Critique the Collection Vol.2

The Art Gallery of Windsor’s Critique the Collection is an initiative to get new points of view! We sent out a call to our members and community for anyone who wanted to learn how to look at art through a critical lens and learn alongside other artists, writers, and creatives in the Windsor and Essex County region.

In our second edition of Critique the Collection, 8 selected writers participated in an online workshop on how to look, interpret and respond to a work of art, facilitated by Amilcar Nogueira. Amilcar John Nogueira (they/them) is a poet and settler from Windsor, Ontario. They received their M.A. in English and Creative Writing from the University of Windsor. Their poem "A Picture Story" won the inagural words(on)pages poetry prize. Their short story "Felix and the Light" won the 10 Stories High Contest. They are a co-founder of ZED Press and Paper-Knife Theatre.

Our critics selected a work from the AGW permanent collection that they wanted to respond to, critique, explore, or reimagine. Our critics are Susan Gold Smith, Ostoro Petahtegoose, Kate Reynolds, Reginald S. Tolson, Aimee Clifford, Alex-Andrei Ungurenasu, Janet MacIssac, and Suela Prendi. To view the critiques, please click on the artist's name. 

Meet our Critics: 

Susan Gold Smith (she/her)

Susan Gold / Smith, artist and Professor Emerita (University of Windsor School of Visual Arts), was born in Detroit Michigan (1946), became a Canadian Citizen in 1986, and continues her work as a visual artist. She co-founded one ten park: a working space (2012) as an experimental, community engaged studio space in Downtown Windsor. There she develops community and international projects for installations and experiments in alternative art practice. Susan Gold’s work has been exhibited in Canada and Internationally. A current project, Roundness is a Ratio, will be exhibited in 21 at La Maison Gallery in Winnipeg Manitoba. Click here to see the critique.

Ostoro Petategoose (they/them)

Ostoro Petahtegoose is a biracial, Nishinaabe of Atikamkesheng Anishnawbek. They are an Indigiqueer, transgender, nonbinary writer, Goldsmith and multi-media artist, born and raised in Windsor, On. They are attending the University of Windsor to finish their English and Creative Writing and Visual Arts BA and was granted the Arts, Culture and Heritage Fund in 2018 by the City of Windsor for research for a sculptural project titled “Deracinated.” They continue to work at finding meaningful ways to connect back to their Indigenous identity and seek to learn their cultural language Nishinaabemwin while being obsessed with themes of hauntings, ghosts and land. Click here to see the critique.

Kate Reynolds (she/her)

Kate Reynolds (she/her) is a librarian, singer, and writer in Windsor, Ontario. She sits on the board for the By the River Reading Series , is a featured cast member on The Giggle Mat, and is working on her upcoming children’s album Songs in the Key of Covid. Click here to see the critique.

Reginald S. Tolson (he/him)

Reginald S.Tolson is a lifelong student of many disciplines. He currently lives in Sandwich, Windsor Ontario. Click here to see the critique.

Aimee Clifford (they/them)

Aimee Clifford is a Southwestern Ontario based singer, performer, music instructor and writer. Click here to see the critique.

Alex-Andrei Ungurenasu (he/they) 

Alex-Andrei Ungurenasu is a Romanian-Canadian poet and artist. Their interests include visual poetry, modernist literature, and existentialist philosophy. Click here to see the critique.

Janet MacIsaac (she/they)

Janet MacIsaac is a white, queer, non-binary woman living in so-called Windsor while she completes her PhD in Applied Social Psychology. Janet’s research focuses on trans embodiment and materializing gender euphoria through visual methods, particularly photography. When not working on their  degree, Janet can usually be found biking in the county. Click here to see the critique.

Suela Prendi (she/her) 

Suela Prendi started drawing in her early childhood and still carries this passion today. During her school year, she studied Fine Arts and Elementary Education. She loves teaching art and talking about it every time the opportunity arises. She encourages creativity, imagination and bringing ideas to life. Click here to see the critique.