Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Canada and OCAD University continue innovative art partnership

- Work from OCAD U redefines corporate environment where the gallery meets the workplace

- First of its kind partnership in Canada starts fourth year

- Experiencing Perspectives" features students, faculty, graduates

TORONTO, Nov. 8, 2012 /CNW/ - Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Canada and the renowned Drawing and Painting program at OCAD University (OCAD U) continue their ground breaking collaboration with the opening of the fourth annual exhibition series titled Experiencing Perspectives.

This exhibition of contemporary work by students, faculty and graduates will be displayed throughout the company's Canadian headquarters in Mississauga, Ontario, on Matheson Boulevard East. The exhibition rotates new work into the building every 12 months. This latest installation features 43 artists who have created 92 individual pieces of art.

Experiencing Perspectives was launched in 2009 and celebrates the company's partnership with OCAD U. It is the first initiative of its kind in Canada, one that joins established and up-and-coming artists in a non-traditional exhibition approach.

"This is a magnificent opportunity for our graduates to see their artwork in conversation with a whole new audience," said Anda Kubis, Chair of OCAD U's Drawing and Painting program. "I applaud Mercedes-Benz Financial Services for investing in their employees and for recognizing the importance of providing a creative working environment."

Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA LLC launched Experiencing Perspectives in 2008 in its 164,000 square-foot business center facility in Fort Worth, Texas, with the art departments of Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth and Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas.

That initiative was patterned after a similar partnership with Cranbrook Academy of Art in Metro Detroit where graduate students' art has been displayed for the past 11 years on a 12-month rotating basis in the company's headquarters in Farmington Hills, Mich.

Stefan Karrenbauer, President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Canada, said employees are excited by the creative experience in their environment.

"Our employees are buzzing about this new installation and the creativity in our environment," Karrenbauer said. "In bringing this art to our employees, it represents our commitment to a creative approach to our business and to serving our dealers and our customers."

Representatives of the Toronto news media are invited to see this exhibition and meet representatives from Mercedes-Benz Financial Services' Mississauga office and OCAD University at 6 p.m. Thursday, November 8, at 2680 Matheson Boulevard East, Mississauga, Ontario L4W OA5.

About OCAD University (OCAD U)
OCAD University (www.ocadu.ca) is Canada's "university of imagination." The university, founded in 1876, is dedicated to art and design education, practice and research and to knowledge and invention across a wide range of disciplines. OCAD University is building on its traditional, studio-based strengths, adding new approaches to learning that champion cross-disciplinary practice, collaboration and the integration of emerging technologies. In the Age of Imagination, OCAD University community members will be uniquely qualified to act as catalysts for the next advances in culture, technology and quality of life for all Canadians.

About Mercedes-Benz Financial Services (MBFS)
Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA LLC, headquartered in Farmington Hills, Mich., with Business Center operations in Fort Worth, Texas, and Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Canada Corp. headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, provide brand-specific financing for Mercedes-Benz automotive dealers' inventories and their retail customers, and conduct business in the United States and Canadian luxury car market as Mercedes-Benz Financial Services. In the U.S. and Canadian trucking industry, the companies conduct business as Daimler Truck Financial and finance Daimler commercial vehicles branded Freightliner, Western Star and Thomas Built Buses for dealers and their customers in the fleet, vocational, municipal and owner/operator segments. Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA LLC serves as the headquarters for operations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Argentina and Brazil, and has approximately 1,600 employees. Mercedes-Benz Financial Services is a company of the Daimler Financial Services Group, headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, which operates in 39 countries Daimler Financial Services is one of the leading financial services organizations worldwide. For more information, go to: www.mbfs.com/corp or facebook.com/mbfsamericas.

SOURCE: Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Canada

Jack Ferry, [phone], [email protected]; or Sarah Mulholland, [phone] ext. 327, [email protected]

http://www.ocadu.ca

http://www.mbfs.com/corp