Marc Mayer: Master Class for OCAD U Students

Marc Mayer
Thursday, January 25, 2018 - 2:30pm to 4:00pm

OCAD University students are invited to join Marc Mayer for this unique opportunity for an intimate and informal master class. Mayer will recount his trajectory as a curator and director, from when he started out in the field to his current position as Director and CEO of the National Gallery of Canada. Mayer will share what he learned along the way and what advice he has for students now.

Please RSVP to jnorthway@ocadu.ca.

Marc Mayer's appearance is generously supported by the late Honey and Barry Sherman and co-presented by the President's Speaker Lecture Series and Onsite Gallery.

Venue & Address: 
Graduate Gallery - 205 Richmond Street West - Level G
Email: 
jnorthwayfrank@ocadu.ca
Phone: 
416-977-6000 x300
Cost: 
Free for OCAD U Students

Smooth Commerce CEO Brian Deck's best advice for artists considering entrepreneurship

Image of Brian Deck working on a mural
Image of Brian Deck's mural
SmoothPay App image

We caught up with Brian Deck, successful entrepreneur and CEO of Smooth Commerce to talk about his business and the lessons he learned in art school. Brian is also an OCAD U alum and mentor for OCAD U's startup incubator, Imagination Catalyst.

Tell us about Smooth Commerce. How’s the business doing?

The Smooth Commerce platform powers white label apps and SmoothPay, a loyalty app for independent merchants. Our focus is on branded apps similar (but better than) the Starbucks app. For example, we developed the app for Balzac’s Coffee Roasters which has been a tremendous success, enjoying a 14 times increased adoption over their previous card-based loyalty program. We are excited to be rolling out two very well-known brands this fall so stay tuned!

The SmoothPay app is available to download and use at coffee shops or restaurants. It combines payment with a loyalty program. You pay with your phone and save money at the same time. For businesses, it increases exposure and sales. We already have a couple hundred businesses across Canada and most relevant to OCAD U is nearby, Red Eye Espresso on McCaul Street.
 

How did Smooth Commerce get started?

My previous tech company was successful developing loyalty programs for Fortune 500 companies. Before I sold that company, I saw an opportunity to do something even bigger in mobile and consumer-facing loyalty programs - enhancing the way businesses and consumers engage. The major players in several well established industries (retail, payments, loyalty, and marketing) had not kept up with technology and the changing consumer. With most of the giants sitting on their hands, the opportunity was huge and it was the perfect timing to start Smooth.

 

When you were studying painting at OCAD U, you started a mural company. What lessons did you learn about starting a business?

Running a mural company taught me how to work well with people, which is key to being successful. I had to deal with different personality types and different levels of professionalism. Being a success in any business means getting along with people and genuinely motivating people along the way.

I will never forget being a student and working in an art store. One day I picked up a book of interviews with successful artists talking about their careers and lessons learned. Each artist said the exact same thing – that hard work and perseverance was the most important factor in their success. Lessons learned from that book and from running my mural business taught me to always work hard and to persevere even in the most difficult situations. For artists, remember that your success is a direct result of what you put in.

What makes artists and designers good entrepreneurs?

The training an artist receives can translate very well to entrepreneurship and business in general. Having an art and design background has given me a unique perspective that the majority of people don't have. It has been a tremendous benefit for me in many aspects of my various business ventures including: product development, marketing, presentations, communications, and my overall perspective on things. When you’re creating a painting or sculpture, you have to step back and see the bigger picture. It’s a huge life lesson to look for patterns, to have a vision, to commit to the process and see it through to completion.

What’s your best piece of advice for young people who want to start their own business (especially if they didn’t go to business school)?

I mentioned earlier the importance of hard work and determination - this is number one in my view. In addition, while at OCAD U and over the years, I’ve found that a common trait among many artists is that they have difficulty being comfortable with the idea of making money. There is a fear of being labelled a sellout. For most artists, that holds them back. The sooner you become comfortable in valuing your time and work, the better. My last piece of advice is that following your passion is the best way to position yourself for success no matter what you may do. Whether its business or art, at times it is going to be hard. But, you have to find what you are passionate about and go after it. I wake up every day wanting to do what I do.

