The Spaces & Places guided walking tour explores the history of locations on and around the UTSC campus by sharing the personal recollections of members of our campus community — reflecting a variety of perspectives, positions, and points in time.
Tucked away in a corner of the Meeting Place, Gallery 1265 is a student-run contemporary art gallery that provides UTSC students opportunities to display their art to the public and curate exhibitions. It was founded by a group of students in 2004 who were frustrated by the lack of student exhibition space on campus, and petitioned to upcycle the former home of the Doris McCarthy Gallery into a space dedicated to student exhibitions. As such, the gallery feels no less than a professional environment: it is minimalist in design, featuring easily-customizable blank walls that are highlighted by strategically-hung stage lights that allow the space to feel much larger than it is, while also allowing viewers to experience the works on display in an up-close, intimate manner. The gallery runs several student shows throughout the year, in addition to various othe programs, such as short film screenings, theatre plays, and art workshops, which keep the space feeling fresh and energized at all times of the year. In this way, this student-run initiative not only provides a platform for artistic expression but also cultivates a deeper appreciation for the arts within the broader campus community.
Tavila Haque, a UTSC alum, looks back on her experience exhibiting her art at the student-run Gallery 1265, and the ways in which that exhibition allowed her to form connections to the larger community.
Credits: Conceived and produced by Amena Ahmed. All images courtesy of Farishta Barez via Stories of UTSC and Gallery 1265.