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The Creative School launches interdisciplinary exhibition space

The new Assembly Gallery provides an opportunity to highlight student work, coursework and research
By: Asmaa Toor
October 06, 2022

From showcasing student displays to exhibiting research initiatives, The Assembly Gallery at The Creative School has launched as an interdisciplinary exhibition space that showcases work by students, faculty and alumni. Located on the main floor of the Image Arts building at 122 Bond St. in Toronto, this public-facing space allows for ideas and explorations to come to life. 

A clear glass wall with the words 'assembly gallery'

The Assembly Gallery at The Creative School has launched as an interdisciplinary exhibition space on the main floor of the Image Arts building

Assembly Gallery is part of The Creative School’s commitment to create exhibition spaces, providing opportunities to highlight student work, coursework, and research, in an exhibition environment that is open to the public. Members of The Creative School are welcome to use this space to connect ideas with audiences, prototype with a user-group, or showcase creativity. It is available for work-in-progress, prototypes or completed projects, for critiques, poster presentations, demonstrations, plans or designs or process documentation. 

The Assembly Gallery is led by the direction of RTA School of Media Assistant Professor Kathleen Pirrie-Adams who will be programming the exhibition space. Pirrie-Adams is an experienced curator and media theorist who has developed exhibitions for TIFF Bell Lightbox, Toronto Photographer’s Workshop (TPW), InsideOUT LGBT Film Festival, and Images Festival. The Assembly Gallery is also managed by Director of Academic Planning and Student Affairs Marie Crosta. 

“We saw this space in the Image Arts building that looked a little unanimated and empty for a while, and we wanted to make it something new,” Pirrie-Adams said. “We’re trying a whole new idea with Assembly Gallery, by making it a place where all of the schools at The Creative School can share their creativity,” she said.

RTA Media professor Kathleen Pirrie-Adams
TMU community members at the launch of the Assembly Gallery

Student work on display

The first exhibit, titled Spaces & Stuff, is now on display at the Assembly Gallery, curated by fourth-year Interior Design students Grace Robertson, Kiran Qureishi and Roxana Cordon-Ibanez. The exhibit aims to acknowledge the character of spaces that are often changeable, to appreciate the complexity of lived-in interiors and to ensure that designs are created with intention and sensitivity.   

Robertson, one of the students that co-curated the exhibit, said she was able to take the techniques she has learned in interior design classes and apply them to the concepts presented in Spaces & Stuff. 

Students participate in an activity at the launch of the Assembly Gallery
Dean Charles Falzon and RTA Media professor Kathleen Pirrie-Adams talking

“The most enjoyable part of curating this exhibition was arranging everyday items in a gallery style fashion. This emphasized our concept of the celebration of our collective found spaces,” she said. “I hope the audience is able to look at the work of the students and find the beauty in how we consciously or not, curate our own spaces. The line work is truly mesmerizing and offers the viewers a unique perspective of a space and its contents.”

The Assembly Gallery is now available for viewing at the Image Arts building on campus, from Tuesday to Friday 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. 

The Creative School at Toronto Metropolitan University

The Creative School is a dynamic faculty that is making a difference in new, unexplored ways. Made up of Canada’s top professional schools and transdisciplinary hubs in media, communication, design and cultural industries, The Creative School offers students an unparalleled global experience in the heart of downtown Toronto.