Cedar Ridge News
Bluffers Park photograph by Susan Dimitrakopoulos. This im-
age was one of many on exhibit in late January.
Spring Programs
While we are still amidst a winter
that has been dubbed snowmaged-
don, the Spring session at Cedar
Ridge is just around the corner.
The Toronto Fun Guide is current-
ly available online. All of Cedar
Ridge’s courses for Spring and Sum-
mer 09 are listed at www.toron-
to.ca/culture/cedar_ridge.htm.
We’ve also created a Cedar Ridge
Creative Centre & Gallery group on
Facebook. All Facebook users are
welcome to join the group. Simply
type ‘Cedar Ridge Creative Cen-
tre & Gallery’ into the search field
and click on join group. Informa-
tion about classes, workshops and
events will be posted.
This Spring, we will be offering
our usual roster of ten-week cours-
es. As well, we have several special
interest workshops booked. See
pages 2 & 3 of the newsletter for
more information.
The Spring session begins March
28, 2009 and the Summer session
begins June 29, 2009. Registration
for Spring/Summer programs be-
gins Sunday, March 8, 2009. You can
register online, via telephone or at
Cedar Ridge. Contact the main of-
fice if you have any questions.
Paintings by Amy Wong from the inaugural Contemporary Art
Exhibit of 2009.
March Break Camp
Cedar Ridge offers its annual
March Break Artstravaganza for
children ages 7 to 12. Campers will
create and experiment with draw-
ing and painting, printmaking and
sculpture, arts and crafts, photog-
raphy and pottery. Please call Ce-
dar Ridge at 416-396-4026 for more
information.
Spinning Workshops
In March, Cedar Ridge is offer-
ing two spinning workshops with
Wendy Whelan. On March 8, Wendy
will be teaching Beginning Spindle
Spinning. This one-day workshop
runs from 9 am - 4 pm and costs
$40 + a $6 material fee. The sec-
ond workshop runs on March 22,
and is for people who would like to
learn to use a spinning wheel (you
must have your own wheel), The
workshop runs 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and
costs $45 + a $6 material fee. For
course descriptions or more info,
contact the Cedar Ridge office at
416.396.4026.
Cedar Ridge Gallery
Cedar Ridge Gallery kicked off the
2009 gallery season with the annual
Contemporary Art Exhibitions. The
first show of the year featured two
Winter 2009
Cedar Ridge staffers, Ashley Toye
and Amy Wong. Their exhibit was a
great start to the new year.
The next exhibition featured pho-
tography by Susan Dimitrakopoulos,
sculpture by Carole Edwards and
acrylic and oil paintings by Jenni-
fer Smithwell.
From February 1 - 13, Alexander
Katsulin exhibited his popular clay
and sculptural works. From Febru-
ary 15 - 27, oil paintings by Jennica
Kim and acrylic paintings by Ste-
phen Yau are on show.
Integration is the last show of the
Contempory Art Exhibits, and fea-
tures Six Kurdish Arists: Dara Aram,
Hewa Doman, Araz Hamma, Mari-
wan Jalal, Suad Star and Persheng
Warzendegan.
Following this show is the Cedar
Ridge Creative Centre Students Ex-
hibit. Please contact Joy for more
info about taking part.
Inside...
page 2 - Spring workshops
page 3 - New kiln
page 4 - Jumblies Theatre
Upcoming workshops for adults
Raku - Learn the techniques of ancient Japanese Raku firing. Students work on their own pieces (Non-func-
tional) in preparation for a firing. Note: Previous pottery experience is required. Students should be at an
intermediate level. There is a limit of 6 pieces per person on the final firing date.
Instructor: Ed Keith/Day/Time: Mondays – March 30, April 6, 13, 20, 27 and May 4 from 9 am – noon /Cost:
$92/6 weeks (+ clay costs)

Bead weaving – lantern earrings - Learn bead weaving with the classic Native American Peyote Stitch. Use
layers of Peyote to make classy lantern style earrings. A material fee of $15 will be paid directly to instructor.
Instructor: Cindy Vroom/Day/Time: Thursday, April 16 from 7 – 9 pm/Cost: $12 + material fee

Experimental painting workshop - Learn new ways of painting on canvas! If you are looking for inspiration and
a new direction to open up your usual way of painting, enjoy this two-week workshop on expanded painting
ideas and methods. Students will need to pay a material fee of $30 directly to the instructor.
Instructor: Amy Wong/Day/Time: Fridays – April 17 & 24 from 10 am – 4 pm or Sundays April 19 & 26 from 10
am – 4 pm /Cost: $54/2 weeks + material fee

