OCAD University mourns the death of Katharine Mulherin

Wednesday, July 17, 2019 - 9:30am

The OCAD University community is deeply saddened by the recent passing of alumna (1998, Criticism & Curatorial Practice) and artist/curator Katharine Mulherin.

Mulherin began to showcase the works of emerging and mid-career artists through her galleries and projects upon graduating in 1998. Her first project, BUSgallery, operated out of a storefront in Toronto’sParkdale community. She went on to open numerous galleries in Toronto and, more recently, New York and Los Angeles, including 1080BUS, BOARD OFDIRECTORS, KMLA, Katharine Mulherin's SIDESHOW, NO SHOW EXHIBITS, MULHERIN POLLARD PROJECTS and MULHERIN New York, among others. She often ran two or even three galleries simultaneously.

Mulherin’s fierce passion, keen eye and devotion to artists made her a force in the last 21 years. She had a strong hand in shaping the Toronto art community and exhibiting its emerging and mid-career artists, both within and outside Canada. She supported many OCAD University students through student exhibitions at 1080BUS gallery, as well as through the nurturing of their professional careers. Among the artists she exhibited over the years are Clint Griffin, Roberta McNaughton, Allyson Mitchell, Casey McGlynn, Nicholas Pye, Shary Boyle, Eliza Griffiths, Lisa Neighbor, Dean Baldwin, Winnie Truong, Annie MacDonell, Nancy Friedland, Kris Knight, Janieta Eyre, Mike Bayne, Dana Holst, Tiff Isza, Cecilia Berkovic, Marianne Lovink, Heather Goodchild, John Dickson, Tanya Read, Kelly Palmer, Jason Dundra, Seth Scriver, Jason Deary, David Kramer, and many more.

Mulherin began her career as an artist. She was renowned for her approach to her practice as a contemporary art project, driven by her concerns as an artist and curator. She encouraged artists to remain true to their vision, and was often able to tease out important elements lurking in the work that the artists themselves might not have seen. She was known to be free of façade and did not tolerate it in others, often responding to pretense with the sorts of questions that made it crumble. She raised two lovely young men, Jasper and Satchel, both of whom spent many hours in her galleries. She was not your stereotypical art dealer and she was incredibly successful.

Mulherin leaves her sons Jasper and Satchel, her husband Daniel “Paco” Paquette, and her siblings Jennifer, Erin and Shawn. 

From Jasper Mulherin: “At her best, Katharine was full of life, ambitious and wild. We love her deeply and will keep her forever in our hearts. Her passing is a tragedy for her friends, the art community in Toronto and beyond, and for our family.”

As quoted in Now Magazine in 2001: "In my own art practice I'm much more interested in issues around human vulnerability and people messing up than I am in theoretical constructs."

Link to fundraiser: https://www.gofundme.com/f/fundraiser-to-support-the-mulherinpaquette-family 

UPDATE: A Party For Katharine Mulherin: Friday, August 2, 4 to 10 p.m.

Posted on behalf of Katharine's family:

The outpouring of support from all of you in the wake of Katharine’s tragic passing has left us practically speechless. It is bittersweet, now, to see the depth and breadth of love and respect she inspired over the course of her brilliant, too-short life.

We will be gathering to celebrate Katharine and her incredible legacy, fittingly, on the same Queen Street West she called home, and whose face she influenced so evidently with her passion for art and culture.

The celebration will take place at the Gladstone Hotel (1214 Queen Street West, Toronto) on Friday, August 2nd from 4:00 pm until 10:00 pm in both the ballroom and second floor gallery. Please come and help us give this firefly the spectacular sendoff she deserves.

Let us come together to share laughter and tears, our cherished memories of Katharine from the past, our stories of the present, and our plans and dreams for the future. Let us support each other. EVERYONE is welcome. (Please share this info with friends and colleagues, including those who may not be on social media.)

