Fleming College Integrated Design students create art installation for Toronto Design Offsite Festival
Toronto ON – (Jan. 19, 2017) – Students from Fleming College’s Integrated Design program are designing and mounting a window installation at *QueenSpecific Gallery as part of the Toronto Design Offsite (TODO) Festival.
The art installation, Regarding Stuff, will be on display at 787 Queen St. W., Toronto, from Jan. 19 to Feb. 28.
“Regarding Stuff evolved from our students thinking about ‘stuff’ – particularly the stuff that we design, produce, consume, and throw away at an alarming rate,” said Barr Gilmore, Coordinator of the Integrated Design program. “It weighs heavily on their collective unconscious. They acknowledge, however, that as human beings we are reduced to skin and bones, in the end. Students have taken the human skeleton as inspiration for their design experiments and prototypes. Using ceramics, wood, metal, stone, recycled plastic/paper and 3D printing/lasercutting/CNC technology, ergonomic ideas are beginning to emerge.”
Gilmore shares a special history with *Queen Specific Gallery. In 1999, living above Dufflet Pastries, he asked the bakery owner if he could take over the window at the bottom of the staircase and make it into a gallery. From 2000-2005, Gilmore ran the window gallery under the name Solo Exhibition. Over the five years, he featured more than 50 artists – both up-and-coming and established.
Gilmore moved in 2005 and the space remained empty until 2008 when artist and designer Joy Walker took over the gallery. She has been operating the window gallery under the name *Queen Specific Gallery ever since.
“When I was thinking of a venue for my Integrated Design students to participate and exhibit in the festival, it was kind of a no-brainer to approach Joy and see if she would be willing and able to fit us into her schedule for 2017. She agreed with open arms,” said Gilmore.
Fleming College is one of only a few post-secondary institutions taking part in TODO Festival. The Integrated Design program, and projects such as this, teach students to dream, communicate, collaborate, experiment and ultimately apply the knowledge and skills they develop to become thoughtful designers of the 21st century.
About Integrated Design
Fleming College’s Integrated Design program, offered at the Haliburton School of Art + Design, gives students the fundamental design and critical thinking skills needed to become a successful designer. This one-of-a-kind, accelerated diploma program incorporates a hands-on approach to material culture, sustainability and fine craftsmanship. Students graduate with a college diploma and a college Certificate.
About Fleming College
Located in the heart of Central Ontario, Fleming College has campus locations in Peterborough, Lindsay, Cobourg and Haliburton. Named for famous Canadian inventor and engineer Sir Sandford Fleming, the college features more than 100 full-time programs in Arts and Heritage, Business, Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, General Arts and Sciences, Health and Wellness, Justice and Community Development, Skilled Trades and Technology, and Continuing Education. Fleming College has more than 5,800 full-time and 10,000 part-time students, and 71,000 alumni.
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Media, for more information please contact:
Laura Copeland
Communications Officer
laura.copeland@flemingcollege.ca
705.749.5530 x 1370