Flowered bead woven cuff bracelet - Explore bead weaving using Peyote Stitch. Expand the possibilities by
learning how to decrease and increase with Peyote Stitch as you make flower embellishments that double as
the cuff bracelet’s closure. A material fee of $15 will be paid directly to the instructor.
Instructor: Cindy Vroom/Day/Time: Thursday, April 23 from 7 – 9 pm /Cost: $12 + material fee

Knitting - casting on – Every knitted project starts with casting on. A good start is always important. Most
patterns will start with the standard phrase: “Cast on x number of stitches”. What method of casting on will
I use for this project? Every knitter has her/his favourite method and will use it - but is it the best one for
the project? We’ll discuss a few of the methods and their uses: Knitted cast on, Cable cast on, Single cast on
- thumb method, Long tail cast on (and variations), German twisted cast on, Estonian cast-on. Please call for
material list. Instructor: Cristina Simionovici/Day/Time: Thursday, April 23 & 30 from 7 – 9 pm /Cost: $20

Beaded bangle bracelet - Learn tubular Peyote bead weaving. Expand your knowledge of Peyote Stitch with
this tubular variation and create fashionable bangles to wear with every outfit. A material fee of $15 will be
paid directly to the instructor. Instructor: Cindy Vroom/Day/Time: Thursday, April 30 from 7 – 9 pm/Cost: $12
+ material fee

D.I.Y. silkscreening workshop -Silk-screening supplies are usually very expensive and actually unnecessary for
simple screen-printing. This is a techniques-based workshop that shows how anyone can make a silk-screened
image at a very low cost from everyday household items. During the workshop, each student will make one
positive image and one negative image screen, to then create printed pattern paper (great for wrapping pres-
ents), and a printed t-shirt! Students will need to pay a small material fee of $15 directly to the instructor.
Instructor: Amy Wong/Day/Time: Sunday, May 3 from 10 am – 4 pm/Cost: $33 + material fee

Picture perfect flower brooch/pendant - Learn circular Peyote while creating a wearable work of art. Circu-
lar Peyote is a more challenging version of Peyote. A material fee of $15 will be paid directly to instructor.
Instructor: Cindy Vroom/Day/Time: Thursday, May 7 from 7 – 9 pm/Cost: $12 + material fee

Knitting - buttonholes – Buttonholes, humble and less noticed during the finishing classes are still an impor-
tant part of your knitted garment. They are placed on the front of most cardigans and if nicely shaped can
become one of those accents that speak about your knitting skills. Most of the pattern will describe a method
or other of knitting a buttonholes but knowing your options will help you use your favourite method from now
on! Please call for material list.
Instructor: Cristina Simionovici/Day/Time: Thursday, May 7 & 14 from 7 – 9 pm/Cost: $20
Raku - glaze and fire workshop - Those with finished bisqueware can join this course. Day 1 will concentrate
on raku glaze techniques; day 2 will be a full day firing.
Instructor: Ed Keith/Day/Time: May 25 & June 1, 2009 from 9 am – noon/Cost: $33/2 weeks (+ clay costs)

Knitting - finishing techniques – You will learn how to plan your project while reading the pattern as well as
common finishing techniques including: 3-needles bind off (avoiding the shoulder seams), I-cord finishing, how
to sew your knitted garments (the mattress stitch on straight edges and increased/decreased edges) and to
pick up stitches (for edges and necklines). Bring the following to class: worsted weight yarn, knitting needles
the size recommended on the yarn label or size 8 US (5mm), measuring tape, darning needle, contrasting co-
lour yarn (worsted weight), scissors, and crochet hook.
Instructor: Cristina Simionovici/Day/Time: Thursday, May 21 & 28 from 7 – 9 pm/Cost: $20

Papermaking and bookbinding workshop - This two-week workshop will teach students how to make a hand-
made book from start to finish. In the first workshop students will create their own paper pulp from recycled
materials, learning techniques that they can continue to use at home. During second week, we will use the
hand made paper to create a one of a kind, hand sewn, hardcover book - great as a gift or scrapbook. Students
will need to pay a small material fee of $15 directly to the instructor.
Instructor: Amy Wong/Day/Time: Sunday, May 24 & 31 from 10 am – 4 pm/Cost: $33 + material fee

Raku intensive - Learn the techniques of ancient Japanese Raku firing. Students work on their own pieces
(Non-functional) in preparation for a firing. Note: Previous pottery experience is required. Students should be
at an intermediate level. There is a limit of 4 pieces per person on the final firing date.
Instructor: Ed Keith/Day/Time: Wednesdays – September 2, 9, 16 & 23 from 9 am – noon/Cost: $61/4 weeks
(+ clay costs)

