Starting a Project - A Beginner's Thoughts
- marianschurman
- Jun 26
- 3 min read
I am a new graduate student. Everything is crazy and exciting and new and being asked to be on a research project - I wasn't exactly sure what I was getting into. Luckily, from literally being plucked from a bench, I've had one of the most educational and inspiring experiences developing not only a personal research method that influences my thesis project, but I'm also able to collaborate and work with two passionate people that (seemingly) know what they're doing.
As a beginner in place-based research, I've had an interesting time merging it with my personal interests in comics and illustration. As I'm learning about how places can influence one's outlook and artwork, I'm simultaneously developing an art practice that I'll be using in my own thesis.
Am I smart enough for this? Am I contributing worthwhile information? Sometimes, in the beginning, it feels as though I am just riding on the coattails of my colleagues (it’s weird that I can call them that) and I still feel like a student on a project rather than an active collaborator.
I guess that’s the point though, isn’t it? We’re all always learning and being a researcher means being open to new information and ideas and thinking through them.
Fieldwork has been eye-opening at a time of my life where I feel as though I am constantly moving from one place to another or stuck working on things for a different site. Having the opportunity to go outside and explore has opened my eyes to the wonders of humanity. Which I suppose sounds more existential than my intention, but it’s true. Especially since the weather in Montreal is getting warmer and we have more places set up to sit rather than slipping on ice the whole time. I saw that some of the stumps from older trees have begun to push and break apart cement sidewalks, their roots rising and seeking out more area and taking over – a sort of overcoming of the urban sprawl.
Parks, benches, small festivals, and kiosks. There are more people walking around and it shows how much the winter and colder months tend to separate us from each other and our environments.
Our first walk through of Shaughnessy Village was just before official spring started, and all the trees, plants and walkways were dormant. Most photos we took were of the fascinating architecture featured around that wasn’t part of the modern style of resale value, and an interesting travel through this small area of Montréal’s history. I noted how the diversity in styles of buildings has such an interesting impact on the personality of the residences, since an apartment from the early 1960’s can be right next to a building from 2024 and have completely different aesthetics. Do they complement each other? It’s hard to say.
Having us as a group slowly making our way through the space opens discussions as we point out different details to each other, and discover new things to add to our research. We noticed fun little details that show people, not just humans, live there. Graffiti, window decorations (a wine bottle with wax next to skulls from Dollarama) handprints, names, and footprints placed into sidewalks literally cementing themselves (ha!) into the space.
The thing that excites me most about fieldwork is how much I want to do it again. My ideas and inspirations are constant while I am outside my habitual zones and taking the time to think and reflect on my surroundings, as a break and as a learning experience.
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