Planet of the Arts Volume 3 Number 3 December 1987 h, Those Studio Assistants Ten Profiles for the Price of One BILL CUPIT Bill’s career as a photographer began when he was eight years old. He still has every camera he ever owned. He began studying architecture at UBC but quit during his 2nd year to transfer to the architectural design program then being offered at the Vancouver School of Art in 1965. Midway through his third year the instructor died and was not replaced, leaving Bill to transfer into the photo department. He also studied design. After graduating he worked at the Hudson’s Bay Co. before forming a partnership and starting his own architectural design studio. This came to an unfortunate conclusion and proved to be one in a series of questionable incidents which have confirmed Bill’s belief that he is a lifelong “victim of infidelity”. In 1972 he worked at UBC doing photog- raphy for the Biomedical Research Centre. One year of that was enough to convince Bill to seek employ- ment elsewhere, and he began to work at the V.S.A. He is currently the studio assistant in the Photo Department here. Bill also does much free-lance photography work, presently designing a set of special-effect exploding photographs for Universal Studios. His technical proficiency and speed have been sought many times in the commercial field. His own fine art photographic work consists primarily of nudes and landscapes, much of which he hand tints. He has exhibited his work all over North America and Europe. His office is filled with pictures of Evan, his son. Bill believes in a strong academic emphasis on technique to facilitate creative application. He is really proud of the Photography Department and is committed to keeping it competitive with continually upgraded equipment. Towards this end he envisions the hiring of another full-time studio assistant. While enthusiastic about the students and the work produced in the department, Bill feels frustrated by the restrictions imposed by the Provincial govern- ment funding and inadequate budgetary allotments. His opinion on the bureaucratic procedures and endless paperwork one must engage in to justify the acquisition of vital equipment is not suitable for publication. Many of you may recall Bill’s extremely convincing appearance at the 1986 Media pub night as Rod Stewart. Bill offered the information that he is forty-one years old, and an Aries. As a child Bill was saturated with baked goods and so does not really care for desserts. But he loves sushi. STEVE WONG Steve has been at the college with the printmaking department for nine years. Prior to this he pursued an Education Degree at U.B.C. with a major in Fine Arts. This summer he married a very nice stockbroker. Steve feels the college is about growth, and that printmaking is just one way to experience that evolution. : His personal work utilizes xerox and silk screen and focuses on the relationship of “inside and outside”. He believes that, as Samuel Butler the Younger noted: “Every man’s work , whether it be literature or music or pictures or architecture or something else, is always a portrait of himself...” Towards a more developed statement of his philosophy of art he offers this anecdote: While travelling through the Middle East going towards Afganistan | heard a story that goes something like this. Three workers in a herbalist shop were asked what they were doing. The first said “I’m doing what the boss wants done.” The second worker observed: “I’m sorting these dried lizards for the shoppers.” And finally, the third worker spoke, , saying, “I’m making medicinal packages that are steamed for hours and hours, and when sipped, this potion gives strength to the drinker...” | like what the third worker discovered, the potential within things that surround us — whether it$ dried lizards or xerox machines or people. Steve also says he likes to think that his pictures reveal some of the power of that lizard potion. His favorite dessert is Bon Ton Diplomatic Layered Pastry Cake. Ken Oliver Ken received a B.A. from the University of Guelph and went on to receive an M.F.A. from Utah State University. He has been at the college since 1978 and most of us are still unfamiliar with this quiet “man of stee!”