Danielle Greer

Why did you choose to attend OCAD U? 

When I was applying to university I applied to 4 different programs at 4 different schools - Dance, Landscape Architecture, Fashion Design and Photography. I had no idea what I wanted to do but I knew that I wanted it to be in some sort of creative field. Shortly after applying, I decided I wanted to go to OCAD U. It felt like a place where I would be able to explore most of these options without limitations, and with room to explore more. At the time these 4 areas seemed worlds apart but now, working in exhibition production, I’ve had the opportunity to be involved in all of these areas, and more. Although the path I took from OCAD U was full of twists and turns, it was a great base to start from and it has helped inform everything that I do professionally. 

Please briefly describe your current job/practice. 

I currently work with artists and arts institutions to produce exhibitions and artists projects 

How did you get started in your career? 

When I finished school I had many part-time jobs to make ends meet. I work as an assistant to many artists, made props for film, worked in a bar and many other things to make ends meet. To be honest, I was a bit lost in terms of what I wanted to do and how I wanted to shape my professional career. A friend had recommended that I put my name in at some galleries in the city as an art installer and I was brought on as part of an installation crew. I had very little experience in this field but really enjoyed being able to work with artists and be a part of the exhibition production process. From there I set out trying to learn as much as I could from everyone involved in the process of exhibition-making that I encountered including the artists, curators, designers, producers and the more experienced installation technicians. Having access to so many different perspectives and being open to learning the importance of the role each person plays in the process gave me a broader perspective that helped me establish my career. 

What were your policies regarding internships, volunteering, and paid work? 

Having worked mostly in a freelance capacity since leaving school I really feel that people should be compensated in some way for their labour. Does that always mean being paid financially? I really feel like that is up to each individual to figure out what the value of their labour is. Sometimes it is volunteering to gain access to free studio space or knowledge of an industry. Sometimes internships turn into paid positions or invaluable knowledge that can be used to gain another position. And sometimes it’s charging a rate for your skills or services. 

What do you enjoy most about your work? What is the most challenging aspect of your work? 

What I most enjoy about my work is that I am involved in the process of making art every day. Sometimes it’s physically making artworks and installations and sometimes it’s working through the logistics of bringing an artist or curator’s vision to completion. The most challenging part for me would probably be working freelance. It can feel like a bit of a juggling act at times. I’m often working on multiple projects at the same time while planning future projects and trying to get paid for past ones. It can be a lot of work to stay on top of everything, but for all the challenges, I enjoy the freedom and variety. 

What skills or relationships developed at OCAD U helped you participate in your field? Is there anything you would have done differently? 

For me, I think the most important thing was learning how to think critically and form my own ideas and opinions within the art and design processes. So much of the work that I do lives in the grey area between these two areas; one informing the other and vice versa. It can be easy for students to place themselves in one box or the other but in my experiences having the versatility to think outside of the restrictions of those boxes has helped me come up with new creative solutions. 

What are the key responsibilities you maintain for your practice? 

Sometimes when people ask me what I do for a living I tell them that I am a Professional Problem Solver, which is often followed by a look of complete confusion. To me, this feels like the most accurate description of what I do as an Exhibition Producer. I am usually working on a tight deadline and need to be able to accurately understand the concepts of the artists and curators and then figure out how to construct those concepts in physical space within the parameters of a strict budget and amount of time. 

Communication is a huge part of that process for me. Trying to describe what one sees in their mind can often be difficult so I like to spend a lot of time discussing and drawing out ideas, oftentimes figuring out what something isn’t in order to figure out what it is. 

Staying organized and having a work-back schedule is also very important. So often in the exhibition process ideas and concepts shift and evolve so having a clear timeline makes it easier to keep the project on schedule while adapting ideas. 

And one of the biggest things for me is being open- to new ideas and acquiring new skills. I like to think of my experiences as a type of imaginary toolbox, with every new skill or problem solved is added to my collection of ‘tools’. So often I take these skills or bits of knowledge and use them in ways they were not intended to be used to come up with creative solutions in the exhibition process.

What are your personal and professional goals for the coming years? 

My main goal is to keep pushing myself to work more independently on bigger projects and to keep learning and acquiring more skills. And who knows, maybe there will be another twist in the path that will lead me to someplace new.