Oji-Cree artist to show work at Grad Ex

Karalyn Reuben will present her work as part of this year’s Grad Ex exhibition, OCAD University’s annual graduation art exhibit in Toronto. This year, GradEx will run from May 3 to May 6 and will spread across four buildings of OCAD University’s McCaul Street campus, including the Sharp Centre for Design.

The Oji-Cree artist describes her piece in the show “in search of: an all encompassing knowledge” as “a response to the absence of an intimate and cultural connection across the land of my People and the place I currently live.

From the Intagram account of the artist

“This work is a series of large scale images depicting land, sky, water, that were sourced from drive-by photographs shot on a number of road trips outside of Toronto with my father. By manipulating these images, I address the absence of intimacy I have had with the land, sky and water. Each work articulates the ongoing teachings offered to me from my father, which are also supported through my research on Anishinaabe traditional knowledge.”

GradEx showcases the work of OCAD’s Class of 2018 and is Toronto’s biggest free art and design exhibition featuring the creativity of 900 students. It drew 45,000 visitors in 2017.

One graduating student from each of the 24 programs will receive the OCAD University Medal, acknowledging creativity, mastery of technique and high academic standards. The university will announce the names of the medal winners on opening night, May 3.

“It’s our great pleasure to invite the public to see the exciting work and fresh ideas of our graduating students, who are ready to launch careers in fields ranging from game design to visual art to advertising,” said Dr. Sara Diamond, president and vice-chancellor.

“While we celebrate our graduating students, we also celebrate the immense talent of the faculty and academic staff who have fostered flexible thinking, risk-taking and creative problem-solving in this group of emerging artists and designers.”

The exhibition provides an opportunity for employers to find new talent for hiring opportunities. Student works will be available for purchase, and programs including Photography and Printmaking will hold feature sales. For details and a complete event schedule, visit http://www.ocadu.ca/gradex.

Art work by Karalyn Reuben.