There will be all the elements of a proper gallery shindig. And while it fills us with profound sadness that Katharine won’t be there to host this particular launch, it comforts us to know that she will be there in a very special corner of each and every one of our hearts.

keywords: 

Your Creative Career: A Workshop Series

Your Creative Career Workshop series
Thursday, July 4, 2019 - 12:00pm

Jumpstart your creative career! Attend this comprehensive four-part series covering all aspects of finding meaningful employment – from the initial search through to the interview process.
Each session provides valuable guidance and strategies to help you land your dream job. 

RSVP on Eventbrite by clicking "Select a Date" to register for each of the sessions you plan to attend.
Career Development at OCAD U recommends attend all four workshops in the series, as each session builds on knowledge gained in the last:

Part 1: Job Search Strategies
Thursday, July 4 from 12pm – 2:00pm

Part 2: Building A Strong Resume & Professional Presence
Friday, July 5 from 12pm – 2:00pm

Part 3: Creating a Compelling Creative Portfolio
Thursday, July 11 from 12pm – 2:00pm

Part 4: Preparing for the Interview
Friday, July 12 from 12pm – 2:00pm

All sessions take place on the 3rd floor of the Rosalie Sharp Centre at 115 McCaul St.
Light refreshments provided.

Venue & Address: 
Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers 115 McCaul Street, Level 3 OCAD University
Website: 
http://bit.ly/YourCreativeCareerWorkshop
Email: 
careerdevelopment@ocadu.ca

Red Embers installation at Allan Gardens features work of five OCAD U alumni

Photo courtesy: Red Embers
Thursday, June 20, 2019 - 4:30pm

Red Embers, a public art installation honouring missing and murdered Indigenous women is on display at Toronto’s Allan Gardens. Commissioned featured artists include OCAD U alumni: Catherine Tammaro, Hannah Claus, Hillary Brighthill, Lido Pimienta and Lindsey Lickers.

The artists were chosen along with nine other Indigenous female artists from different parts of the country who were commissioned to be part of the exhibition.

The 13 banners symbolize the 13 Grandmother Moons within the Lunar System. According to the Indigenous tradition, the Grandmother Moon heals those women who have suffered sexual assault or domestic violence.

This is the first time that Toronto is displaying a free installation of this scale featuring Indigenous women artists. The installation is on display at Allan Gardens until the annual October 4, 2019 Sisters in Spirit Vigil.

Red Embers is funded by the Public Space Incubator, an initiative of Park People funded by Ken and Eti Greenberg and the Balsam Foundation. The Toronto Arts Council is supporting Red Embers through a grant. Other donors include ERA Architects, Friends of Allan Gardens, Torys LLP, Andrew Sorbara, ARUP and  University of Toronto School of Cities. The Native Women's Resource Centre of Toronto is the project's charitable partner and collaborator. The organization is also accepting donations.

Poster: 
Photo courtesy: Red Embers

OCAD U's commitment to support new grads: extended access to Adobe Creative Cloud

Friday, June 14, 2019

As OCAD U celebrates the accomplishments of its newest graduates at today’s convocation ceremonies, the university is also proud to announce a bold new commitment to support these graduates with extended access to key career-related services and supports for the first year after they receive their degree.

NEW! Adobe Creative Cloud access extended by one year
The Adobe suite of software tools are key for creatives. OCAD U will now provide eligible graduating students who were enrolled in the Laptop Program with an additional 1-year extension to their Adobe Creative Cloud license. 

"Adobe's Creative Cloud suite of software is vital for all students coming out of the university,” said Zev Farber, Director, Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers. “Retaining access to these tools as our graduates make early inroads into their professions allows them to hit the ground running, creating and making at exactly the level they need to, right from day one beyond their studies at the university.”

 

“We’re very proud to be able to build out our commitment to graduates to provide them with the support, resources and tools that they need to succeed in launching their creative careers,” said Deanne Fisher, Vice-Provost, Students & International. “The Adobe Creative Cloud access is a keystone benefit we’re proud to be able to offer, in addition the vastly expanded new programming we’ve added this past year to career development and experiential learning, delivered by the Centre for Emerging Artists and Designers.” 

