Workshop: Web-Based Augmented Reality for Artists

14/11/2024

Web-Based Augmented Reality for Artists

 

Workshop by Valérie Chartrand

 

Duration: 2 hours
Reserve your spot HERE (limited capacity)

 

Description: This workshop is designed for artists interested in exploring the world of web-based augmented reality (AR). You’ll learn how to create interactive AR experiences that are free, open-source, and accessible through a web browser—no need for users to download an app. With just a few lines of simple HTML code, you’ll be able to bring your drawings to life through AR, all without any prior programming experience.

Participants will be guided step-by-step to create their own AR triggers, using a combination of traditional drawing techniques and digital tools. By the end of the workshop, you’ll have the skills to design and share your own web-based AR experiences, with endless creative possibilities to explore.

 

What to Bring:

A smartphone (no computer required).
Drawing supplies (basic materials will be provided, but feel free to bring your own).

Maximum of 10 participants.

Image: Valérie Chartrand. Cyclical Emergence. 2020. Photo credit: Derek Bruekner.

 

Valérie Chartrand’s practice focuses on the loss of biodiversity and reduction in insect populations due to climate change and human interference in insect life cycles. She primarily chooses imprint techniques, using found insects and non-toxic materials. She has been weaving in open source augmented reality in her work since 2017 to attempt to bring arthropods to life on a different scale and to reveal the presence of nonhumans that often goes unnoticed in our environment. 

 

The workshop is offered as part of Valérie Chartrand’s artist residencies at the Kharouba Lab and Artengine in 2024, through which her work explores the intricate relationships between monarch butterflies and their environment.

Free Intro to Touch Designer Workshop

16/10/2025

Welcome to the Intro to TouchDesigner Workshop!

Are you ready to dive into the world of interactive media and real-time visual programming? Join us at Artengine for a hands-on workshop where you’ll learn the basics of TouchDesigner, a powerful tool for creating stunning visuals and interactive experiences.

During this in-person event, you’ll get the chance to explore the fundamentals of TouchDesigner, from setting up your workspace to creating dynamic visuals. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to expand your skills, this workshop is perfect for anyone interested in digital art, live performances, or interactive installations.

Come join us for a fun and informative session that will kickstart your journey into the exciting world of TouchDesigner. See you there!

Welcome Jr. Fellows!

01/09/2025

We welcome our new Junior Fellows to Artengine – Patricia Kenny and Jackson Duxbury!

The Junior Fellowship program helps recent graduates transition out of the school context and into their professional practice. Patricia and Jackson will be grounded at Artengine for the next year, making and exploring the beginning of their artistic practices in our home here.

More about Patricia Kenny:

I am an interdisciplinary artist working across digital media, photography, and sculpture, while drawing on painting sensibilities and textile methods to create immersive installations. My practice examines the tensions between environmental concerns and consumer culture, with a focus on the contradictions inherent in sustainability efforts within systems that rely heavily on plastic and packaging. Through this lens, I invite viewers to reflect on their own positions within these structures. In its subtext, my work explores the interconnectedness of experience, memory, and the body, particularly in relation to mental health concerns and the cultural tropes of motherhood. I aim to evoke a nuanced emotional response and create a layered space for contemplation of the intertwined forces of strength and fragility in our roles within society and our relationships with one another.

I am a graduate of the Bachelor of Fine Arts program at the University of Ottawa, as well as the Fine Arts Diploma Program at the Ottawa School of Art. Driven by a lifelong commitment to learning, my academic journey encompasses previous studies in the visual arts at Algonquin College and York University. I have been honoured with various awards and scholarships for my endeavours. Committed to fostering the local arts community, I have volunteered with several arts organizations and currently serve on the Board of Directors for the Ottawa School of Art.

Check out Patricia’s website here

More About Jackson Duxbury:
Learning

about

art

and

disability

leaves

me

too

tired

to

make

art

while

disabled

Be art

myself?

Maybe

tomorrow

Jackson is currently working on an ma in contemporary art theory at the university of Ottawa and sleeping. To experience the working he isn’t doing check out this

or
@theprinceonpaper and @scrap.look on Instagram and use your imagination

Announcing the Artengine Touch Designer Club

02/10/2025

After a year of successful Touch Designer meetups, we’re excited to evolve our gathering into the Artengine Touch Designer Club. This change is a step toward building a more focused and committed community—a place where people with a real interest can work together, grow their skills, and collaborate on shared projects. You’re not just coming to a meetup; you’re joining the club.

While the name has changed, our core philosophy remains the same: we welcome everyone. Whether you’re a seasoned ‘TD wizard’ or have just started exploring the software this week, you belong here. We believe that any Touch Designer experience is some Touch Designer experience.

The club is a space for skill-building, collaborative ‘jams,’ and mutual support. We’ll dive deep into specific techniques while helping each other fuel our individual creative projects.

Join us for our next meeting and be part of this new chapter!

Register Here

Touch Designer Club Meeting

  • Date: Wednesday, October 2nd
  • Time: 5:30 PM
  • Location: 2 Daly Ave, Ottawa

SCI_ART Returns this fall!

20/09/2025

Artengine is partnering with SAW on their third annual SCI_ART: Art, Science and Technology Symposium on October 4th and 5th.

The two-day event brings together artists, scientists, and scholars for a fantastic program of talks, performances, and workshops. It’s a great opportunity to explore the amazing things that happen when creativity and research come together. This year’s symposium will tackle some of the most important issues of our time, like environmental and social challenges.

We’re delighted to have been invited onto the Programming Committee. Artengine’s Co-Director, Remco Volmer, worked to help shape this great event. He’s been working hard alongside the team at SAW and other partners to create a unique experience for everyone.

The symposium will be held at two locations: the Alma Duncan Salon at the Ottawa Art Gallery and Club SAW. Your registration gets you access to a full weekend of activities, including coffee, a networking lunch, and a VIP cocktail reception.
Don’t wait to register! Early-bird tickets are only $20 and are available until September 26th. After that, the price goes up to $30.

We hope to see you there for a weekend of inspiration and collaboration!

Register Here!