Hahmoja!Characters! Workshop event 17.-22.9.2013 @ Lasipalatsi/Urban Workshop

Hi! The event is just around the corner! Here's some general info:

• In the Hahmoja!Characters! workshops we design and make characters and character toys out of different materials.

• The event lasts four days, during which one can attend up to seven workshops. The workshops have five different themes and some themed workshops are held more than once.  

• Some of the workshops require signing up in advance. You can find more info about the workshops in the timetable at the bottom of this post. You can sign up at hahmojacharacters@gmail.com. Some of the workshops have a very limited amount of materials so make sure to get yours by signing up.

• Attendance to the workshops includes a 5 euro material cost per workshop. The fee is payed in cash at the venue. Pay with small bills or coins, please! In addition to the materials provided by the workshop you may use you own materials and equipment. The artist speeches on saturday are free! However, note that if you want to attend the paper workshop which is held at the same time in the same place as the speeches  it will cost 5 euros as usual.

• Anyone who is interested in the subject can join. No previous knowledge of the subjects is required. The idea is that regardless of different levels of knowledge anyone can come and bring their characters to life. The only requirement is that you are able to work independently based on instructions once you've received the materials. If you are a little one please come with your own adult. 

• You will gain the most out of these workshops if you work on your characters a bit beforehand, for example make a rough sketch on a piece of paper. The workshops will provide you with ideas and tools for continuing with them and pushing them further. The theme for Helsinki Design week is Teot/Action! You can follow this theme in the workshops by making action heroes, antiheroes, good guys, bad guys; characters who do (impressive) deeds or acts. Is your character an everyday hero or a conquerer of the world or a guy who doesn't want to do anything even though he should? Every action has an impact; think about what it is that your character does (or doesn't). 

• At the workshops we speak Finnish and English. On saturday the character artists will be speaking Finnish mostly.

• The event is located in the second floor of Lasipalatsi: At the both sides of Lasipalatsi building there are doors which have text on them that says "Helsingin kaupunginkirjasto" and "Kohtaamispaikka". Go in, take the stairs to the second floor, you will see the restaurant "Ravintola Lasipalatsi" in front of you, turn and walk in the opposite direction. The workshops are there!

You can search for ideas and inspiration for example with the following google searches: character toys, sculpted toys, paper toys, plush character toys, DIY vinyl toys, custom toys, vinyl stickers. Also UmeToys has inspirational material for small scale sculpting and Dolly Oblongs website will work nicely as an inspiration to many of our workshops. 

In the following posts there will be more workshop specific info, sponsorship stuff and artist introductions. Stay tuned!

Programme and themes:

Tue 17.9.  13:00-16:30: Paper characters.
At the workshop character toys are made from paper.

Thu 19.9. 12:30-17:30: Plush & textile characters.

At the workshop character toys and mascots are made from textile.

Sat 21.9. 10:00-15:00: Character sculpting & 3D-printing demonstration.

At the workshop characters are sculpted from SuperSculpey polymer clay. 3D-printed character’s path from a drawing to a 3D-print is also demonstrated.

Please register in advance!

Sat 21.9. 13:30-16:30: Paper characters. 

At the workshop character toys are made from paper.

Sat 21.9. 14:00 -> Character artists’ speeches about character design and characters.

Free entrance.

Sat 21.9. 16:30-19:00: Character drawing & stickers. 

At the workshop characters are drawn and painted. Characters are made to vinyl stickers which can be attached to canvas bags, T-shirts and other textiles.

Please register in advance!

Sun 22.9. 11:00-15:00+ Do It Yourself / Character customization.

At the workshop 3D-printed characters and sculpted characters are customized with paint, decoration, little accessories etc.

Please register in advance!

Sun 22.9. 15:00-19:00 Character drawing & stickers.

At the workshop characters are drawn and painted.

Characters are made to vinyl stickers which can be attached to canvas bags, T-shirts and other textiles.

Please register in advance!

Material fee 5€ / workshop, payed in cash at the workshop.
Sat 21.9. Free entrance to Character artists’ speeches

Registration by Email (workshop title, your name and phone number): hahmojacharacters@gmail.com

Event pages in Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/hahmojacharacters
https://www.facebook.com/hahmojacharacters/events

Helsinki Design Week:
http://www.helsinkidesignweek.com/events/characters