In addition to the extended Adobe Creative Cloud access, recent grads are invited to come work, collaborate and create in the Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers at 115 McCaul St., third floor. Think of it as an extension to your studio, office or other workspace —one that is in close proximity to networking opportunities, wifi access, meeting space, career advising, and mentorship via the Creative Professionals-In-Residence program. 

But there’s even more! OCAD U has collaborated with FreshBooks, an all-in-one invoicing and accounting solution made for budding entrepreneurs to offer our graduates a free 1-year subscription. FreshBooks does all the heavy lifting and time-consuming tasks for you, leaving more time for doing the work that you love. Our commitment also includes significant discounts on annual Format portfolio subscriptions, MOO business card and promotional materials, and continued access to tools like the Talent Network student and alumni job board, Career Launcher opportunities, networking and mentorship opportunities, career advising, workshops and industry events, career transition support, and so much more. Read more about our commitment to our new and recent graduates by visiting ocadu.ca/commitment

Poster: 
Extended access to Adobe Creative Cloud for one year beyond graduation

OCAD U alumni influencing public art spaces in Toronto

Together, by Jihee Min, a participatory mural installation created for CreativeTO
Monday, April 22, 2019 - 4:30pm

Jihee Min selected for Public Art Mentorship

OCAD University’s alumna Jihee Min is the selected artist mentee for a Public Art Mentorship launched by The Sustainable Thinking and Expression on Public Space (STEPS) Initiative, a charitable organization that works with large scale public artworks, along with Brad Golden + Co.  There were more than 125 applicants from across the country.

The Public Art Mentorship will run until December 2019, giving Jihee Min the opportunity to develop a full understanding of large-scale public artworks while gaining valuable portfolio-building experience. The program is managed under the mentorship of Steve Driscoll, a Canadian artist who has a contemporary approach regarding traditional Canadian landscape.

Jihee Min received a BFA with Honours in Sculpture & Installation from OCAD U in 2005. She uses her own experiences to explore the idea of identity and cultural dislocation. The artist works with a wide range of media such as drawing, performance and photography and has received many grants, awards and scholarships.

Click here to learn more about Jihee Min’s work.

Jennifer Fryer and Rosena Fung develop art panel in St. James Town

OCAD alumni Jennifer Fryer and Rosena Fung have developed an art panel for Tridel Corporation in partnership with The PATCH Project (under the STEPS Initiative) and the students of Art City, a charitable organization that offers after-school art programs to kids residing in St. James Town.

The project titled “Our City, Our Home” celebrates Toronto and the St. James Town’s neighbourhood. With joyful colours, the art panel celebrates the differences and similarities of residents and visitors of the area. The work is part of the St. James Town Cultural Plan,  that uses temporary public art initiatives to engage local residents.

Jennifer Fryer studied Illustration at OCAD U and her work has appeared in prominent news outlets such as the National Post and the Toronto Star. Rosena Fung is also an OCAD U Illustration graduate and her work has been included in major news outlets such as The Globe and Mail and The Boston Globe.

Click here to learn more about Jennifer Fryer and here for Rosena Fung’s work.

Poster: 
Our City, Our Home by Jennifer Fryer, Rosena Fung and the students of Art City, highlights the diversity of St. James Town

OCAD U grad named Creator of the Year in Montérégie, Quebec

Friday, April 12, 2019

OCAD University graduate Yechel Gagnon was recognized at the end of March as Creator of the Year in Montérégie, QC, a $5000 prize given by the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec (CALQ). The 17th edition of the award gathered more than 80 people from the Monteregian artistic community, along with partners and friends of the culture.

