Image: Pursuing Happiness Triple IPA featuring Resting with the Loved One by Esther Kim, a 2021 graduate of the OCAD U Drawing and Painting program.
OCAD U student work featured on Collective Arts special-edition beer labels
Next time you go to Collective Arts Brewing you might find an OCAD University student’s artwork emblazoning your bottle. The University and the Hamilton beer and craft beverage producer, known for its longstanding commitment to supporting emerging artists, have joined up to get OCAD U student artwork in the hands of imbibers across the province.
Curated by Bob Russell, design lead and co-founder of Collective Arts, artworks submitted by students and recent graduates in the spring were selected to be featured on the small-batch bottle labels.
New beers from the limited series will be released every month over the next year and will be available for purchase at Collective Arts locations in Toronto and Hamilton and online for Ontario-wide delivery.
“We are delighted to be working with Collective Arts on this exciting collaboration,” said Ana Serrano, President and Vice-Chancellor, OCAD University. “Like Collective Arts, creativity is at the heart of everything we do at OCAD U. This special-edition series will celebrate the talents and perspectives of our students and recent graduates, showcasing their work province-wide.”
In addition to receiving compensation, students retain full ownership of their work as part of Collective Arts’ longstanding commitment to contemporary artists and their work.
To date, Collective Arts has released two beers as part of the initiative: Mulberry Pie Sour, featuring Lonely Chair by fourth year Digital Painting and Expanded Animation student Ghazal Vakilzadeh, and Pursuing Happiness Triple IPA featuring Resting with the Loved One by Esther Kim, a 2021 graduate of the Drawing and Painting program.
Next up is 2021 Illustration graduate Caitlin Todd’s Graveyard Shift, which will appear on a beer set to be released next month.
With ever-changing beverage cans and bottles, Collective Arts has featured over 2,000 artists from 42 countries. Of the collaboration, Collective Arts Communications Manager TK Palermo said, “Working with emerging artists is what Collective Arts does best and we are beyond thrilled to share our labels with the students of OCAD U! The future of art is in good hands.”
Names of Participating OCAD U Artists
BFA Illustration
Caitlin Todd, 2021 graduate
Diane Galapon, second year
Sandra Glozshtein, second year
Eunice Lai, fourth year
Mandy Liang, third year
Gabrielle Schwartz, third year
Nancy Zhang, 2020 graduate
BFA INTM: Digital Painting and Expanded Animation
Ghazal Vakilzadeh, fourth year
BFA DRPT: Digital Painting abd Expanded Animation
Double Aye (Mohammed Abdullah), fourth year
BFA Drawing and Painting
Kathryn Greenwood, 2021 Drawing and Painting Graduate and Medal Winnter
Esther Kim, 2021 Drawing and Painting Graduate
Zoey Lin, 2020 Drawing and Painting Graduate
BFA Criticism and Curatorial Practice
Victoria S. Sisko, third year