Liam MacKenzie recently graduated from TMU’s New Media program. In his final year of study he worked as a Special Project Lead at the Libraries’ Digital Media Experience (DME) Lab where he developed an art installation that combined researching archival materials and using technology resources available at the DME.
His project looked at local and campus 2SLGBTQ+ history while exploring ideas of fragility and permanence. MacKenzie worked with TMU Libraries’ Archives and Special Collections staff to discover archival campus records and student newspaper clippings that had reported on 2SLGBTQ+ campus events, and used resources available at the Libraries’ DME to etch articles onto hard acrylic material. Through the process of researching and etching these articles, MacKenzie’s project examined the fragility of history and the need to preserve the past. The project is on display at the Libraries’ Research Help.
Here’s what Liam had to say about the project and utilizing the Libraries’ resources to bring it to fruition.
Where did the idea of exploring 2SLGBTQ+ history on campus through the archival student newspaper articles come from?
This was one of the projects I completed as a Special Project Lead at the DME during the summer. The idea of the project came from my personal interest in 2SLGBTQ+ history. I think it’s very important to learn from queer history as a queer person. I didn’t know much of local queer history so this project allowed me to research that.
How did the idea for printing articles on acrylic sheets transpire?
My background is in photography, and I’m interested in alternative ways of print-making. I learned the technique of laser cutting acrylic in my New Media program and I’ve been waiting for a proper project to utilize it. I think that the fragility of a lot of important institutions, and their history being at mercy at certain people in power, inspired me to take the idea of fragility and translate these pieces onto a more robust material, such as acrylic.
How did you discover the old student newspaper clippings?
The team at the Archives told me about an article from 1963, an artifact that they show on their Pink Library Tour. Then I went through archived On The Record, Ryersion, Eyeopener issues and collected various articles about queer and trans stories. I selected the ones I laser cut based on input from the DME team and the Archives.
How did the resources, expertise and opportunities at the Archives and Special Collections and at the DME help you bring this project to fruition?
The DME has a lot of great tools and equipment, and I was very lucky to be able to use them throughout my degree. My favourite piece of equipment is the laser cutter. Additionally, the DME team really elevated my project with their input and knowledge. I was lucky to have their support.
It was also great to go through the Archives and see the evolution of reporting, attitudes, perspectives, and ideas through student reporting and world events, which was readily available for me to use. The Archives team was super helpful and gave a lot of great advice for this project.
Have you done other projects like this?
Yes, I have done plenty of work with archival materials and laser cutting prints! The majority of them have been assignment work. I made a series of portraits that I photographed and laser cut on mirrored acrylic. I’m proud of those.
Will you continue to build on this project?
I want to! It would be great to include more of the series that I collected, collect more series, and laser cut them to the accurate sizing of the articles. I have a lot of ideas for this project, but I would need to secure funding for the project’s evolution.
Liam MacKenzie’s work is currently on display at Research Help