It’s happening… School supplies are rolling out and a new term at Sheridan College is about to begin. In addition to having the privilege of teaching photography and printmaking classes at the Academy, I am the Gallery Director of the Edward A. Whitney Gallery. The start of a new school year heralds a new exhibition calendar, a new beginning.
The Whitney Gallery is a rotating contemporary exhibition space featuring leading artists from around the world. In any given exhibition, gallery patrons can immerse themselves in the texture of brushstrokes, be blinded by a range of colours, and notice the flickering of the video. But that’s just a small part of what sets our gallery apart.
What makes us different from other galleries in the area? The Whitney Gallery is an instructional gallery. Yes, the work on the wall is spectacular, but the work behind the scenes is life-changing. College students each semester apply to work in galleries, where they gather fresh perspectives on what a degree can do for them. Our students become gallery assistants, gaining real-world experience by working with professional artists and putting classroom learning into practice.
Every month or so a whole bunch of boxes pop up and present a new set of challenges. This job is like life, you never know what to expect. Student gallery assistants must evaluate artwork and develop a plan. How can we make this sculpture float? What tools do I need to install sound from the ceiling? How does the artist write the instructions? How do artists package their work? How will we light up the exhibition? All of these questions and answers became a roadmap for how they could one day install their own artwork.
After the works are unpacked, the happiest part is the exhibition design, where the works go. Students become mini-curators, thinking about how our gallery visitors will participate in the exhibition. They become the conduit between what the artist is trying to say and how they help communicate a message to our community. If we’re lucky, the artists bring their work to help with the installation, and students get to think about how, what and why the artists created their work. They can connect with people outside our community and hear different perspectives.
Sure, students are learning how to level their drawings, cross-light vases, and connect HDMI cables, but they’re also getting tools that can help them outside the gallery. They learn how to communicate with each other, how to work as a team, and how to have difficult conversations. Getting eight people to hang a painting from floor to ceiling at a time isn’t always easy, but there isn’t a single obstacle they haven’t overcome.
It’s also a pleasure to witness the hard work and learning of our students when you get the chance to see the amazing exhibition at the Edward A. Whitney Gallery.
