Continuing Education

Introduction to Darkroom Photography: Beyond the Screen

with Matt Cronin

Saturdays: September 19, October 3, 10, 17, 2026
10am–2pm
Hardie Building, 23 Essex St.
Fee: $385.00 – Supplies included: film/paper.

Step away from the screen and discover the tactile process of traditional black-and-white photography. Designed for beginners and curious creatives, this four-session course introduces the operation of 35mm film cameras, exposure control, film processing, contact sheets, enlarger printing, contrast control, and basic print finishing. No previous experience is required, and students will leave with their own developed negatives and handmade prints.

Students will need to bring their own working 35mm film camera, ideally with manual exposure controls. We do not have cameras available to borrow.

We provide supplies at cost to ensure everyone has access to the same paper and film. Should you want to order extra independently, please contact the instructor so you know what we are using. Montserrat will provide access to the darkroom, enlargers, chemistry, and shared processing equipment.

Pots and Pumpkins: Ceramic Sculpture

With Jennifer Boisvert

Saturdays: September 26 – October 24, 2026
10am – 1pm
301 Cabot Street
Fee: $325 including materials 

Carve out some fun this Fall in this comprehensive five-week ceramic sculpture class covering a range of handbuilding techniques and a hint of seasonal gourd-geousness. You will learn to work with clay using pinch, slab, and coil techniques. Use these skills to design and make small pots or vessels that can be open or completely enclosed. Along with making your own unique sculptures, you will have an opportunity to make a pumpkin using the pinch method, adding leaf, stalk, and vine elements using slab and extruder techniques. You will make and glaze up to three ceramic sculptures during the course, which will be fired and ready to collect after two weeks.  

Artist Biography: Jen Boisvert is a native North Shore area artist who explores visual relationships between humans and nature using sculpture. Jen received her BFA concentration in Sculpture from Montserrat College of Art, and an M.Ed. from Plymouth State University. She is an artist member at two local art associations, a recipient of the Mary Arakelian Foundation Award for best work in sculpture, and her artwork has been featured in galleries and exhibitions throughout New England.

Discover Shibori: Traditional Japanese Indigo Resist Dyeing

With Michelle Blanchette

Sunday, September 27, 2026
10am – 2pm
Fee: $115.00 including materials. You can bring additional fabric if you wish.

Unplug, get hands-on, and immerse yourself in the mesmerizing art of Shibori! Shibori is a traditional Japanese resist-dyeing technique that uses deliberate textile manipulation to create striking, one-of-a-kind patterns when dipped into a rich indigo bath.

In this beginner-friendly workshop, you’ll explore the tactile magic of binding, folding, stitching, twisting, and compressing fabric to control how the dye hits the cloth. Watch your designs transform as raw fabric turns deep indigo right before your eyes!

Grab a friend, bring your curiosity, and spend a creative session experimenting with texture, geometry, and color. You’ll leave with a foundational understanding of resist-dye methods and your very own wearable or decorative Shibori masterpieces!

Pinhole Cameras

With Patricia Sciallo

Saturday, October 17, 2026; rain date: October 18
10:30am – 2:30pm
Fee: $105

Step away from the digital screen and into the darkroom. Join us for a hands-on journey into the “Camera Obscura,” where a simple cardboard box becomes a powerful tool for art.

In this workshop, you won’t just take photos—you’ll build the camera that captures them. From the “infinite depth-of-field” to dreamy double exposures and fisheye effects, you’ll learn to see the world through a whole new lens (or lack thereof!). Whether we’re using a cookie tin or a film canister, the results are consistently magical and uniquely yours.