Farihah Shah

What Program did you graduate from and when?

Photography major and a minor in Integrated Media.

What is your current title or role? (ie. freelance designer, art practitioner, etc.)

Program Coordinator, Experiential Learning in the OCAD U’s Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers (CEAD). I identify as a lens-based artist in my freelance practice.

Why did you choose to attend OCAD U?

OCAD U is the only art/design school I wanted to go to because of the facilities for analogue printing in photography. My goal was to end up in Fine Arts. I knew I wasn’t interested in doing commercial photography and needed a creative outlet.

Something that also helped my decision was the Ontario University Fair. I spoke to representatives at Ryerson and U of T, but the representatives at OCAD U were personable, answered all of my questions and encouraged me to go to the open house. I knew what I wanted, and I also knew I’d be paying for university out of pocket, so I wanted to invest wisely in my education. At the OCAD U open house, I saw the work that was being made by students, met OCAD U Technicians, and toured the facilities. This helped me to make my decision

Please briefly describe your current job/practice.

In the CEAD, I facilitate relationships between new and existing partners for for-credit placements for undergraduate and master's students. My other duties include advising, facilitating workshops and resource development within the scope of the CEAD.

My practice is mostly in Fine/Contemporary Art. Through my work, I explore my cultural identity, land as it pertains to identity (including landscape) and collective memory through photography, media, installation and soundscapes. The more people ask where I am from, the more I strive to answer that question for myself. I enjoy exploring my background. I’ve always been interested in history. 

How did you get started in your career? 

As an artist, I was always interested in photography. My dad had a 35mm camera that I wasn’t allowed to use until I learned the basics of using it correctly, and so, I took a class in high school. We had access to a darkroom that I used as much as I could. 

After high school, I went to business school for HR. After completing that degree, I decided to pursue photography as a career. In my 4th year at OCAD U, I applied for the Artscape Youngplace Career Launcher and was in a group show. From the group show, I was selected to be the recipient of the solo show. After completing my thesis body of work Prefix, I doubted whether I had it in me to make another body of work. The Career Launcher opportunity challenged me to make new work without the pressure of professors or being in a class environment. The Career Launcher gave me a chance to spread my wings and gave me confidence that I am an artist. The new series gave me a lot of credibility and notoriety with various organizations such as Artscape Young Place, Critical Distance and Koffler, who I didn’t know were checking out my work. I didn’t realize the impact of my work until I met folks years later and they told me they have been following my work since the show in 2016.

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

I wasn’t able to do internships as an OCAD student because I was also working full time. I volunteered for OCAD U Graduate Exhibition. After receiving the Career Launcher opportunity, I volunteered to be on the jury to make upcoming selections. I took a year off from school in between OCAD U and York. I forgot how to be a student. My 1st year was understanding how to be successful in this type of university. I asked a lot of questions to technicians, professors, students and staff and got involved in a lot more at OCAD U than I did at York.         

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

I am constantly challenged to think about what the best solution will be for the student I am meeting with. Our approach is not cookie cutter. I want to make sure I understand every student I speak to find creative ways to solve any problems they may be facing. I’m always excited to see student work. I’m often blown away by some of the 1st/2nd-year students, their passion and drive. 

I enjoy building a lot of relationships that benefit my artistic practice. Building a community has helped me to keep a thumb on the pulse of what’s happening in Toronto.

Time is a challenge. When do you stop and take a break from making work? I often feel guilty about not putting time into making new work. I am a commuter, so when taking the train, I get strong ideas about projects I am working on. I have to remind myself that it’s okay to take a break. 

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

My Professors in 2nd year helped me a lot. I had Marc Losier for two classes a week. I had a car accident that year and told him about it. His critiques were amazing. He told me I had good ideas but poor execution and to either focus on the conceptual side or execution. I went to his office hours and fleshed out my ideas more, and spent more time understanding different avenues of expression in the arts. I experimented with video, editing on a laptop, performing in front of a camera, exploring movement and how it’s related to photography. I began to understand what media the work needs to be in for the right expression I was trying to get across. I dove deeper into knowing what skills to improve. Jenn Long and Marc in 3rd year ran Art Camp - a residency between OCAD U and Ryerson. Marc encouraged me to apply. This was the first exhibition experience and the first time applying for a show. Through this experience, I built a relationship with Jenn, who became my thesis advisor. That relationship has led to other relationships. I’m thankful that Jenn and I kept in touch. She shared opportunities to volunteer, apply for shows, and speaking engagements that then become paid. I built a relationship with folks from the CEAD and kept in touch with Miles Collyer. I built connections with technicians while I was a student. Shout out to Hugh Martin – who I still go to for my printing and mounting to this day. The OCAD U Photo community is very strong. Our 2016 graduating year keep in touch with each other. Because of connections with fellow alumni, a few of us did the CONTACT Photography Festival together. These are the people I bounce ideas off of when working on new projects. It was important for me to find folks who have the strengths I was working on and this helped me to learn things I couldn’t learn in the classroom. My advice is to use all the resources OCAD U offers. I got a peer mentor in 1st year and was a peer mentor in 2nd year. Shout out to Brent James! 

What are the key responsibilities you maintain for your practice? 

Organization. Knowing when open calls are in advance so I can prepare materials to submit. Keeping an eye out. Attending shows to get a good understanding of different types of work represented by that gallery or space. Networking. Introduce yourself to other artists. Collaborate on projects. Through my connection with the CEAD, at GradEx, I was introduced to Alexandra Hong, Founder and Co-Director of the art collective, Madeleine Co. At the time, Madeleine Co. was working with Alia Weston and Zev Farber (CEAD), on a short pilot project, which eventually became the CBC Arts digital series This Art Works!   

My advice is to always be genuine in your connections and collaborations.  

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

I want to push and explore my practice, make new work and find new creative outlets and collaborations. And, I want to buy studio equipment.

In my professional work, I enjoy resource development, classroom engagement, delivering classroom presentations, building new partnerships through personal relationships. I have always wanted to work at OCAD U, so I feel very lucky to be living the dream.