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Prince George’s art gallery: a creative gathering place

Creative energy bubbles to the surface at Prince George’s Two Rivers Gallery every Thursday night and Saturday afternoon.
PG-Art-Gallery-MakerLab
MakerLab, a space dedicated to creatively exploring a broad spectrum of disciplines

Creative energy bubbles to the surface at Prince George’s Two Rivers Gallery every Thursday night from 5-9pm and Saturday afternoon from 1-4pm.

That’s when MakerLab, a space dedicated to creatively exploring a broad spectrum of disciplines, from knitting to 3D printing to a Pocket NC machine, takes over.

“There is a movement of people wanting to make, create and cross-collaborate with other makers,” said Briana Sadler, MakerLab Coordinator at Two Rivers Gallery. “So, they are coming together in a shared, open-minded space.”

The original idea behind makerspaces was coined at California’s first Maker Faire in 2006, the Prince George branded MakerLab version started in 2013. A desire to have northern access to such things as a laser cutter and 3D printer, encouraged Two Rivers Gallery to establish their MakerLab.

But a space dedicated to fostering creativity across a wide range of disciplines is nothing without the enthusiastic people to fill the room.

“It’s another way to explore the creativity found throughout the community. Demographics that don’t traditionally visit a gallery,” Sadler said, adding that it opens a space for creators from age 5 to age 80 – encouraging multigenerational idea exchanges.

“For an art gallery, that’s pretty rare,” she continues. “And we love to have that variety.”

“The benefit of this is seen in our MakerLab programming,” she said. “MakerLab Youth Immersion, is a 10-month immersive program that engages youth between the ages of 15 – 20 in hands-on activities from Drum Making to 3D printing. And MakerClub, a kid’s program from ages 9 – 14, explores problem solving through a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) focus.”

Along the way, MakerLab has expanded its reach; partnering with Exploration Place and assisting in the creation of a STEAM ecosystem within Prince George, to developing maker events such as Booze and Build: A Maker Night for Adults on Friday, March 8, and the Trashion Show scheduled for Saturday, May 25.

Overall, MakerLab is an opportunity to try your hand at pretty much whatever you want to make or however you’d like to create, whether it’s 3D doodling, button making or woodturning.

An added spinoff from all this creativity is a sense of fellowship among the makers.

As Sadler states, “We encourage everyone to come in and share their knowledge – you never know who you will inspire or who will inspire you.”

For more information about MakerLab at Two Rivers Gallery (725 Canada Games Way), email makerlab@tworiversgallery.ca or call 250-614-7800.