constructed worlds

LOCATION: windsor, canada

TYPE: installation

STATUS: completed

YEAR: 2023

SIZE: 72 sqft

CLIENT: collaboration between mean studio & soca

PHOTOS BY: mean

Dry Goods Gallery, Windsor, ON

A collaboration between University of Windsor School of Creative Arts (SoCA) students in the Introductory Photography course taught by Nadja Pelkey and Mean Studio.

Nicole Baillargeon and Crystal Waddell of Mean Studio selected over 40 student photographs to be mounted in the installation. These photographs have been carefully placed into an oversized re-interpretation of Charles and Ray Eames’ House of Cards. The Eames duo generally had a large focus on domesticity, playfulness, and modular reconfiguration. Taking a playful and exploratory approach mirroring the process of learning and design, Mean Studio has taken the diverse themes of the students’ artworks and reconfigured them into a diorama where the images can respond to each other as well as the surroundings of the gallery space in which they are displayed.

This project was made possible with the assistance of student Curatorial Coordinator Szaky Wu, and SoCA MFA student Emma Feliciano.

"As working designers, we don't always get the opportunity to fully let ourselves go play and experiment. We had a lot of fun seeing through fresh eyes, finding themes through the student's work, and building it into a composition" - Nicole Baillergeron and Crystal Waddell of Mean Studio

“Working with Nicole and Crystal on this project has been incredible. It's important for students to engage with creative professionals, it gives them the opportunity to learn about career paths, develop connections and relationships, and gain an understanding of what’s possible outside of the classroom. At the beginning of the term some students in the class had never used a camera or digitally edited an image, now they have collaborated with professionals and are exhibiting their work in public. I am exceptionally proud of the work they have done. Experiential learning is foundational to student success, both in their studies and their future careers in the arts” School of Creative Arts Instructor, Nadja Pelkey 

Students: Avery Blazevich, Brayden Jones, Cindy Lai, Danish Niazi, Elise Potma, Gioia Greco, Hannah King, Haylee Ouellette, Heather Bezaire, Jay Newman, Jilian Christie, Jingying Wang, Julia Serek, Julianna Szeto, Julianne Gabucan, Katherine Brooks, Lianxingzi Xue, Maya Rice, Naomi Mcguffin, Nicholas Tracey, Omar Al-Faouri, Parker Mosey, Sarah Smitherman, Ruveyda Sahinduran, Shayla Coppola, Victoria Shalton.