Painting and Drawing Instructor(s)
Colin Hofmann
While growing up, Colin was very shy and quiet. The only outlet he had was drawing; eventually his fellow classmates would point out his doodles with amazement. Finding that this was a great means of making friends but more importantly, for him a way of connecting with someone without words. Over the years he has developed his skills in the different mediums of Fine Arts at UFV which led him into various fields of work such as an Illustrator and as an instructor at the Chilliwack Cultural Center where he hopes he can help others make a connection through their drawings as he did.
Dan Berube
Light and our perception of it are at the core of Dan’s work. His brilliant watercolours are both spontaneous and detailed in their depiction of light. His commissioned pieces are highly prized by collectors for their detail and accuracy. He enjoys instructing people of all ages in Art.
Darryl Funk
Darryl is a Canadian artist who studied at the Alberta College of Art and Design in Calgary, Alberta and the Center for Arts and Technology, Okanagan in Kelowna, BC. Darryl has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree specializing in printmaking.
Pat Gerlach
Pat loves the surprises of painting with water colours and the simplicity of acrylics. She enjoys experimenting with mediums such monoprint, pencil, pen, and pastel. Her work is varied and has been shown at Galleries and Museums in B.C. and Alberta. She is passionate about Nature’s raw beauty and enjoys sharing these impressions with others through her art. Teaching art classes is a wonderful opportunity to share what she has learned and to learn from her students.
Glass and Wire Instructor(s)
Vicki Urbich
Vicki has spent the past 10 years immersed in glass techniques and materials, learning many new methods, which she’s put her own spin on. She’s infused her own personality into the pieces and has created fused glass which is entirely representative of who she is as an artist. Nature is almost always part of her designs, as she’s fascinated with the incredible natural beauty of British Columbia and incorporates these themes into her work.
Clay Instructor(s)
Mairi Lippa
Originally from the Highlands of Scotland, Mairi now lives in Chilliwack and has been making pottery for about 20 years. She loves to share pottery techniques to encourage each individuals’ creative process while exploring the challenges and joys of creating with clay.
Fiber Arts Instructor(s)
Mellissa Kimberley
Mellissa first learned to knit and embroider from her mother at the age of 8, and is largely self-taught beyond that. She has pursued a variety of fibre arts and crafts for almost 40 years, and medieval arts for 15 years. You’ll be hard-pressed to find her without a craft in her hands! She lives in Chilliwack with her husband and children, and is owned by two cats.
Sidrah Ahmad
Born and raised in the Fraser Valley, Sidrah Ahmad is a Henna artist and currently lives in Chilliwack with her husband and 2 kids. She was introduced to a variety of arts and crafts from a young age and really enjoys Henna, crochet, knitting, painting and beadwork, amongst others. She loves sharing artistic techniques and has been teaching a variety of workshops in Chilliwack for the past five years.
Henna Instructor(s)
Sidrah Ahmad
Born and raised in the Fraser Valley, Sidrah Ahmad is a Henna artist and currently lives in Chilliwack with her husband and 2 kids. She was introduced to a variety of arts and crafts from a young age and really enjoys Henna, crochet, knitting, painting and beadwork, amongst others. She loves sharing artistic techniques and has been teaching a variety of workshops in Chilliwack for the past five years.
Performance Instructor(s)
Annie-Claude Perrault
Annie-Claude, known for being an emotive dancer and passionate teacher, started her dance journey 13 years ago in Montreal when she took her first bellydance class. Although she started her journey studying the Egyptian style, she quickly fell in love with tribal fusion bellydance and still keeps studying it until this day, along with other dance genre.
Creative Writing Instructor(s)
Abrianna Leaming
Abrianna Leaming is a local author with a Bachelor in Creative Writing. Her novel writing is imbued with her passion for exhilarating stories that are set in worlds that captivate. Her books have been exuberantly received, and she’s diligently working on her next project, a standalone novel set in a young world presided by very old gods.