Grad Students Depict their Research Journey through Art
Typically, the research of graduate students in the Faculty of Public and Global Affairs is represented in the form of articles and documents.
But this year FPGA graduate students were invited to represent their graduate research in a new way: by offering a visual expression of their research as they prepare for the next stage of their journey.
The exhibit Journey of a Changemaker is a collection of these works displayed on the 4th floor of the MacOdrum Library. The hope is it will inspire future students to see themselves as part of a community of changemakers and to consider pursuing a degree in the Faculty of Public and Global Affairs.
The project was designed by Leo Solano, FPGA’s communications officer for digital campaigns.
“Working with students on these pieces reminded me what being a change maker really looks like. It’s not just big speeches or bold visions. It’s the quiet, consistent work of shaping something meaningful, together. Conversations turning into sketches. Sketches turning into form. And form becoming something that invites others to pause, reflect, and feel,” said Solano.
“For many of the students, this was unfamiliar territory. They are used to working with words, ideas, arguments. But here, they were asked to think visually. To create something artistic, something tangible.”
Solano’s reflections were echoed by many of the participants. They included:
- Sunitha Bisan, Law and Legal Studies & Political Economy
- Jeffrey Bradley, Criminology
- Kendal David, Social Work
- Kate Ellis, Communication
- Kathryn Fedchun, Communication
- Kofo Iziomon, Social Work
- Monisha Logan, Legal Studies
- Adam Nuraddeen, Social Work
- Mary-Anne Spearing, Social Work
- Echo Xie, Public Policy and Administration
The participants reflected on the experience of applying an artistic lens to their research:
“I shared a visual of collective works I was part of with the Indigenous Women Leaders of Sarawak and here in Canada with the Canadian Research Institute for the Advancement of Women (CRIAW) to demand accountability for climate justice. It is a long road to justice.”
— Sunitha Bisan
“Participating in the Journey of a Changemaker project taught me the power of bearing witness to the memories of women and gender-diverse people who suffered the harms of imprisonment, especially during the Prisoners’ Justice Day healing circle at the former grounds of the Prison for Women. Through my contribution to the Healing for Justice video series and photo collage displayed in the exhibit, I experienced a spiritual awakening to the healing force of social justice warriors rooted in learning, growth, community care, and transformation. I was reminded that change is collective and liberatory, unfolding across generations, and continues until we are all free from oppression and inequity.”
— Jeffrey Bradley
“Initially, I was hesitant about participating in the project as making a visual felt outside of my comfort zone. However, I really appreciated the opportunity to learn from and be inspired by my peers as I heard about the creative and transformative work they are doing across the fields in our faculty. Moving forward, I think it would be a great opportunity for the faculty to consider longer-term projects that would allow students to engage in the creative process collectively and potentially develop collaborative projects. “
—Kate Ellis
“The journey of a changemaker project provided me with a platform to express the urgent need for raising awareness, engaging in advocacy and taking action in these turbulent and volatile times. My project, Freeing the Bird highlighted how many people live imprisoned lives in a variety of ways—both emotionally and physically, as they are constrained by systemic and structural injustices.”
— Kofo Iziomon
“When I prepared my photo collage, ‘Towards A Sustainable World’, I went through all the photos I took as a reporter in China. It reminded me where I came from and where I want to go.”
— Echo Xie
“I’m grateful to have had the chance to participate in this exhibit. I continually reflect on what it means to me as it’s deeply connected to my current MSW program. Within Carleton’s school of social work, there’s a strong emphasis put on helping others who are vulnerable and disenfranchised at a structural level. Making meaningful change in the world through helping is about more than having good intentions. It’s essential for future practitioners like me to learn to engage with diverse ways of knowing and being outside of what’s familiar and comfortable.
Last summer I participated in a vocal sound healing retreat in an unfamiliar land (Poland), where I was made to grapple with concepts like connection, expression, growth, presence, and relationship with an unfamiliar lens. My piece ‘Tending a World Within’ is an allegory to finding beauty in idiosyncrasy. I was inspired by my experience of witnessing the vulnerability/healing process of fellow retreat participants as well as hearing their stories.
This Journey of a Changemaker project gave me the opportunity to use art to convey the message that we CAN have an unconventional path in life—particularly as it relates to growth—and still be worthy in our authentic being. Outer world circumstances don’t have to dictate a person’s path, and we can choose to be discerning and critical of what experiences are deemed as normal/valid or not. In doing so, we are moving towards compassion and substantive equity for peoples of diverse lived experiences. Not only is it okay to cultivate one’s inner world, but I would argue it’s our responsibility to do so in social work and beyond. There’s value in non-linearity as a process, and there’s power in the practice of internal attunement.”
— Adam Nuraddeen