CALQ awards the prize to those whose achievements are distinguished by their quality and outreach. Members of the jury highlighted “the high quality of Yechel Gagnon's work and, more particularly, her fascinating work on texture and materials. This amazing artist, with a rich and original practice, enjoys an important influence, locally and abroad.” 

The artist also recently installed a large-scale public art piece at the Sorel-Tracy waterport, in Quebec, and was very honoured with the prize. 

Born in Longueuil, Quebec, she holds an AOCAD with Honours in Drawing and Painting.

Click here to learn more about Yechel Gagnon and her work.

 

 

 

Justin Case and the Closet Monster by Mark Julien

Mark Julien's graphic novel
Thursday, December 13, 2018 - 7:30am

Justin Case and teh Closet Monster by Mark Julien is a joyfully-arted story about two coseted gay men -- one a priest -- and the "closet monsters," magical creatures from a parellel dimension who help them come out.

https://www.advocate.com/books/2018/12/10/best-lgbtq-graphic-novels-2018#media-gallery-media-7

 

Design & Innovation talk by Phil White

Thursday, November 29, 2018 - 7:00pm to 9:00pm

Phil co-founded Cervelo Cycles with Gerard Vroomen in 1995. (the name Cervélo is a portmanteau of cervello, the Italian word for brain, and vélo, the French word for bike). Over the next ten years it became the engineering leader in the bike industry and, arguably, completed redefined it. With a focus on technical and marketing innovation, Cervelo grew from a garage startup to become the most popular triathlon bike in the world (based on the Ironman bike count) and the most popular bike in pro cycling (based on Cycling News reader polls). Tour Magazine recognized Cervélo as the continued engineering leader when they found it was the fastest bike in every category that they tested- aero road, lightweight road, and TT/triathlon. 

Cervélo was the first bike company in decades “to put our money where our mouth is”, and drive the sport forward by starting our own pro cycling team - the Cervélo Test Team- which became the #1 ranked team in the world within 6 months. But the Team also innovated in many other areas as well including fan engagement and product development as well as behind the scenes. 

After the sale of Cervélo to Pon Holdings in 2012, I stayed with Pon as the non-executive Chairman of Cervélo, and as a Board member & the Chief Innovation Officer of Pon Bike. In July 2017 Phil  left his positions at Pon and Cervélo to pursue other adventures in innovation, mobility, and performance. 

Phil continue to believe in the power of entrepreneurship, innovation, & design. He has been a guest lecturer on these topics at a variety of Universities and Colleges in Europe and America including, the University of Toronto, Ontario College of Art & Design University, Universities d’Ottawa, and École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL). As well as an advisor and Board member to a number of companies and organizations, and has been a regular guest on various business & technical forums.

 

Venue & Address: 
115 McCaul Street, 2nd Floor
Cost: 
Free
Digital Screen: 

Call for Applications - Critical Distance Centre for Curators Design & Comms Assistant

Call for Applications - Critical Distance Centre for Curators Design & Comms Assistant
Tuesday, November 20, 2018 - 3:00pm to Monday, December 3, 2018 - 12:00pm

OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

DEADLINE: Monday, December 3, 2018
RATE: $17/ hour, 10 - 12hours/ week 
TERM: Part-time, January – December 2019 (48 weeks) 

Working with the Director and fellow team members atCritical Distance, the Design & Communications Assistant supports and contributes to the development and implementation of strategic outreach/marketing initiatives and provides design and production support for print/digital materials relating to our exhibitions, publications, website, social media feeds, and newsletters. 

Critical Distance is a not-for-profit project space, publisher, and professional network devoted to the support and advancement of curatorial practice and inquiry in Toronto, Canada, and beyond. With a focus on critically engaged, collaborative, and cross-disciplinary practices, underrepresented artists and art forms, and community outreach and education in art and exhibition-making, Critical Distance is an open platform for diverse curatorial perspectives, and a forum for the exchange of ideas on curating and exhibition-making as ways to engage and inform audiences from all walks of life. 

