Villa Rana Open Art is a free workshop and cultural program for people under 30 years old at Cultural Centre Villa Rana. At the opening of Taidekatu, Open Art offers a guided and relaxed introduction to comic and creative writing, as well as electronic music making using instruments. In addition, Radikaalit Pistot offers a chance to cross-stitch crafts with a message. And when you feel like it, take a break from art and dance, or just relax on the terrace, where dj Occu plays summer evening music. Welcome to hang out and make art!

‘Lately’ comic and creative writing workshop

What’s been on your mind lately? What have you experienced and what kind of people have you encountered?

In this comic and creative writing workshop themed “Lately”, the participants create their own brief comic story with the help of encouraging visual and textual exercises. Even though these exercises draw inspiration from the participants’ own recent experiences and feelings, the final stories emerging from them might end up quite far from their original starting point. No previous experience of writing or drawing is required so tag along with a curious and open mind!

The workshop will be held in Villa Rana’s Gallery by freelance artist Jenna Rauvala (KUMMA UNI) and creative writing coach Merja Toppi.

‘TRONIC’ electronic music workshop

Electronic music is made by layering sounds that can be created either synthetically or with instruments, or by using samples of recorded sounds. The devices that’s used to make these can be connected to each other in various ways enabling an experimental approach to creating music in which you can explore how devices “talk” with each other and fill different roles, each with their own role in music. For example a drum machine produces percussive sounds and a rhythm, which can be filled or layered using a bass line or melody from synthetizer. With sampler you can imaginatively record snippets of the sound of objects, your own voice or from music with the help of a smartphone and bring them as a part of a sonic soundscape.

Interesting results are easy to achieve even accidentally, which is why in the center of this music making method is experimentation instead of any kind of previous skill or knowledge!

The workshop will be held in Paulaharju’s hall by Sami Jokinen and Miska Eerola from art collective Ihme Kultti.

Radikaalit Pistot

Radikaalit pistot JKL is a feminist, anti-capitalist and anti-racist handicraft art collective from Jyväskylä that embroiders and cross-stitches radical messages in public spaces, for example on separate boards in coffee shops or directly into surroundings like a fence of a sports ground. The members or the group share a common passion in doing-it-yourself, content of their messages and publishing them in different ways. Handicrafting together is rewarding since it is slow and time taking. At the same time you get to share your thoughts and work. For others it’s about self-expression and for others about art or activism.

Welcome to join us in the Garden of Villa Rana!

dj Occu

For a break from workshops and inspiration for art, head to Villa Rana’s terrace, where dj Occu from the artist collective Ihme Kultti will play tunes from folk to jazz and from downtempo to laid-back house. You can also just come and enjoy!

The event is held in a barrier-free environment and it follows guidelines of safer space.