U of T Scarborough Studio Art Student Panels

In conjunction with the exhibition In the Moment, the Studio Art program (Department of Arts, Culture & Media, U of T Scarborough) and Doris McCarthy Gallery are hosting two virtual panel discussions that take a deeper look at some the themes and projects included in the exhibition, featuring presentations from students about their work and conversations moderated by two esteemed guests: museum educator, Melissa Mertsis, and art critic, John Nyman.

In the Moment: Emotional Resonance
Tuesday, April 27, 2021
7 - 8:30 pm

Moderated by Melissa Mertsis, in conversation with artists:
Zi Yan Bai: Mourn and Comfort
Jaihan Dean: Soul Ties
Ujwal Mantha: Headspace
Noah Hanyue Qin: The Heart of You

In the Moment: Shifting Environments
Thursday, April 29, 2021
7 - 8:30 pm

Moderated by John Nyman, in conversation with artists:
Laura Alcazar Prada: Mis Raíces
Hongpan Lung: Internet Frustration
Sophie Parker: The Buddha’s Aura
Sylvie Stojanovski: Semblance Scapes

Melissa Mertsis is a second-year Master of Museum Studies professional interested in education and programming. Throughout the completion of her Master's degree, Melissa focused her research projects on hands-on learning and free-choice learning environments, in addition to creating various arts- and science-based programs for families and youth. Melissa's capstone project included the creation of The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery's 2021 Family Guide, encouraging children and their families to think critically about contemporary art and engage with the artworks in a meaningful way. Melissa is passionate about the power that artistic expression holds for mental well-being, and is a strong advocate for arts-based therapy and mindfulness activities. In her spare time, Melissa enjoys knitting, exploring watercolours, and practicing calligraphy and card-making.

John Nyman is a poet and critic from Toronto. He has published both traditional and experimental poetry in chapbooks (most recently The Devil, 2020) and a trade collection (Players, 2016), and his reviews of books, visual art, and the performing arts have been featured in magazines such as Broken Pencil, Border Crossings, C Magazine, and Opera Canada. In 2018 he completely his PhD in Theory and Criticism at Western University, where he studied Jacques Derrida's "writing under erasure" and the hybrid literary/visual genre of erasure poetry. John currently serves on the editorial committee for Peripheral Review and is a member of the plumb art gallery collective.