 

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20TH Century Toronto: Intersections and Interactions

Yonge and Dundas 1978
Thursday, August 3, 2017 - 11:00am to Saturday, August 26, 2017 - 11:00am

URBAN GALLERY presents our August 2017 Solo Exhibition

20th CENTURY TORONTO: INTERSECTIONS AND INTERACTIONS

Paintings by Ontario Artist Hanna Kostanski

OPENING RECEPTION
Thursday August 3 from 5 PM to 8 PM
RSVP to urbangalleryart1@gmail.com

Exhibition runs from Thursday August 3
to Saturday August 26, 2017

Artist's Statement

For nearly a decade my work has been focused on the visible passage of time, experienced through the exploration and documentation of abandoned and decaying buildings in cities like Hamilton and Detroit. I have always been fascinated with historical architecture, specifically how we interact with our buildings and structures, and what happens when that interaction ceases to exist.

My current body of work continues to explore the connection between people and their environment, but with a focus on historical representations of that relationship. To that end, I have been working on a series of paintings based on photographs found at the City of Toronto Public Archives. These images span several decades and are nostalgic of the city as it used to be. They celebrate the many past incarnations of Toronto -the vibrant intersections of the city and interactions of its people.

Image Credit

Yonge and Dundas 1978
Acrylic on Wood 30" x 60"
by HANNA KOSTANSKI
Original Photograph by Harvey R. Naylor, City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1526*, File 92, Item 49.
City of Toronto Archives Fonds 1526 consists of 8,405 original 35mm colour slides of Toronto created by local amateur photographer Harvey R. Naylor from 1954 to 1984. Naylor, a film and sound technician by trade, was keenly interested in the Toronto history, architecture, and local transit. He photographed many of Toronto's historic buildings and neighbourhoods, as well as demolition and construction sites throughout the city.

 

Venue & Address: 
Urban Gallery 400 Queen Street East, Toronto
Website: 
http://www.hannakostanski.com/a-vibrant-past-toronto-in-the-20th-century-2017
Email: 
urbangalleryart1@gmail.com
Phone: 
Calvin Hambrook T: 647.460-1278
Cost: 
FREE
Yonge and Dundas 1978

DIY LOVE: Queer Knowledge & History Then, Now, and Forever

We're a Gay & Happy Family
Friday, June 23, 2017 - 7:00pm to Sunday, June 25, 2017 - 6:00pm

Participants will have the opportunity to make posters and use original posters made for this installation to create a wheat pasted wall that celebrates queer knowledge and history, which will be on display at multiple sites across Toronto after the Pride festival. Come talk and create with us!

The project is supported by OCAD University, Xpace Cultural Centre, and Toronto's larger LGBTQ2S+ community.

    • Artists: Kaythi, Seiji, Will Carpenter, John Wigle, Maya Wilson-Sanchez, Natalie Mark, and Lex B.
    • Location: Pride Street Fair
    • Dates: June 23 (7 to 9 p.m.), June 24 & 25, 2017 (12 p.m. to 6 p.m.)
    • Full description of the collective’s project is located here, as well as its original posters that will be available for download in the future: diylove2017.tumblr.com
    Venue & Address: 
    Pride Street Fair
    Website: 
    https://diylove2017.tumblr.com/
    Cost: 
    Free

    Celebration of First-Year Exhibition

    Wednesday, April 12, 2017 - 1:15pm to Thursday, April 20, 2017 - 1:15pm

    Celebration of First-Year Exhibition

    Great Hall from April 12th to 20th   

    An exhibition of OCAD University first-year work, from across the disciplines.

    Reception: Wednesday April 12th at 6pm

    Venue & Address: 
    OCAD U Great Hall (2nd floor) 100 McCaul St., Toronto, ON
    Email: 
    dgriffin@faculty.ocadu.ca
    line drawing of fingers

    2020 Honorary Degree Nominations

    Winsom Winsom accepting an Honorary Degree from OCAD U; Photo: Christina Gapic
    Monday, January 6, 2020 - 9:00am to Friday, January 31, 2020 - 5:00pm

    The nomination period for OCAD University’s 2020 Honorary Degree is now open, and we invite you to submit your ideas.

    Every year at Spring Convocation, OCAD University confers an Honorary Degree upon outstanding individuals who have made a significant contribution to the fields of art, design, and culture; to education; and to the ideals of our University. Submit your suggestions for this, the highest honor offered by our institution.

    All members of the OCAD U community, including faculty, staff, students and alumni, are invited to submit a nomination. Please see the nomination form link on this page, as well as a list of past recipients. You may drop the forms in person at 230 Richmond West, Level 11, Office of the President during normal business hours, or via email at jnorthwayfrank@ocadu.ca. Digital signatures will be accepted.

    Nominations are due on January 31, 2020 at 5pm EST.

     

    Email: 
    jnorthwayfrank@ocadu.ca
    Phone: 
    416-977-6000 x300
    Cost: 
    Free