Creative Thinking
CO-LAB offers a Forum for Artists to Share
As a student in Montreal, do you ever wonder what your peers in other creative fields are working on? Ever dream of a collaborative space where you can share ideas and art of all kinds? The organizers of CO-LAB are on the same page.
CO-LAB is an idea-sharing platform that works in collaboration with The Plant, an informal venue based in one of the Van Horne lofts. It is a collection of personal projects made by people in search of an audience that would not only act as spectators but also as critics.
“We rarely hear enough about what friends in other fields are working on. This is a chance to share knowledge that we have gathered, to learn from others, and to provide a forum for new collaborations,” said Debbie So, one of the event’s organizers.
The events bring together an assortment of people with different interests who are not afraid to expose their work to the
public. The exhibit’s structure consists of a ten-minute presentation of each work, followed by a ten-minute discussion, in which everyone participates and gives their personal insight. There are several panels where the main discussion points throughout the day are written.
“It is almost a school format-like exposition. Some people even decide to include PowerPoint presentations,” said So. The inspiration came mainly from graduate students who wanted to share their extensive knowledge on their thesis topics, but who instead were isolated in classroom settings. “One of the motivators came from casual conversations between interesting people we knew and [we] wanted to hear more,” said So.
The project gives students the chance to come out of the typically individualistic structure of school to validate unnoticed work through sharing. Students don’t usually get the opportunity to find out what their peers think of the work they accomplished. This is a chance to get some recognition and insightful criticism.
So states that the “presentations don’t need to be school-related, thought they can be. You don’t need to plan what you’ll say in advance, though you can if you want. You don’t need to be a student to participate, but you can be.”
The submissions can differ in topics and are usually separated according to themes. These can go from something that excites you or troubles you about your field or job, to a creative project you have worked on, to a paper you have written or even a film you have made.
The field is open to any type of creative or scholarly project. If you seek an appreciation for your personal work, CO-LAB is accepting submissions until Sept. 2. Interested participants should send a title and a few lines about what you’d like to present, along with any audio-visual needs, to colabmtl@gmail.com.
CO-LAB will open its doors Friday, Sept. 9 between 5:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. at The Plant located on Van Horne corner Esplanade.
This article originally appeared in Volume 32, Issue 01, published August 30, 2011.
