Drawing
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Adventures in Drawing is an international, multi-year collaboration led by Erin Finley, Faculty of Art at OCAD University, in partnership with Universidad de Monterrey (UDEM) and Far Eastern University (FEU). This cross-institutional initiative invites students to explore how drawing-based practices can foster care, communication, and creativity across cultural and geographic boundaries.
Throughout the program, students engage in “drawing adventures” that connect studio work with community-based inquiry. From experimental mark-making to collaborative installations, the initiative explores drawing as both a personal and collective act, centering artistic exploration in response to lived experience.
The collaboration is grounded in values of mutual learning, experimentation, and cultural exchange—empowering students to see drawing not just as a technique, but as a tool for dialogue and discovery.
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Student Involvement
The program brought together over 400 students from both institutions and 100 students from UDEM contributed sculptural works that emphasized physical form and materiality. Plus, approximately 300 students from FEU created drawings that responded to themes of connection, place, and community. These student works formed the foundation of collaborative exchanges and exhibitions across sites.
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Impact and Outcomes
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Adventures in Drawing provided a rare opportunity for students to work across borders, develop interdisciplinary skills, and explore the social and communicative power of art. Students gained insight into how creative practices can function as tools for innovation and care.
Challenges such as language and logistical coordination were met through flexibility and shared commitment to creative dialogue. These experiences fostered resilience and adaptability—key traits in today’s global creative industries.
Next Steps
The project has been presented internationally, including at the University of Melbourne and McMaster University. Erin Finley and collaborator Agustin Plancarte Fexas plan to continue developing and expanding the partnership into future iterations and additional cross-disciplinary platforms.
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