Carleton University students gathered in the pit of the Architecture Building on March 12 to display their art in a vibrant showcase.
From photographs to watercolour paintings, the event offered an opportunity for students — many from non-arts focused programs — to share artistic passions outside their academic fields.
The event was a collaboration between the Carleton Art History Undergraduate Society and the History and Theory of Architecture Society.
Jayde Marcoux, one of the event’s organizers and a theory and history of architecture student, said there aren’t many opportunities to draw or create in her writing-focused program. She said events like the showcase provide an outlet for all students to create and share art.
“A lot of the programs people are in aren’t really artistic and we just wanted people to have a space to show off our pieces,” she said. “It’s also a great way to build skills and get feedback on portfolios for those wanting to apply to a master’s in architecture program.”
Bahra Beniamin, a first-year theory and history of architecture student, displayed four pieces inspired by borders between himself and society. Each piece tells the story of being turned away from society and eventually reaching a point of self-acceptance.
One of the mixed medium pieces helped Beniamin process homesickness being away from his childhood home in Toronto. In the artwork, Beniamin is depicted in a grey charcoal and graphite bubble, separated from a park he used to walk through near his house, which is brought to life using acrylic and pencil crayons.
“It’s kind of like the bubble that you create when you push everything away,” he said.
Parneet Thethy, a third-year electrical engineering student, displayed a watercolour painting about a longing for peace amid the busyness of never-ending school deadlines.
In the painting, a person sleeps in a bed of stars against a dark navy blue sky.
Thethy said she created the piece as a much-needed break from the stress of academic life and its constant deadlines. Unlike a lab report, “I don’t have to be technical about it. I don’t have to prove anything,” she said.
The showcase offered a space for students’ pieces that would normally stay hidden, tucked away in a back closet.
When Ulises Gonzalez, a second-year history and theory of architecture student, saw an advertisement for the event, he decided to sign up to display pieces from his portfolio.
His work is based on contrasting rigid structure and fluidity in architecture.
In one piece, a tree connects buildings from the Gothic and Romanesque periods to modern, partially constructed buildings. Gonzalez said the modern buildings are reaching down to the historic architecture to seek inspiration.
“It’s playing with the idea that architecture is not a fixed endpoint — it’s still evolving in the future,” he said.
For many students, it was their first time participating in an art showcase, but for Thethy it might not be her last.
“This was a huge jump, but I’m so glad that I applied because it opened up my confidence to pursue [showcasing my art] more,” she said.
Ellen Kim, a third-year history and theory of architecture student who was also participating in a showcase for the first time, described the event as a great place to build community and bring people together around similar interests.
“I’m glad I participated and I’m glad that everyone showed up. It was really fun.”
Featured image by Miriam Visser/The Charlatan.
