As part of my appointment as coordinator of the NEWOne program at New College (UofT) I welcomed Daniel Jay, a Professor of Developmental, Molecular and Chemical Biology at Tufts University. Dr. Jay combines scientific knowledge and artistic expression to explore and raise awareness about issues pertaining to social justice. During a workshop titled “Archemy” we turned the William Doo Auditorium into a giant art studio. Students of NewONE and other members of the University of Toronto were invited to use the components of gunpowder, charcoal (black), sulfur (yellow) and potassium nitrate (white beads) to make artworks – I will spare the reader the ordeal of acquiring the latter ;-). The goal was to use the process of making art collectively to initiate difficult dialogues and discussions about gun violence, police brutality and world conflict. When mixed together, the elements of gun powder form an explosive compound but in this case, they are kept separated and mixed with clear acrylic. Students received kits containing the three colors and a set of paint brushes, and were instructed to work in groups. The result was a variety of artworks and site specific interventions which were then presented to the rest of the participants. Impressions on the experience from some students ranged from “healing” to “eye opening”. Importantly, students had a chance to engage in unstructured, yet critical dialogues while doing and collaborating on a common project. This activity was particularly meaningful as our event occurred on week 2, an important time for students to bond and make alliances.
The final artworks have been saved and will be exhibited to the community at large during the NewONE Knowledge Fair which will take place on November 28 at the William Doo Auditorium.
