ArtZoo

ArtZoo is a free event created with Kingston’s families in mind; now in its second year, this year’s event will bring the artistry of the circus alive for all ages!

The environment will be buzzing with performances such as aerial dance, clowning, juggling and more. Register on-site for free hands-on workshops throughout the day, featuring sculpture, hip hop, storytelling, music and soundscapes, theatre, drawing or visit more than two dozen booths representing community organizations and arts activities.  ArtZoo takes place on Monday, February 17 from 11am-3pm at Portsmouth Olympic Harbour. 

Click here for the ArtZoo Program schedule 

Click here for the ArtZoo map

PERFORMANCES

• Hula Hooping @ 11:00am & 1:15pm – with Zero Gravity Circus
  It is impossible to be in bad mood while hula hooping. It's true! This playful character roams the grounds & invites those around her to participate in short hula hoop workshops. Moving & grooving! Twirling & smiling!
• Aerial Dance @ 11:45am &  1:45pm – with Twisted Circus Arts   
  Female circus artists, Jane Kirby and Erin Ball, will be performing a fun and impressive aerial dance that highlights strength, grace and flexibility as they move through the air on aerial silks also known as fabric or tissu.  
• Unicycling/Juggling @ 12:15 pm & 2:15 pm – with Benedict Chang
  Watch an amazing juggling act, involving a number of tricks with unique items like rubik’s cubes and clubs, all performed while balancing on a unicycle! Now that’s a true act of balance.
• Stilt Walking @ 12:45 pm & 2:45 pm – with Milé Murtanovski
  High above the ground and always moving around. It won’t take much work to spot this talented performer whose skill and grace takes spectacle to new heights.
• Clowning – with Jesse MacMillan, Anna Sudac & Morgan Anderson
  Keep your eye out for these silly clowns as they sing about clowning around! Performing uniquely original and improvisational clown acts, they will make you laugh ‘til you cry!

WORKSHOPS

All workshops are FREE, and registration to attend workshops are on a first come, first served basis.  Please visit the registration table by the front entrance to sign up for the workshops on the day of the event. Registration closes 5 minutes before the workshop begins or when the workshop is full.

• High Wire…Rock Steady! (ages 8-12, approximately) – with Nancy Douglas
  Explore the excitement of tightrope walking through this fun and colourful Circus Poster workshop. Learn to express movement in drawing by acting out the role yourself and with others.
• Sounds like Family: Do-it-Yourself Recording Workshop (All ages) – with Gary Rasberry              
  In this workshop, you will learn how to make the chaos of family sound like music to the ears.  Create and record family soundscapes (a snapshot of sound) by combining live recordings and pre-recorded audio loops.  
• “Breakdancing” (Ages 8+, approximately) – with Charles Gao
  Learn the history, components and moves of the highly acrobatic dance form known as bboying, bgirling or breaking.  Master impressive moves like toprock, footwork and a freeze in this engaging and active experience, as you build towards the dance circle finale!
• Create your own Board Game (All ages) – with Quang Bui
  In this workshop, participants will learn about different board game models and techniques by, what else? Playing. Afterwards, you will put your new ideas to use by designing and making your own board game!
• Introduction to Acrobatics (All ages) – with Tiana Prince
  In this movement based workshop, participants will learn the foundational acrobatic and dance moves that you might need if you plan on running off to join the circus. With this fun and easy class you’ll learn quick…so quick that family and friends will be invited to watch a quick performance by the end of the workshop! 
• Story Time (Under 10 years, approximately) – with KFPL
  Kingston Frontenac Public Library invites you to a world of imagination beyond the page. A circus of puppets, music, and interactive storytime favourites awaits the whole family.
• TKIDS Triple-Threat Workshop – with Brett Christopher
  Theatre Kingston's TKIDS instructors will guide children through a musical-theatre workshop incorporating singing, dancing, improvisation and much more.  Broadway, here we come!
• Drumming (All ages)– with Julian Gregory
  Your family is about to get louder! Join our drum circle and learn to play an African hand drum known as a djembe. Through this communal and time honoured act, participants will learn to match rhythms and develop expressions of their own. Friends and family can join in with other percussion instruments during the final jam session.

ACTIVITY STATIONS

• Balloon Animal: Learn to create your own balloon poodle!
• Boomwhackers: Make some noise with this fun percussion instrument that is easy to learn and play.  
• Moving Puppets: Make puppets with moving limbs before you head on into the Shadow Circus and see them in action.
•  Face Painting: Work as a team to paint each other’s faces with some help from our expert volunteers. Try it out before you head over to the Dress Up Station.
• Dress Up Station: Our volunteers will help to outfit you and your group with circus costumes and will capture the moment with photos sent directly to your email!
• Pennants: Decorate a canvas pennant to celebrate the day!
• Button Pin: Make a custom pin that you can wear.
• Big Top Cards: Make a card that resembles a circus tent and then take some time to fill in a message for someone special.
• Pinwheels: Make a colourful working pinwheel and let the wind do the rest.
• Elastic Art: Create, rearrange and add to a large piece of community art that is always changing.

INTERACTIVE SPACES

• Shadow Circus (All ages)
  It takes lots of hands to run a circus and our Ring Master needs your help. Meet him under the Big Top Tent where you will use light, sound effects and puppetry to orchestrate a spectacular show!
• Public Art (All ages) – with Helena Grdadolnik
  If Kingston were an art-friendly city, what would it look like? Tell us by creating a model at one of our stations and giving it a home on our massive 1:10,000 scale map of Kingston. With all these people listening, it just may come true…

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

Drop in and see one of our community tables, learn about how you can continue to participate in the arts after ArtZoo has finished!

• Centre Culturel Frontenac
• Family For The Win
• Grand Theatre
• Kingston Association of Museums, Art Galleries and Historic Sites
• Kingston Police Force
• Kingston’s Potter’s Guild
• Kingston School of Art
• MacLachlan Woodworking Museum
• Pump House Steam Museum
• Theatre Kingston
  

Discover all of the City of Kingston's Family Day activities, click here!

Portsmouth Olympic Harbour
53 Yonge St., Kingston, ON K7M 6G4

For more information contact
613-546-4291 ext. 1277