By undertaking a deliberate series of actions, artist and art educator Kathleen Schmalz transplanted herself into the world of history in an effort to add to the growing voices claiming that artistic methods can be used as research tools and that the visual arts can become a legitimate outcome of research in other fields. In Schmalz case, her research focused on the now non-existent City of Berlin, Ontario, Canada, at a pivotal time in the development of its identity. This investigation led Schmalz to many substantial themes of identity, family, religious inspiration and civic duty.

DR. KATHLEEN SCHMALZ TEACHES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN ONTARIO AND FOR YORK UNIVERSITY IN ONTARIO CANADA WHERE SHE IS ALSO AN ACTIVE STUDIO ARTIST. HER THESIS FOR CHARLES STURT UNIVERSITY IN AUSTRALIA EXTENDS THE BOUNDARIES OF CURRENT THINKING ABOUT THE UTILITY OF THE VISUAL ARTS AS BOTH A TOOL TO CONDUCT AND TO REPORT RESEARCH IN OTHER FIELDS.