STUDENT COMMENTS
Selected comments from class assessments (2018-2025) :
“The primary seed that was planted this semester was that art comes in infinite different forms. I discovered land art, Indigenous art, transmission art, activist art, cyanotypes, maps as art, etc. This class has taught me about all of these variations of art, as well as their impact. I’d love to learn about even more in the future. With each new thing I learned, I developed a deeper appreciation for art, which felt very rewarding. It required me to forget what I thought I knew and exercise my ability to be wrong, have an open mind, and learn something new.” - 2025
“I want to thank you Mrs. Feinberg for giving such an interesting and culturally significant class. What I appreciated the most about your teaching methods is that you never made us feel guilty for not knowing certain things about Indigenous cultures, but you managed to make us aware of our position and the importance of decolonization. You stimulated us to be curious about Indigenous identity and you allowed us to express ourselves on different issues in a safe environment. I hope, for the future, that more classes will focus on the history of Indigenous art. I also wish that one day, as non-Indigenous, we will not be surprised or culturally unaware about Indigenous art. I hope that this will be a part of Canadian’s history and culture. I hope that it will not be viewed as something from the past or as an external culture. But to achieve this goal, we will need more “Introduction to Indigenous Art classes” and more round tables discussions. From this day, let’s all be a part of this change as long and difficult as it may be.” - 2023
“Throughout the many topics we covered this semester, what struck me the most was how my thoughts on material were shifted. In my personal artistic journey, I longtime held the opinion that the materials used in any given artwork were restraints upon the artist’s vision, as though whatever image they had in their minds was purer and of higher quality than what the constraints of tangible physicality would allow. … As it turns out, material can actually enhance an artistic vision!” - 2024
“As I walked into the Indigenous Art class for the first time in early September, I was already biased and ready to hate this class. What would a non-Indigenous teacher teach me about Indigenous culture? Would my teacher justify the acculturation process of First Nations? Would my teacher judge them based on European standards? Or expect us to be art experts near the end of semester? Little did I know about the journey and transformation that this class was going to have on me. Through our debates and class discussions, moments of listening and arguing, process of acknowledgment and awareness, this class made me question my privilege and understand the reality of Indigenous people. Different exhibits and gallery visits opened my eyes on the richness of Indigenous cultures. This class changed my paradigms and made me evolve not only as a student, but as a human being.” - 2018