Mary-Louise Davis

Toronto, Ontario
Anthropology
Some of Mary-Louise Davis’ favourite Trent memories surround completing her honours thesis on contemporary Inuit Art. She will continue to build on that research through graduate work next year.

Why did you choose Trent?

I chose Trent for three main reasons. The first reason was that Trent was (and is) a smaller University, which permits students to develop closer relationships with their professors.  The second reason was that I loved Trent’s campus.  I grew up going to a cottage not far from the University each summer, and I often biked there with my cousins when I was young. I always hoped that I would go to Trent, and I was very happy when that desire came to fruition. Finally, I chose Trent because a couple of my cousins had chosen to go to Trent the year before, and they said great things about the school.

How would you describe yourself? How would others describe you? What are your passions in life?

I think one of my most outstanding character traits is my passion about my studies, specifically my interest in Indigenous Art. I am also very independent; I know what I am interested in and I will pursue it to the best of my abilities. I am focused, but I’m still pretty disorganized. If there was one thing about myself I could change, it would be that.

Outside of school, I think people would describe me as quirky and light hearted. I like to laugh and I like to make other people laugh. I also have a habit of dropping really bad puns. I like to blame my grandfather for that, who did the same.

Generally, I am interested in reading, art appreciation, cooking, hiking, running, swimming and spending time with great people. I am also concerned with conservation and ecology, and I think that my boyfriend Mike inspired that interest in me.   

Have you been involved in any clubs, groups, and/or sports at Trent? If so, which ones?

I have mainly been involved in theatrical extracurricular activities at Trent. In my third year I acted as the stage manager for the Trent Comedy show in November. Also during that year I volunteered as the front of house manager for several theatre and dance performances that took place in Nozhem. 

What has your time at Trent meant to you? What are some of your favourite memories? What will you take with you from Trent?

For me, Trent has been a turning point. During my time at Trent I have been able to enrich my understandings of both myself and the areas of study I pursued. This allowed me to develop aspirations and goals for the future as well as the skills and knowledge to achieve them.

There are a number of courses which I took while at Trent which influenced me greatly as a student and as a critical thinker. My favorite courses, Indigenous Community Development, Native Art of North America, Anthropology of Art and Indigenous Women Artists, had three major things in common. These courses were all taught by outstanding instructors or professors who encouraged independent thinking by their pupils. These teachers also demonstrated great interest and knowledge about the course material, which inspired their students to become equally involved. Finally, these courses all sparked an interest in me which lead me, eventually, to choose a specific field of study for graduate school.

Some of my favourite memories at Trent involve working on my undergraduate honours thesis project. During this project I was able to work with several remarkable professors who acted as my supervisors. As well as work within the University, my thesis allowed me to go out into my field to do research. Specifically, my project was examining the market for contemporary Inuit Art. I was able to do interviews with all the important players in this arena and I completed several unique surveys. It is this thesis project which catapulted me into graduate studies.  

What are your future plans and aspirations? What do you hope to accomplish?

In terms of my goals for the future, I plan on learning and experiencing as much as I can about Indigenous art and the history of Indigenous art. In five to ten years I see myself just as passionate about my field as I am now.  I hope to make a difference by promoting the importance and value of Indigenous arts. Also, with my studies, I hope to further reconcile the divide between Anthropology and Art History, specifically where Indigenous Art is concerned. Other than that, I have no specific aspirations, and I look forward to learning more than anything else.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thank you for this opportunity to express my gratitude to Trent University and to the professors and students who made it such an important experience for me.