## Breadcrumb 1. [Home](/) 2. Markdownify 3. Node 4. [Prominent artists examine meaning of power in their practice](/markdownify/node/2666) August 20, 2024 # Prominent artists examine meaning of power in their practice ![](/sites/default/files/styles/1_5_1_large/public/assets/media/PSS%20image%20for%20email.jpg.webp?itok=Z9Jc6qev) ***Photo, top L to R: President Ana Serrano, Lisa Deanne Smith and Fiona Smyth. Bottom L to R: Rocky Dobey, Khadijah Morley and Ekow Nimako.*** When it comes to evolving narratives in art and design, OCAD University leads the way. The University’s ongoing participation in the [DemocracyXChange Summit](https://www.democracyxchange.org/) – alongside co-presenters [The Dais](https://dais.ca/) at Toronto Metropolitan University and the Open Democracy Project – is one example of how Canada’s oldest and largest art and design university is driving positive impact and creating engaging discussions on current societal issues. OCAD U has released the first video in the President’s Speaker Series, which aims to showcase compelling, engaging and unique voices on issues that are shaping the present and future of Canadian society, drawn from the dynamic program of the 2024 DemocracyXChange Summit. The series is a continuation of the summit’s important conversations on the role of art and design in protecting democracy. The [**Art Power Panel**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IoyAebndgg) features a discussion between renowned artists about how their practices reposition the meaning of power, moderated by OCAD U President Ana Serrano. The participating artists [Rocky Dobey](https://www.democracyxchange.org/speakers/rocky-dobey), [Khadijah Morley](https://www.democracyxchange.org/speakers/khadijah-morley), [Ekow Nimako](https://www.democracyxchange.org/speakers/ekow-nimako) and [Fiona Smyth](https://www.democracyxchange.org/speakers/fiona-smyth) drew upon their work as part of the exhibit, *power*, on display at OCAD U’s flagship gallery Onsite Gallery in early 2024, and curated by the gallery’s senior curator, Lisa Deanne Smith. *power* offered artworks that challenged dominant colonial, capitalist and state capitalist worldviews. The above artists used their eloquent sculpture, drawing, painting, installation, video and curatorial practices to inspire and reflect on ways of being that reposition the meaning of power to be grounded in respect, cooperation and emotional intelligence. Dobey’s decades-long career focuses on street art and political causes while Morley’s autobiographical work is informed by her lived experience as a Black woman in Canada born of Jamaican immigrants. Nimako crafts whimsical sculptures using LEGO® and explores Afrofuturism, Africanfuturism and Black narratives while Smyth is a feminist painter, illustrator, cartoonist and comics educator. Stay tuned for two more videos in the series – with the next one coming in October 2024. ***The*** [***DemocracyXChange Summit 2025***](https://www.democracyxchange.org/event-details/democracyxchange-2025) ***takes place from April 3 to 5, 2025 in Toronto.*** ## Other Recent News [### 2026-27 Call for Funding Proposals for Student Groups that Support Creative Entrepreneurship on Campus The RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers (CEAD) invites OCAD University student groups with a mandate to support entrepreneurship on campus to apply for funding for student-led initiatives that strengthen and expand the creative entrepreneurship ecosystem at OCAD U. This funding is intended to help student groups create opportunities for entrepreneurship skills development, community building, and revenue-generating activities for students and recent alumni, while reducing barriers to participation for equity-seeking individuals. November 6, 2026 ](/news/2026-27-call-funding-proposals-student-groups-support-creative-entrepreneurship-campus) [### 2027 Critical Distance Centre for Curators Projections Program Call for Artists OCAD University’s RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers (CEAD) and Critical Distance Centre for Curators (CDCC) have partnered to co-create CDCC Projections Program Career Launcher. Four (4) to five (5) selected emerging artists will receive $690 to exhibit work in a single channel, projection-based screening program that will be displayed at the CDCC in March 2027. October 30, 2026 ](/news/2027-critical-distance-centre-curators-projections-program-call-artists) [### Call for Vendors: BAM! Holiday Art Market 2026 OCAD University's RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers (CEAD) is excited to partner again with Wychwood Barns to offer a curated group of OCAD U students and recent alumni the opportunity to share a vendor table at the BAM! Holiday Art Market. October 26, 2026 ](/news/call-vendors-bam-holiday-art-market-2026) Related Stories ## Related Stories [### 2026-27 Call for Funding Proposals for Student Groups that Support Creative Entrepreneurship on Campus The RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers (CEAD) invites OCAD University student groups with a mandate to support entrepreneurship on campus to apply for funding for student-led initiatives that strengthen and expand the creative entrepreneurship ecosystem at OCAD U. This funding is intended to help student groups create opportunities for entrepreneurship skills development, community building, and revenue-generating activities for students and recent alumni, while reducing barriers to participation for equity-seeking individuals. November 6, 2026 ](/news/2026-27-call-funding-proposals-student-groups-support-creative-entrepreneurship-campus) [### 2027 Critical Distance Centre for Curators Projections Program Call for Artists OCAD University’s RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers (CEAD) and Critical Distance Centre for Curators (CDCC) have partnered to co-create CDCC Projections Program Career Launcher. Four (4) to five (5) selected emerging artists will receive $690 to exhibit work in a single channel, projection-based screening program that will be displayed at the CDCC in March 2027. October 30, 2026 ](/news/2027-critical-distance-centre-curators-projections-program-call-artists) [### Call for Vendors: BAM! Holiday Art Market 2026 OCAD University's RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers (CEAD) is excited to partner again with Wychwood Barns to offer a curated group of OCAD U students and recent alumni the opportunity to share a vendor table at the BAM! Holiday Art Market. October 26, 2026 ](/news/call-vendors-bam-holiday-art-market-2026)