. He wears a blue lab coat and knows just about everything when it comes to metal and stone. This seems to be a main concern of Ken’s, the necessity of having a good solid back- ground in the technical aspects of sculpture. “A strong technical prosram allows the student to overcome barriers and move on to pursue aesthetic and other concerns. A foundation of basic tech- niques means that the student is equipped to proceed creatively.” Ken has jusi completed a commission of bronze bison for the Delta Hotel in Calgary, so drop by and see them on your way to the Olympics. Ken’s favourite dessert is, yes you guessed it, Nanaimo bars. A Naomi Singer MICHAEL MINTERN Michael left Brantford, Ontario in 1978 when a chemical disposal plant was under construc- tion near his studio. He arrived on the west coast with his diploma in material arts (Georgian College, Barry), his Fine Arts degree (Humber College, Toronto), his two years experience as a technical assistant (Mohawk College, Hamilton), and a wealth of experience in a variety of media (paint- ing, drawing, ceramics, wood, glass). He has also taught ceramics classes and participated in group shows with the Canadian Guild of Potters. A short stint as a construction worker afforded him the opportunity to finance his own business, and he began making and selling jewelry crafted in ceramic, silver, and cutting stones. Michael’s belief in the value of teamwork and group interaction influenced his decision to leave his studio and join the ECCAD Painting Department as Technical Assistant. He likes his job and enjoys problem solving of all kinds, especially when he can help students overcome technical difficulties to achieve their designs. While Michael feels the Annex facilities are good, he notes that more equipment would be helpful. He likes the natural light, but not the leaking roof. He has been here two and a half years, and doesn’t like the isolation imposed on the painters by the Big Move. Michael is frustrated by the restrictions placed on T.A.’s regarding the facilities (T.A.’s are expressly forbidden use of facilities, even after-hours, for their own work). Having had to prove their artistic credentials to work here, it seems unfair that, unlike instructors, T.A.’s are not encouraged to pursue and develop their artistic instincts. Michael sees the school as an organism; ~ what affects one part will certainly affect the rest. This holds true for both positive and negative factors. A restrictive atmosphere is not conducive to creativity, so Michael has formulated a plan to alleviate the potential for burn-out. He wants the job to remain enjoyable, which entails having the freedom to do one’s own work. Towards this he en- visions the hiring of an additional T.A., so that each of them could work one semester and act as artist- in-residence for the other semester. The salary would be divided equally between them, so there would be no additional drain on the budget, and the T.A.’s would benefit by having access to the facilities. As professionals they could set a full-time example to students in a working environment, one that allowed an atmosphere of shared creative energy and excitement. This could all happen. His favorite dessert:cheesecake. Virginia Achtem Keith Nevin Planet of the Arts BILL CUPIT Bil’s career a8 2 photographer began when he was eight years od. He stl has every camera he tecture at UBC but quit for tothe architectural ‘design program then being offered atthe Vancouver ‘School of At In 1965, Midway through hie third year studied design. After graduating he worked atthe Hudson's Bay Co. belore forming a partnership and starting his own srehitectural design studio. This ‘come to an unfortunate conclusion and proved to be ‘questionable Incidents which Rave belle that hei alfeiong “vietim of Infidelity”. In 1972 he worked at UBC doing photog- hy forthe Blomedieal Research Centre. One year ‘of that wes enough to convince Bil fo seek empoy- ‘ment elsewhere, and he began to work atthe V.S.A Hols curently the studio assistant in the Photo Department here. Bll sso does much feetance photography ‘work, presently designing @ set of speciaretfect ‘exploding photographs for Universal Studios. His technical proflelency and speed have been sought many times in the commercial field His own fine art photographic work consists primarily of nudes and landseapes, much of which he hand tints. He has exhibited his work allover North America and Europe. His office fled with pleturs of Evan, his son. Bill believes In strong academic emphasis on technique to facllate creative application. He Is really proud of the Photography Department and is ‘committed to keoping It competive with continually ‘pgraded equlpment. Towards this end he envisions the hiring of another fulltime studio assistant. While fenthusletic about the students and the work Produced In the department, Bil feel frustrated by {he restrictions Imposed