Paper Rain: Exploring Digital Cutting for Installation Art
- info1509366
- Sep 3
- 2 min read
Saturday September 27th
1 - 4pm
Free
Facilitated by Mackenzie Browning
Paper Rain: Exploring Digital Cutting for Installation Art is a hands-on workshop
that introduces participants to digital cutting technology (Cricut and Cameo) as a
creative tool for interdisciplinary and installation-based art.
Using a low barrier, process-driven approach, the workshop guides participants through
contour drawing, scanning, and importing images into digital cutting software to produce intricate cut-paper forms. Together, we will cut multiple sheets of recycled paper into raindrop shapes and assemble them with a sewing machine to create a suspended paper-rain installation. This workshop bridges traditional and digital methods, making digital fabrication accessible to artists who want to expand their practice into new media.
Participants will gain insight into digital cutting as an artistic tool, experiment with workflows that move from hand-drawn to digital and explore collaborative installation methods. Each person will contribute to the larger installation and leave with their own unique section of the work.
All materials - including a scanner, computer, digital cutter, recycled paper, and sewing machine - are provided. This makes the session an inclusive opportunity for both beginners and experienced artists to engage with technology in a tactile, hands-on way while developing new creative skills.
The workshop is led by Mackenzie Browning, a Hamilton-based Canadian artist whose
practice explores the intersections of printmaking, book arts, and sculpture. Known for meticulous craftsmanship and a bold aesthetic, his work often pushes technical
boundaries, transforming two-dimensional prints into architectural, three-dimensional
forms. Drawing from lived experiences in Southern Ontario, Colorado, New Jersey, and
Saskatchewan, Mackenzie’s work reflects a deep connection to urban, suburban, and
natural landscapes.
Mackenzie is an advocate for arts education and has led workshops across Canada and
the United States, fostering creative engagement through print and book arts. He holds
an MFA from the University of Saskatchewan and a BFA (Honours) from Queen’s
University. His recent projects, including Barrier Green and Salt Woven, explore themes of nature, memory, and cultural history, often integrating vibrant colours, layered textures, and intricate constructions.
