleries to artist studios, fabric stores to collectibles and memorabilia, there is something for everyone. Join us in support of the local arts community as we explore this unique area of the city that sparks the imagination of collectors and enthusiasts alike. Uncover a world of artistic treasures on Ottawa Street. Access an interactive map of Ottawa Street North including displays of public art and review a list of vendors in the area.

MEET THE ARTIST: A PRIVATE STUDIO TOUR WITH AMY BOWLES

Have you ever wondered what it's like to step into the world of a multidisciplinary artist? Amy Bowles invites us into her studio for an exclusive, behind-the-scenes experience. Enjoy a private tour and immerse yourself in a retrospective of the artist’s work. Learn more about her artistic process and discover the sources of inspiration that shape her work.

PRIVATE COLLECTION TOUR 

Enjoy exclusive access to an architecturally significant, waterfront home on the Bay. The owner will provide a private tour of their renowned art collection, with a strength in photography and international contemporary art. A highlight of the tour will include a viewing of an important work by architect Zaha Hadid.

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*AGENDA SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE