A student-led group from Concordia’s Faculty of Fine Arts earns top environmental prize from Forces AVENIR

Concordia’s Sustainable Studios has earned the top Environmental prize at this year’s Forces AVENIR awards. The award was presented at a ceremony in Quebec City on October 1.

Forces AVENIR recognizes, honours and promotes student involvement in projects that contribute to developing conscious, responsible, active and resilient citizens. Winning the top honours was a huge boon to the Ceramics program students behind the project, says Teresa Dorey, a graduate student in the program and the Sustainable Studios director.

“It was very encouraging to be recognized and receive the award. Sometimes you wonder about the impact you’re having as well as the sustainability of a project, especially with limited funding and the number of volunteer hours dedicated to the project's continuity. It was a great boost.”

Dorey adds that she believes there is significant potential for growth and community-building through this win.

The Sustainable Studios project was initially selected as a Forces AVENIR finalist, receiving $2,000. Becoming a laureate means receiving an additional $2,000, plus a trophy.

The inspiration for Sustainable Studios began in 2022, under the tutelage of associate professor of ceramics Linda Swanson, with funding from the Concordia Individual Seed Grant Program. Originally focused on individual research projects sourcing local clay and glaze materials, it grew thanks to support from the Sustainability Action Fund. That was after the project was formalized by student Joel Young, its first coordinator.

Since its inception, Sustainable Studios has reduced water consumption by 80 per cent, saving more than 22,000 litres of water. “Water conservation is one of the most direct ways you can have less of an environmental impact, and it’s very achievable and affordable,” Dorey explains.

“Instead of running water to wash your tools, you use a three-bucket system with standing water. Each bucket is cycled out weekly, and the clay at the bottom can be recouped and reused.”

Creative solutions to environmental problems

The student-led initiative has supported a circular economy by using recycled materials to reduce waste. It has now grown to include over 500 people from various faculties through workshops, events and online platforms such as Instagram.

The project has also contributed to Concordia's Sustainability Action Plan targets, particularly waste reduction and curriculum enhancement. And it was certified Platinum by Concordia’s Sustainability Office for creating a community that strives to learn to be more mindful of the environment within their personal and collective practices.

The initiative, primarily focused on waste management in ceramics, has successfully engaged various stakeholders, including research assistants, faculty, staff, students and industry partners, while leading to new student-led initiatives.

“When you think about studio arts, you don’t necessarily think about sustainability,” says Dorey. “But I truly believe that the way that artists think and the way that Studio Art teachers at Concordia structure the program really encourages problem-solving, which can impact creative solutions to environmental problems.”

The heavy extraction of ceramics materials from the earth can have widespread negative environmental and social impacts. Dorey says the skills students are learning in investigating more sustainable materials and practices are extremely relevant to working as artists during this precarious time.

“Working together as a community through this project can help teach the skills needed to adapt to local, more informed, and ethical studio practices. I genuinely believe that these actions on a micro scale can lead to an impact on the macro scale, something I am investigating in my artistic practice,” she adds.

In addition to Dorey and Young, five other ceramics students were involved in the leadership of the award-winning project: Sara Mericle, Armando Cuspinera, Marianne Lefebvre Campbell, Owen Herlin and Babita Sharma. Loriane Thibodeau and Althea Mamaril hosted additional workshops on recycling and repairing ceramics.

Dorey and Swanson are also working alongside Daniel Gillberg, an MFA student, and Marie-Pier Laverdière, ceramics and sculpture technician, to further sustainability research in ceramics at Concordia. Among the group’s projects are a fuel-efficient, wood rocket kiln made from a repurposed broken electrical kiln. The group is also researching local materials to reduce firing time and use lower temperatures; using reclaimed materials, such as glass from Concordia’s Loyola labs; and collaborating with other departments toward improving sustainability practices.    

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