Algonquin College prof. includes student-learning in City Hall art installation

Posted on Tuesday, November 4th, 2025

An artists’ showcase is typically a singular event, but for Algonquin College professor Natasha Mazurka, her current art exhibit has become a teachable moment for her interior design students, redefining what it means to learn by doing.

Mazurka, a professor in the School of Arts, Media and Design, has taught at the College for over a decade. She recently secured a solo exhibition at Ottawa City Hall. Space Created by Distance opened in September and runs until Nov. 30. It is a non-static and site-specific exhibition. Moveable walls and modular elements within the exhibition will be modified during the period of the show.

With her exhibit focusing on patterns, she saw the opportunity as a personal milestone and as an opportunity to platform experiential learning for students. Rather than working alone, she invited interior design students to join her in the creative process.

Between six and 12 students contributed to the exhibit, taking on roles that mirror real-world design practice. They assisted in the planning process, moved architectural components, and even helped produce the exhibit catalog. One fourth-year student authored an essay for the catalog, showcasing the kind of advanced writing and analytical skills that go beyond standard coursework.

“The students are brought in as contributors to a faculty-led project,” Mazurka explains. “It’s about giving them meaningful experience in a professional setting.”

The collaboration also highlights examples of Algonquin College’s investment in technology-driven learning. Mazurka used the College’s MakerSpace to incorporate laser-cut elements into her installation. With support from MakerSpace staff, she mastered new software and fabrication techniques, modeling the kind of adaptability she encourages in her students.

“The gallery is an experiential learning environment for students studying in the Bachelor of Interior Design program,” said Mazurka. “The City Hall Art Gallery has a system of moveable wall panels that follow a track in the ceiling. When we move the walls around each week, students experience space planning in real time. We discuss how the walls can be moved to create circulation routes and pathways, or shelters and enclosures, for example. This learning is transferable to any interior space outside of the gallery, whether it be residential, hospitality, educational, or governmental. What makes it special is that we are working in a creative modular environment that is at the human scale and changing in real time.”

This blend of tradition and innovation is standard practice at Algonquin College. Experiential learning is not an add-on. It is embedded in the curriculum, preparing students to navigate a rapidly evolving design landscape. Whether through co-op placements, applied research, or faculty-led projects, students are constantly challenged to apply theory in real-world contexts.

Mazurka’s exhibit is a living example of this approach. Installed at one of Ottawa’s most prominent civic venues, the public gallery space at Ottawa City Hall; the show evolves over its three-month run. When the show opened Sept.18, the exhibit was laid out one way, but each weekend Mazurka and her students re-aligned the space and changed the viewer’s experience. Students continue to assist Mazurka refine and adjust components.

Her work exemplifies Algonquin College’s commitment to experiential learning. By breaking down the walls between classroom and professional practice, Mazurka ensures her students graduate with both the knowledge and the confidence to thrive in the creative industries.

Experiential learning at Algonquin College creates growth opportunities for both our learners and organizations in the National Capital Region. To learn more about Algonquin College’s interior design program, visit our website.

photo caption: from left Students Eleanor Liu, Kierstyn Auger, Treasure-Lee Ilunga, stand with Prof. Natasha Mazurka at her exhibit at Ottawa City Hall.

Natasha Mazurka will be developing and modifying her installation throughout the span of the exhibition. Follow on Instagram and Facebook to learn when she is at the gallery.

Instagram: natasha_mazurka

Facebook: natasha_mazurka

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