by the Provinclal govern- ‘ment funding and inadequate budgetary allotments. Fils opinion en the bureaucrat procedures and fendless paperwork one must engage In to justly the Soqulalton of vite equipment Is not suitable for 'y ‘convincing appesrance atthe 1986 Media pub night Ro Stewart Bil fered the information that he Is forty-one years, ‘an Aries, "Re a child Bll was saturated with baked goods ‘and 60 does not really care for desserts. But he foves sushi. ‘STEVE WONG. ‘Stove has boon atthe college withthe printmaking department for nine years. Prior to this hhe pureed en Education Dogree at U.B.C. with @ major in Fine Arts. This summer he married a very nee stockbroker. ‘Stove fete the college Is about growth, and ‘that printmaking Is just one way to experience that ‘evolution. His personal work ules xerox screen and focuses on the relationshipof "inside tnd outside". He believes that, a» Samuel Butler the Younger noted: "Every man's work , whether it be iterature or music or plotures or architecture or omething else, fs always a portrait of himself.” Towards a more developed statement of his philosophy of art he offers this anecdote: Whi {raveling through the Middle East going tows ‘Afganistan heard a story that goes something tke this, Three workers Ina herbalists what they were doing. Th ‘what the boss Wants done observed: "Tm sorting th Shoppers.” And finally, the third worker spoke, saying, ‘Tm making medicinal packages that ‘seamed for hours and hours, and wien sipped, {his potion gives strength tothe drinker." Ike ‘what the third worker dlecovered, the potential ‘within things that surround us — whether tb dried laarde or xorox machines or people. ‘Stove also says he kes fo think that his pltures reveal some ofthe power of that Ilzard lon. is favorite dessert ls Bon Ton Diplomatic Layered Pastry Cake. Ken Oliver Ken received @ B.A. from the Univeralty of Guelph and went on to receive an MLPA. from Utah ‘State University. He hus been atthe colloge since 4978 and most of us are stil unfamiliar with this {tnd other concerns. A founcation of basi tech- ‘niques means thatthe student ls equipped to proceed creatively.” Kon has just completed 2 commission of bronze baon fr the Delta Hotel in Calgary, so drop by and tee them on your way to the Olympics. Ken's favourtte dessert i, yes you guessed It, Nanalmo bare. 4 Volume 3 Number 3 December 1987 Oh, Those Studio Assistants Ten Profiles for the Price of One Virginia Achtem Naomi Singer MICHAEL MINTERN, Michael tft Brantford, Ontario in 1978 when a chemical disposal plant was under construc tion neer his studio, He arived on the wost coust ‘wih his diploma in material arts (Georgian College, Barry), hs Fino Arts degree (Humber Collage, Toronto), his two years experience as a {echnical assistant (Mohewk College, Hamlin), and ft wealth of experience In a variety of media (palnt- ing, drawing, ceramics, wood, glass). He has also {taught ceramics classes and perleipated In group ‘shows with the Canadian Gull of Potters. A short ‘Hint as 8 construction worker afforded him the ‘opportunity to finance his own business, and he Bogan making and soling jewelry crated in ceramic, ver, nd cutting stones. Michae!'s belief in the ‘value of teamwork and group interaction influenced be docision to leave hls stualo and jln the ECCAD Painting Department as Technical Assistant. He likes his Job and enjoys problem solving of all kinds, especially when he can help ‘Students overcome technical ficulties to achieve {thelr designs. While Michael feels the Annex {facilis are good, he notes that mare equipment ‘Would be Helpful He tikes the natural light, but not the leaking root. He has been here two and a half years, and doesn't lke the Isolation imposed on the Baintere by the Big Move. Michaol is frustrated by {he restrictions placed on T.As regarding the {sclltes (T.A's are expreseiy forbidden Use of {aelltles, even aftershoure, for thelr own work). Having hed to prove thelr atstic credentials to work here, tseeme onal thet, Unke Instructors, -As sre not encouraged to pursue and develop their tiistc Instincts, Wicheei sees the school as an organism; what affects one pert wil oeralny affect the rest ‘This holds tue for both postive and negative factors, A restrictive elmoephore isnot conducive to Creativity, 20 Michee! has formulated a plan to ‘levite the potential for burn-out. He wants the job {o remain enjoyable, which entalis having the {freedom to do one's own work. Towards this he en- ielons the hiring of an addtional T.A., 60 that each ‘of thom could work one semester and act as arts