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Workshops at Cactus

Established: 2023
Cost: sliding-scale $10-20
All Ages

Workshops at Cactus is our weekend afternoon series of educational programming hosted in our live room!

Submit your Workshop Proposal Form!

From mushroom growing to stitching and crocheting, from plant care to electronics repair, stop-motion animation to astrological birth chart exploration — Workshops at Cactus connect a diverse range of ideas, skills, talents, and crafts. These community-led workshops and skillshares encourage us to connect with our neighbors, learn something we’ve been curious about, or update an old hobby. Events are all ages, free/sliding-scale and the payment structure prioritizes paying workshop leaders for their work.

This series has both uplifted seasoned workshop leaders and given a platform to artists who were new to public instruction. We are proud to offer this space to create new professional opportunities and have witnessed first-time instructors go on to teach, program, and curate locally and beyond. Our goal is for this program to function as a springboard for instructors and learners, empowering a sense of upward mobility in their personal and professional lives. It’s always a joy to witness the Cactus Club live room transforming into a new classroom with every workshop!

Starting in 2023, we’ve hosted over 20 events in the Workshops at Cactus series:

             

We’d love to hear your feedback if you’ve worked with us leading a workshop – please help us grow by filling out this feedback survey !

Program Contact: Gosha Ananchev, gosha@cactusplus.org

Wavy Lines Workshop Series

Wavy Lines is a series of workshops led by artist Zelda HarlaQuinn!

When one really examines the foundation of an artistic practice, it starts with curiosity and a couple of wavy lines. The intent of this workshop series is to provide in-person instruction into various mediums with the most minimal equipment possible, so one can pursue their interest at home and without much set-up. 

The skills shared in these workshops will provide the confidence of a completed project and experience to move forward at home if inspired. Workshops can be attended as a stand-alone class or can be taken sequentially to build upon the previous project. 

       

The 2025 season of Wavy Lines was a celebration of paper-like materials and their diverse and expansive uses. This season explored the diverse uses in which cellulose fibers can be used to make an assortment of objects often associated with non-cellular high volume production based materials such as: plastics, ceramics, or metals.

 

                             

Wavy Lines is led by interdisciplinary artist Zelda HarlaQuinn (They/She). They hold degrees in both fiber art and printmaking from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee. Outside of an academic institution, they treasure the skills and knowledge gained growing up that have been passed down and taught in community by family, neighbors, and peers.

 

The inaugural season (2024) of Wavy Lines: