News

Wednesday April 16th

6:30-7:15 Warm Up and Chit Chat

7:15-8:30 Show and Tell or Pitch a Project

For this edition of our TouchDesigner MeetUp we have invited a number of local artists to show us under the hood of their TouchDesigner projects.

We also want to hear from you. Bring your ideas for a fun exchange on the project potential of TouchDesigner.

What to expect:

Meet and connect with other local artists

Get inspired by cool projects at the intersection of art and technology

Be able to share ideas and ask questions

No need for laptop

As always SNACKS!

Flutterings – Monarch butterflies and climate change

Residency showcase by Valérie Chartrand opens April 24 at Artengine

Ottawa, ON – Artist Valérie Chartrand invites the public to Flutterings, an exhibition exploring the impact of climate change on monarch butterflies, presented at Artengine in Arts Court from April 24 to May 10, 2025. The opening reception will take place on April 24 from 6 PM to 8 PM.

Inspired by scientific research conducted in Dr. Heather Kharouba’s lab at the University of Ottawa, Flutterings bridges art and ecology. Chartrand’s works incorporate UV-printed plant resin, thermochromic pigments that fade with heat, UV dyes, and solar-powered blooms, each material chosen to evoke the effects of warming on ecosystems and the delicate interdependence of life.

The exhibition also serves as a poetic memorial to monarch butterfly specimens used in research, honouring their role in advancing our understanding of climate impacts on insect life and supporting the survival of future generations.

Flutterings is the result of a residency with the Kharouba Lab and Artengine, supported by the City of Ottawa’s Creation and Production Fund. The project highlights the strength of a collaboration between art and science in addressing ecological change.

Exhibition Details:
Opening Reception: April 24, 6–8 PM
Exhibition: April 24 – May 10, 2025 (Tuesday to Saturday, 10 AM – 5 PM)
Location: Artengine, Arts Court, 2 Daly Ave, Ottawa

Papillonnements – Monarques et changements climatiques

Exposition de résidence de Valérie Chartrand – Ouverture le 24 avril à Artengine

Ottawa (Ontario) – Valérie Chartrand invite le public à découvrir Papillonnements, une exposition qui explore l’impact des changements climatiques sur les papillons monarques, présentée à Artengine dans la Cour des arts, du 24 avril au 10 mai 2025. Le vernissage aura lieu le 24 avril de 18 h à 20 h.

Inspiré par les recherches scientifiques menées au laboratoire de la Dre Heather Kharouba à l’Université d’Ottawa, Papillonnements établit un pont entre l’art et l’écologie. Les œuvres de Chartrand intègrent de la résine végétale imprimée avec UV, des pigments thermochromiques qui s’effacent sous la chaleur, des teintures UV, ainsi que des fleurs alimentées par l’énergie solaire — chaque matériau étant soigneusement choisi pour évoquer les effets du réchauffement sur les écosystèmes et l’interdépendance fragile des êtres vivants.

L’exposition se veut également un hommage poétique aux spécimens de monarques utilisés dans la recherche scientifique, honorant leur rôle dans l’avancement de nos connaissances sur l’impact climatique sur les insectes et leur contribution à la survie des générations futures.

Papillonnements est le fruit d’une résidence avec le laboratoire Kharouba et Artengine, soutenue par le Fonds de création et de production de la Ville d’Ottawa. Ce projet témoigne de la richesse d’une collaboration entre l’art et la science pour sensibiliser aux enjeux écologiques actuels.

Détails de l’exposition :
Vernissage : 24 avril, de 18 h à 20 h
Exposition : 24 avril – 10 mai 2025 (du mardi au samedi, de 10 h à 17 h)
Lieu : Artengine, Cour des arts, 2 avenue Daly, Ottawa

Artengine GroupChat: Game Night

Join us for a special edition of GroupChat where we explore the world of gaming. In this interactive event, we’ll not only play a variety of games but also dive into a thought-provoking discussion on how gaming can inspire and be applied to artistic practice.

Gaming has become one of the most important cultural spaces today and for this group chat we have specially selected games for artists to try out. Wethere you are brand new to gaming or an experienced gamer you will be interested.

Whether you’re a passionate gamer or simply curious about the creative potential of games, this is a space for you to connect with like-minded people and explore the intersection of tech, gaming and art.

In our new Group Chat Format, we will play games and then have a discussion about those games and what does it mean for the art world.

Play and explore video games
Participate in a group discussion on the influence of gaming
Network with fellow artists and gaming enthusiasts
Snacks provided!

Web-Based Augmented Reality for Artists

Workshop by Valérie Chartrand

Duration: 2 hours

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.

The blank page can be intimidating, whether it’s the start of an email, an artist statement, a novel or a newsletter. Imagination in our use of language is a skill and a resource, and is more valuable than ever in an age of chatbots and large language models. This workshop with University of Ottawa Writer-in-Residence Kate Heartfield will help participants spark new ideas and open up connections between them. Using prompts and play, participants will generate short pieces of creative writing. Participants will come away from the workshop inspired to write, with increased confidence in their own creativity and skills. Open to writers of all levels and genres, and to anyone who uses the written word in their work.

Kate Heartfield is a writer of novels including the Sunday Times and Globe and Mail bestseller The Embroidered Book, as well as dozens of short stories, novellas and interactive fiction. She usually includes speculative or fantastic elements in her work. Kate is a former journalist and a longtime teacher of creative writing and non-fiction. She has won the Aurora Award for Best Novel three times, and her work has been shortlisted for the Ottawa Book Award, the National Newspaper Award and the Nebula Award.

TouchDesigner Meetup

Clinic Version: Community Troubleshooting & Support

Are you new to TouchDesigner or looking to level up your skills? Join us for The Clinic, a relaxed, community-driven meetup where you can get hands-on help with your TouchDesigner projects. Whether you’re just starting out or have specific issues you need help with, this is the perfect space to ask questions, troubleshoot problems, and learn alongside others.

There are no formal demos—instead, we’re focusing on bringing the community together to collaborate and share knowledge. If you’re comfortable, feel free to demonstrate your work using our projector setup, but this is entirely optional. Snacks will be provided!

What to Bring:

Your laptop with TouchDesigner downloaded and installed
Any specific questions or issues you’re facing
A willingness to learn or share your expertise with fellow participants

Join us for a new series of events at Artengine designed to explore the intersection of art and technology by experiencing art works and having meaningful conversation. Our upcoming GroupChat will dive into the world of Extended Reality (XR) and Virtual Reality (VR)—cutting-edge technologies that are reshaping how we experience and create art.