Trent Student Brings Madmen to Artspace

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Founding president Professor Tom Symons to kick-off student-led event that opens Ron Thom exhibit

Monday, March 25, 2013, Peterborough

“Madmen on the Otonabee” is a student-curated exhibit of the design behind the furniture of Trent architect Ron Thom, opening on Thursday March 28 at ARTSPACE, 378 Aylmer St. N, with a special talk by founding president of Trent University, Professor Tom Symons at 7 p.m.

The work of one of the finest architects to come from Canada, Ron Thom’s furniture designs have never been fully documented. The Madmen exhibition will not only showcase the furniture designs of Ron Thom himself, it will also include the mid-century, modern furniture that he chose from designers of international repute to accompany his own.

In the instructions to the architect written in 1964, it was highlighted that the campus should be “a place of aesthetic as well as of intellectual excitement.” Given the task of creating a campus that encouraged scholarly engagement, Ron Thom would control the specific selection and placement of all the original furniture, fixtures, and artwork that was to be used in his buildings. In addition to purchasing some of the most iconic pieces of mid-century furniture for the campus, he designed and had produced over 50 original pieces of furniture for use in the Trent colleges.

The exhibit is curated by fourth-year Business Administration student Richard Love as a result of his legacy project, with a goal is to raise awareness of the furniture designs of Ron Thom and their contribution to the collegiate system and social spaces of Trent University.

The exhibit will remain at Artspace until April 6, 2013. All are welcome and encouraged to attend this free event.

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For more information, please contact:  An Kosurko, communications officer, 705-748-1011 x6182