Two FOFA Gallery shows feature immersive artworks and talks on labour, reuse and sustainability

As the summer wanes, Concordia’s FOFA Gallery is inviting audiences to immerse themselves in two compelling exhibitions. Too Good to Waste and paper_work.doc (on until September 6) offer works and interactive programming that explore themes of sustainability, materiality and labour dynamics.

Both shows feature a diverse range of artistic practices and dialogues that challenge traditional notions of artmaking and exhibition processes. Building on the gallery’s ongoing sustainability work, they emphasize the importance of sustainability and thoughtful engagement in the art world, reflecting broader societal shifts toward more eco-conscious and relational practices.

“The guiding question for this project was ‘who and what sustains an exhibition, and how can we embody these roles in ways that are healthy, ethical and ecologically conscious?’” explains María Andreína Escalona De Abreu, BFA 22, curator of paper_work.doc. “One of my answers is at the heart of the exhibition: we must be intentional about social and human dynamics and material resources.”

The final result showcases a hybrid of office space and papermaking studio with artworks, demonstrations, contributions and workshops by Eli Bjedov-Stanković, Joé Côté-R, maya rae oppenheimer, Jason Sikoak, Geneviève Wallen, Pierina Corzo-Valero, Céline Bureau Residency, Concordia University Centre for Creative Reuse (CUCCR), Concordia’s Fibres & Material Practices Department, Recycla (formerly CP3, Concordia Precious Plastic Project), and the curator herself.

“We explore sustainable materials like recycled paper, plants and leftover yarn, while also focusing on transparency and participatory activities that invite the public to engage with the artistic process,” Escalona De Abreu adds.

Her vision is apparent in the exhibition’s setup, featuring recycled plastic signage, repurposed furniture and non-toxic adhesives. “We’re constantly evolving and questioning: is what I’m doing sustainable for myself, my time, my capacity, my community and the environment?”

Celebrating creative waste transformation

Too Good to Waste, curated by gallery director Nicole Burisch (MA 2011), explores themes of labour, material care, reuse and sustainability in the gallery’s York Vitrines. The exhibition features work by Adam Basanta, Ari Bayuaji, Alexa Kumiko Hatanaka and Kelly Jazvac. Each artist uses innovative approaches to repurpose discarded materials or scraps.

“This show reflects on the value of what we often discard or overlook. It’s a celebration of material knowledge and creative transformation,” Burisch says. “By engaging with artists who use discarded materials, we invite viewers to reconsider their relationship with waste and the potential for art to transform and revalue what might otherwise be thrown away.’”

Both exhibitions are complemented by ongoing activities, including Office hours of paper_work.doc, which allow visitors to engage directly with papermaking and curatorial practices on Wednesdays to Fridays from 2 to 6 p.m. (excluding September 6).

Upcoming talks and workshops

A week of talks and workshops starting August 25 will accompany the exhibitions. This series provides an opportunity for deeper exploration into the themes of the two shows, fostering dialogue among artists, curators and the public:

• Roundtable with Livart: artists and curators discuss themes of care, community-building and sustainable practices in the arts. Panelists include artists Béatrice Dubreuil, Isadora-Ayesha Lima and Niti Marcelle Mueth, alongside Geneviève Wallen, Chloë Lalonde and Escalona. They will explore how to cultivate a more intentional and nurturing art environment. August 25 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.
• The Gossip Monger by maya rae oppenheimer: this participatory artwork will examine the role of gossip in office dynamics. The artist will collect and transcribe gossip contributions onto handmade paper, offering a unique commentary on communication and its effects. August 26 from 12 to 6 p.m.
• Relational Ethics in the Arts with Geneviève Wallen: this workshop will delve into establishing healthy collaborative relationships within artistic institutions. Wallen will share her approach to implementing care clauses in work contracts and invite participants to develop their own care agreements. August 28 from 3 to 6 p.m.
• Patterning workshop and talk: Jason Sikoak will demonstrate hand-drawn Inukaluk patterns and discuss Indigenous sustainable practices, highlighting the intersection of art and environmental stewardship. August 29 from 3 to 6 p.m.

The programming culminates with both a curatorial walk-through as curators Nicole Burisch and María Andreína Escalona De Abreu will offer a guided tour of the two exhibitions (September 5 at 4 p.m.) followed by a finissage on September 5 from 5 to 7 p.m., marking the closing of the exhibitions with a celebration of the work and discussions that have taken place.

Visit the latest exhibitions and related programming at Concordia’s FOFA Gallery. Too Good to Waste and paper_work.doc are on view until September 6.