Pottery studio gets new kiln

A s our pottery students may
have noticed by this point,
we were lucky enough to be able
to secure a brand new 16 cubic
foot kiln in the end of 2008. This
more industrial style
kiln is larger in ca-
pacity than the two
kilns it has replaced
combined! It also has
many additional fea-
tures, including its
own 3 zone Bartlett
Controller which will
result in more even
firings.
In order to operate
this kiln, a significant
electrical upgrade
was undertaken in
the studio in Janu-
ary. The new electri-
cal not only allows
us to support the new
kiln, but provides the power nec-
essary for future improvements in
the studio.
It is hoped that the new kiln will
help increase firing efficiency in
the studio as our course offerings
have greatly expanded since the
Carriage House studio opened in
1996.
Also, stay tuned this spring for
changes to our pottery stu-
dio policies. While the
changes are slight, they
will greatly contribute to
added efficiency in the
studio. Instructors will
be reviewing the new
policies with students and
highlighting some existing
policy points as remind-
ers.
There will also be some
changes to the firing tag
system, including a new
tag design with separate
tags for bisque and glaze
firings. More information
will be available shortly.
 Jumblies Theatre at Cedar Ridge
I ’m delighted to introduce myself Canada from England in 1990 by a
and Jumblies Theatre, to anyone playwright called Dale Hamilton.
who hasn’t yet met us: In this form, a team of artists and a
cal people, including, but not only,
those with artistic and craft skills
and talents.
Our name comes from Edward town or district spend at least two Some Cedar Ridge artists and stu-
Lear: a 19th century British non- years collaborating on the produc- dents have already taken part in
sense poet. He writes about The tion of an epic-scale original the- our introductory workshop, start-
Jumblies, whose ‘heads are green atre piece, expressing local history ing to create a paper population of
and their and issues and in- people represented in the neigh-
hands are volving a cast of a bourhood through transient or
blue’ who go hundred or more. more permanent dwelling, work,
‘to sea in a The results are pleasure, memory, history or imag-
sieve’ - de- astonishing both ination. From May 17th to 29th,
fying public in their artistic we’ll be holding an evolving inter-
opinion, hav- power and their active arts installation at the Ce-
ing outlandish capacity to effect dar Ridge Gallery - furthering and
adventures tangible social presenting work-in-progress gen-
and eventu- change and bring erated over the next few months.
ally inspir- disparate people This will serve as an opportunity
ing everyone together. After for residents to be present in the
else to do the Ed Keith at a workshop Jumblies offered designing several gallery and for their stories and
same thing: a at Cedar Ridge in February. community plays creations to be shared.
good parable across Canada As I said, everyone is welcome.
for commu- and in the U.K., I And, furthermore, help and in-
nity arts, or for art of any sort. settled in Toronto, had three chil- volvement is needed for the proj-
Jumblies Theatre’s journeys involve dren, and started creating my own ect and May event to flourish. We
making art for, about and with the arts projects that adapted the are keeping regular hours at the
people and stories we meet in To- form to my own creative interests Gardener’s Cottage on Wednesdays
ronto neighbourhoods. We do this and Toronto’s urban realities. from 1 to 5 p.m., and are often
by residing in one area for sev- In 2000, I produced a large multi- there at other times as well. ‘We’,
eral years; forming relationships; lingual (English Cantonese and at the moment, means me (Ruth
offering free and fun activities; Vietnamese) community-based pro- Howard), Keith McNair, our Manag-
enlisting diverse artists; discover- duction in South Riverdale (called ing Director, Sean Frey, a key artist
ing stories, themes and images; Twisted Metal and Mer- on the proj-
producing new performance works maids Tears). Following ect, Ashley
that include hundreds of partici- this, I realized that I’d Toye, who
pants; and nurturing a lasting com- have to start a company you’ll know
munity arts legacy. We say every- to continue to produce from Ce-
one is welcome and we do our best this scale of work and so dar Ridge,
to mean it. I founded Jumblies The- and other
Jumblies has just recently moved atre in 2001. Jumblies
into the Gardener’s Cottage, at the Since then, Jumblies artists,
kind invitation of Cedar Ridge and has involved a core of friends and
the City of Toronto Cultural Servic- wonderful artists and interns.
es. From this beautiful home base partners, undertaken Please do
we are embarking on an artistic multi-year arts projects and pro- drop by, say hello, and find out
collaboration with Cedar Ridge and ductions at Lawrence Heights, more. You can also contact us at:
its surrounding neighbourhood. Davenport West and Central Eto- info@jumbliestheatre.org, 416 203
My own background is in theatre bicoke. And now we are sailing 8428.
design, and my work has been our sieve eastwards. Being new
hugely inspired by a form of Com- to Scarborough, we are interested Ruth
munity Play that was imported to in getting to know all sorts of lo- Artistic Director, Jumblies Theatre