OCAD U launches Sustainable Colour Lab

Driving sustainability forward is a key priority at OCAD University.

That is why the University is launching the new lab—the OCAD U Sustainable Colour Lab (SCL).

This new, interdisciplinary space and community at OCAD U is dedicated to sustainable colour material research for artists and designers.

“The lab was inspired by the long tradition of materials-based studio pedagogy in the Drawing and Painting and Illustration programs combined with a growing Pedagogy of the Land through the Indigenous Visual Culture Program,” explains Associate Professor Nicole Collins, who co-leads the lab with Assistant Professor Julia Rose Sutherland and Associate Professor and Chair of the Illustration program Lauchlan Reid.

“Our work is in response to a local and global movement of creative people seeking a deeper connection with place and the materials used to create,” she says.

The lab offers a space to investigate the sourcing and production of material colour more deeply and share outcomes within a community of artists, designers, students and scholars to realize the full potential of materials in art and design.

Collins says programming is under development and the lab will be accessible to OCAD U students, faculty and staff through an application process.

Eighteen OCAD U community members will have first access to the space, located in room 466 at 100 McCaul St., through a series of workshops with Collins, Sutherland and Reid, with guest artist Lauren Nurse, in September and October.

“Currently the lab houses manual/analog equipment and tools for the production, processing and development of plant-based and mineral pigments, dyes, inks, oil paints and other biodegradable paints,” says Collins. “We are seeking funding to expand capacity with rock crushing and pulverizing machinery and a three-roll mill for small scale production of oil paints.”

LAUNCH TAKES PLACE ON SEPT. 20

The lab’s launch takes place on September 20 during the fall speaker series event organized by the University-affiliated Global Centre for Climate Action.

Material Value takes place at 113 McCaul St. from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in room 525 and features a conversation between Collins and artist Anong Migwans Beam (BEAM Paints), followed by a question-and-answer period with the audience.

RSVP for Material Value and the launch of the SCL on Eventbrite.