CDCC is committed to fostering an equitable and inclusive environment and encourages candidates who reflect the diversity of our communities to apply. As always, we thank all participants for their time, energy, interest, and support.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Design & Communications Assistant will support or be responsible for a variety of projects and tasks based on incoming level of experience and the evolving needs of the organization, including: 

  • Developing and producing media releases and marketing materials, posters/signage/way finding, print collateral/didactics, exhibition catalogues, web-based content, newsletters, surveys, and templated documents with an eye toward supporting, extending, and improving upon our existing graphic identity and house style. 
  • Aiding in development and implementation of strategic communications initiatives such as marketing campaigns, social media strategy, enhancements to our website and curator/artist registry, curatorial network and community building, accessibility initiatives, audience outreach and visitor engagement, and donor/partner/sponsor relationship-building. 
  • Managing projects from start to finish including scheduling, concepting, cost estimating, design development, presentation, and production in collaboration with team members, guest curators, artists, writers, and others. 
  • Assisting with exhibition/event documentation through visual (photo/video) means for digital and print platforms (website/catalogues). Developing content for newsletter, social media, e-commerce, etc. 

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Must have graduated from OCADU in 2017 or 2018.
  • Candidates with excellent communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills, strong initiative, and willingness to work independently as well as collaboratively are encouraged to apply. Extreme attention to detail, ability to give and receive feedback, and desire to learn a must.
  • High-level typography skills and mastery of Adobe Creative Suite, plus ability to design for both print and web applications, as well as fluency with social media platforms, HTML/CSS, and Google Apps. 
  • Photography/videography skills and knowledge of digital interactivity and accessibility would be major assets.
  • Thorough knowledge of design history, interest or experience in exhibition/environmental design, and a desire to help make connections across disciplines, cultures, and contexts are huge plusses. Interest in curatorial practices and contemporary art contexts in Toronto,Canada, and beyond also a plus.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

  • Full contact information (Name, phone, and email), a confirmation of eligibility and a current CV
  • A cover letter outlining interest and relevant background

SUBMISSION INSTRUCTION

Please submit all written components in one (1) PDF to the attention of Tak Pham tpham@ocadu.ca

For more information, visit the Career Launchers Website

Venue & Address: 
Critical Distance for Curators No. 302 — Artscape Youngplace 180 Shaw Street Toronto, Ontario M6J 2W5
Website: 
https://careerlaunchers.format.com/5848585-2019-cdcc-curatorial-assistant
Email: 
tpham@ocadu.ca
Phone: 
416-977-6000 Ext. 361
Cost: 
N/A

OCAD Artist Alley 2018: Holiday Edition

Tuesday, December 4, 2018 - 2:00pm to 8:00pm

Looking for unique gifts for friends and family this holiday season? Come to OCAD's student-run Holiday Artist Alley: Holiday Edition, where you will find a wide variety of beautiful posters, prints, zines, stickers, greeting cards, ceramics, fashion, jewellery items and more from local creators. This event is open to the public.

Remember to BRING CASH as most artists do not have card readers. There are ATMs in the building.
We are a wheelchair accessible space. Please take the main lobby rear elevators to Level 2, Great Hall.

Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/ocadartistalley to view Artist Profiles leading up to the event!

If you want to volunteer or have questions, please email ocadartistalley@gmail.com

ABOUT ARTIST ALLEY:
The OCAD Artist Alley is a student initiative, created with support from OCAD Student Union, giving students and alumni across all programs the opportunity to exhibit and sell their work.
Poster art by Becky Wu.

RSVP:
Please register your intent to attend through our Eventbrite link (tickets NOT needed for entrance): https://bit.ly/2P6y7sr

Venue & Address: 
Great Hall (Level 2), 100 McCaul Street
Website: 
www.facebook.com/ocadartistalley/
Email: 
ocadartistalley@gmail.com
Cost: 
Free Admission
Holiday OCAD Artist Alley

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