ɫ��TV

One of the many new things you’ll encounter as a Foundation student at ɫ��TV (ɫ��TV) is your first in-class critique.

For some, discussing your artwork with classmates or peers may be familiar. For others, it will be a brand-new experience.

In either case, a critique at the university level will likely bring fresh insights and challenges. They are also an entry into a valuable and regular event that will evolve throughout your studies at ɫ��TV.

Artist and ɫ��TV faculty member will be digging into the specifics of critique practices during a pair of workshops for Foundation students during Orientation Week, on Thursday, Aug. 28, and Friday, Aug. 29 from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM in the Reliance Theatre at ɫ��TV.

In the meantime, we asked Allison and fellow artist + faculty member for advice on what to expect and how you can prepare yourself ahead of your first crit.

What happens during a critique?

Ingrid notes many critiques are based on the concept of “reading” an artwork. This is an exercise designed to help the student who is receiving the critique.

“Often, we start with a ‘cold read,’” says Ingrid. “That means the student receiving the crit must not explain the work first. They get spontaneous responses from the group.

“We might start by using the strategy of ‘popcorn’ – everyone throws out words related to the what they see to help everyone get a better sense of what we are looking at.”

This can be as simple as describing a material, a mark, a colour or an emotional tone conveyed by the artwork.


“In this process of generating feedback, classmates are asked not to use general words like ‘interesting,’ or ‘nice.’ If something is interesting, explain specifically why. And it’s important to hear not only about the specific strengths of the work, but what needs further consideration.

“It’s also vital to remember that crits are participatory. Just think, if you go to a potluck dinner, everyone brings some food to share. Think of the crit in the same way.”

Why do we do critiques?

Ingrid notes the critique is a valuable resource for understanding how your work operates outside the studio.

"The critique is a fundamental component of learning at ɫ��TV. It holds space for having generative dialogues around students’ work.

“The ‘crit’ gives students a sense of how their work is read by an audience, including what meanings are conveyed, and how the materials and images they used help to carry meaning.

“Even though a student may not have intended the work to have more meanings than the one they were originally expressing, the crit helps them see how other meanings might also exist in the work.”

What if I feel like I don’t know anything?

While you may feel you’re expected to say or do specific things or use a specific vocabulary, Allison says the best thing you can do is simply “show up as yourself.”

“I encourage students to keep in mind that they don’t need specialized knowledge or language. These things will come through their education at ɫ��TV.

“To respond to work in your first year, you already have all of the language and the knowledge you need. What you have right now is exactly right.”

Any other advice?

Allison says critiques are a fundamental building block of community at ɫ��TV, and are an opportunity to practice how we foster trust, fellowship and dialogue amongst our peers and instructors.

“For me, critique is about being a good community member,” says Allison.

“I tell my students to consider how they want to show up for their classmates. I think we can get caught up thinking a critique is about the artist. But it’s not just for the artist. The critique is made by everybody in the room.

I encourage students to think about what it means to be in this interaction with other people talking about a work. How can you show up for the other people who are there too? How would you like to be cared for or received in that experience? And what can you offer to other people?

“In a critique space, everyone is building the experience. It’s not just the artist, it’s not just the work, it’s not just the faculty member. It’s everybody together.”