The Learning Zone

For the last two years, it has been a great privilege to have Environmental Design student Aruvi Rajasingham working in the Learning Zone as a Student Monitor. Many of you most likely have encountered Aruvi across campus either as a long-serving Student Peer Mentor for Campus Life, or busy with environmental design installations for GradEx.

Aruvi has been interested in the design process, ever since studying technological and industrial design in High School where she learned about making wallets out of duct-tape, and paper airplane making.

LZ: What influenced your decision to major in Environmental Design?

AR: This program offered me the opportunity to explore with many different types of materials and 3D design. I really enjoy the design process of experimenting, prototyping and making 3D objects, that was my interest in the design field, specifically environmental design. It was something new to me and I wanted to give it a try.

What did you enjoy most about your program?

I enjoyed the flexibility in the approaches towards your work. It is not a definitive answer in what you have to produce. You can be explorative in the project that you are given and creative with materials and design thinking.

I would say the people too, especially when I started to engage more in group projects. It was fun to work with different people.

Why did you choose OCAD University?

I choose OCAD because after researching other programs at universities I was excited that I could make things (studio environment). OCAD offered a hands-on experience and studio access. I could make things in an environment that allowed me to be experimental.

Through researching, I was looking for what other programs interested me, I knew that it had to be hands on. I found OCAD and it had this program. If offered me hands-on and studio. It excited me a lot that I could make things. I only applied to Toronto schools, so that I could commute from home. For financial reasons.

Where are you most productive? Tell us a bit about your creative space?

 I like working near a window with natural daylight.

I’ve noticed that you have been involved in many collaborative projects at OCAD U. Do you think that collaboration goes hand in hand with innovation?

Yes, it does. It makes a fun way of learning. Everyone has a diverse set of skills. They have knowledge about something that you do not know about. Working in a team already puts you in a situation with many different people, and a lot of ideas that can come from that.

Working with the Steam collective on the Steam Canoe Installation, I did not know a lot about building but by being part of the process you learn things – seeing things and being there.

The Steam Canoe, Beaches Winter Stations Installation (Winter 2016)

Any final thoughts that you would like to share with us?

It’s always nice to get involved around the community in something you are interested in. It’s a fun way to meet new friends and learn, even if it’s volunteering.

grOCAD Exhibition is the latest installation in the Learning Zone. This exhibition highlights grOCAD’s explorations, workshops and on-campus installations focusing on urban agriculture and sustainable practices since the group’s inception in 2011.

grOCAD is one of OCAD University many diverse student groups on campus, with an active interest in community building through plant life.

On exhibit are a small series of colour prints of concept drawings illustrating the creative process behind the works installed on campus, or exhibited at gallery shows.  Projects include the Pedal Farm Exhibition, Living Wall, 3^rd iteration of Windowfarm, Moss Exhibition, and raised planters constructed during O-days.

The centre piece of this exhibition is the grOCAD banner capturing the collective spirit of the members working together from 2011 to 2016.

On until the end of September.

What’s new at the Learning Zone for 2017?

The Learning Zone will be hosting upcoming exhibitions including a reading event, and awesome zine workshops exploring creative DIY approaches to zine-making. Career Development Résumé/CV, Portfolio and Interview Skills Drop-In Clinics returns this year, offering professional skill sets that will contribute to your long-term success. Writing Learning Centre (WLC) Drop-in Tutoring Sessions will also be available, providing useful skills for thesis writing, brainstorming, studying for essays to name a few.

Please, join us at the Learning Zone — we always look forward to your visits.

A call of submissions for TEXThibit : An Exhibition of Creative Writing by OCAD U Students has been extended to January 30. This exhibition will consist of an visual selection of writings by students at OCAD U, displayed as large format installations on the walls of the Learning Zone Gallery February 2017.  All writing styles are welcomed — submissions of short stories, poetry, non-fiction and anything in between.

grOCAD is having a plant sale. Join them Friday January 20, in the lobby of the Main Building. Baby spider plants, aloe and more from the plant propagation workshop held last November in the Learning Zone will be on sale.

 grOCAD is a community of OCAD U students, faculty and staff working together to integrate plant life into our everyday experience by cultivating areas in and around OCAD U’s campus.

Interested in seeing some of grOCAD’s on-going projects? Visit us at the Learning Zone and have a look at grOCAD’s Windowfarm and Aquafarm installations.

Connect with grOCAD’s at grOCAD Public Group | Facebook or email ocadgrows@gmail.com.

Are you looking for space to meet, host workshops or events? Contact us to discuss. The Learning Zone also accepts proposals for solo or group exhibitions. To learn more about our submissions guidelines contact Marta Chudolinska, Learning Zone Librarian, mchudolinska@ocadu.ca or visit http://bit.ly/2joAd3Y for more details.

Last month, grOCAD held a plant propagation workshop in the Learning Zone with Learning Zone Librarian Marta Chudolinska. Marta shared her experience and expertise in a hands-on demonstration of propagating new plants from one plant.

The basic principles of plant propagation were covered, sharing various methods; cuttings, layering and division.

Photo by Olivia Grossi

Everyone had an awesome time getting their hands dirty; propagating aloe vera, jade plant leaves, Christmas cactus, plus golden pothos, snake plants and spider plants from grOCAD’s Windowfarm.

We’ll keep you updated on the progress of our new baby plants, and what we’ve learned from the experience.

Photo by Aruvi Rajassingham

Here are some easy steps to follow to propagate snake plant leaf cutting:

1. Use a sharp, clean utility knife or pair of scissors to remove an entire snake plant leaf
2. Cut into sections 2 – 4 inches long. Keep track of the top and bottom of the leaves. Leaves will not root if planted upside down
3. Let the cuttings callus over for a day or two
4. Place the bottom of the plant into well draining potting soil mix, not to deep
5. Keep soil moist, not soggy
6. Do not place leaf in direct sunlight. Keep warm and in brightly lit area

Want to get involved with grOCAD? Visit grOCAD Public Group Facebook!

grOCAD is a group of students, faculty, and staff who are working together to integrate plant life to our everyday experience by cultivating areas in and around OCAD U’s campus. grOCAD’s aim is to increase healthy food accessibility, encourage discourse about how plants improve quality of life and heighten awareness.

Finally, it’s growing season and the threat of frost is finally behind us. It’s time to bring out your gardening books, sharpen your tools, ideas and gather seeds, if you have not already.

Visit OCAD University’s Dorothy H. Hoover Library this month and check out the Gardens, Plants and Landscape Design display featuring a selection of books from the library’s collection from Monet’s garden design and Vita Sackville-West essays to Guerrilla gardening including Middle East Garden traditions. To see more: OCAD U Library LibGuides

Then drop by Library Services Learning Zone and visit the OCAD Seed Library. The OCAD Seed Library collection has a selection of seeds for you to grow your own culinary garden—it’s not too late! The OCAD Seed Library is partnered with the Toronto Seed Library bringing seeds and seed saving practices to the OCAD U community.

OCAD Zine Library

Looking for a space to start your garden? You can join Toronto Community Garden Network, do container gardening on your balcony or rooftop or build your own hydroponic window farm.