Western University and Fanshawe College students held a collaboration exhibition, called ‘Student Life: We All Have To Submit.’
A lot of artworks at TAP Centre for Creativity have proved what it means to be a student in an uncertain and fast-changing world.
Heidi Burrows & Lauren Davidson (Credit: Emily Kim/XFM News)
“What really drew me to the exhibit was the idea that we have to submit and that it was connected to not just our personal work but the work of the world and the things that are happening in the world at this time,” said Heidi Burrows, a second year student of the Fanshawe Fine Arts Program.
In other words, students’ artworks are inevitably highlighted by the context and the turbulent world surrounding them.
SAL student Jessica Kumar expressed her identity and change through her painting, A New Pattern Emerges.
“I don’t know about when I made this work but I feel like I relate to it even more now that I made a big decision. I broke up with my boyfriend and it’s like a new pattern emerged in me. It kind of sprang from within. I had to follow my intuition and live my truth.”
Fanshawe Fine Arts Program’s second year student Aaron Alfaro explained his biggest personal motivation when he made his work.
Alleyway (Credit: Emily Kim/XFM News)
“Right now, the piece that is part of the exhibit that I’ve made is called The Alleyway, which is mostly inspired by how I romanticize all my homesickness and nostalgic feelings whenever I think of home,” said Alfaro.
“Because I am not a native here in Canada, I am from the Philippines, and homesickness is one of the biggest feelings I feel whenever I try to reminisce of the things I try to take inspiration of.”
Fanshawe Fine Arts Program’s second year student Kim Crawford, who mainly writes poetry, reflected in her work how the recent strike at the Fanshawe College affected students.
“And another piece was about still, called still I draw, where it was reflecting how I feel with the cancellation of our program. My pieces more reflect how a lot of students feel with the cancellation of the program, the fine art program. They definitely impacted my work.”
Fanshawe has been canceled its art program, which is a three-year diploma program.
“This is a tragedy for London,” said Lauren Davidson, a second year student of the Fanshawe Fine Arts Program.
“A lot of artists that are very active in the community that work very closely with different businesses, different members, different organizations within the community came up through this Fanshawe College program,” said Davidson.
“And the arts is integral to just everyday life and processing exactly like in this exhibit, processing what’s going on both personally, politically in the world. So I think I’m hoping this show potentially draws some attention to that.”
Marla Botterill (Credit: Emily Kim/XFM News)
The professor and coordinator of Fine Art and Fine Art Foundation at Fanshawe College, Marla Botterill said this exhibition is a great example of what it’s like to be a student right now, today.
“Well, art’s never made in a bubble. It always responds to the context and the world around it. So, students are going to make work about things that are relevant to them, that matter in the world that they live today.”
Finally, Davidson sent a message to the audience who came to see this exhibition.
“Art is important for our community identity together. And I’m really hopeful that it continues to be supported and that potentially the decision to close our program can be reversed.”
Student Life: We All Have To Submit (Credit: Emily Kim/XFM News)
The exhibition was held at TAP Centre for Creativity on Thursday evening.
