CREATE YOUR OWN COMPANION!

In this one-day workshop, students (ages 6+) will create fun works of art, make a new best friend, and recycle - all in one! The workshop will begin with a visit to the special exhibition PLAYDATE: Companions Club at Kingston Gallery (located upstairs from Minni), where artist Meagan Hepp will introduce the students to their exhibition filled with sculptural companions. The group will then head back downstairs to create their own companions using cardboard, paper, air-dry clay, and other funky scraps and recycled materials.

About the Artist

Meagan Hepp is a Boston-based artist and educator. They teach a variety of classes at Suffolk University, as well as ceramics at the New Arts Center in Newton, MA. Meagan serves on TransCultural Exchange’s Board of Trustees, as well as the Governing Board of Catalyst Conversations, a non-profit dedicated to the dialogue between art and science. This year, they are the emerging artist at Kingston Gallery.

Hepp is best known for their small-scale sculptures made from discarded plywood, found objects, disco ball mirrors, and used plastic, juxtaposed with a mixture of flocking and resin, resulting in abstract forms called Companions. These Companions, reminiscent of toys, are based on nostalgic pop culture references from Hepp’s childhood. Being cut off from their social networks and communities during the COVID-19 crisis, Hepp started to think of their sculptures as a company. Just like one’s friends, each Companion occupies a different space and serves a unique purpose. In this case, some are for color, some are for texture, and some are just for comfort.