32 planet of the arts / spring 1998 SERENDIPITOUS SPACES Lookin’ fer Luv at Emily Carr ke Art, Not Love! 5 By Marc Hébert hoa! What an article to write... It certainly has been intriguingly educational interviewing students at the Institute and finding out how people see the “game of love.” Have you found love at Emily Carr? Or anything resembling love? Is it even a priority? This is how I opened my interviews. I learned something new from each per- son, and the tone of the article shifted drastically the more I uncov- ~ ered. I really would have liked to speak with more of the student, fac- ulty and staff body, but I believe I’ve heard enough to supply at least an introductory survey of the “love scéne at ECIAD.” I thank my col- laborators and hope you enjoy what I have to say. OK, on with the dirt... With a student body of eight hundred or so, we have a pretty small community to work with. This is good in that the people assembled at this place of art educa- tion take on the persona of a really large family. We co-exist with our peers, mentors, support groups and others we have yet to meet. Those I interviewed seem to share a sense of appreciation for the school, in that it’s a fantastic environment to work in and cross-pollinate our ideas. However, in such an educa- tional climate, it is also perhaps difficult or not important to devote time and energy into finding romance. Should we lay off some security guards so we can copulate more readily in inconspicuous spaces? As far as difficulties go, there is the question of first gathering the nerve to ask someone to get together over coffee or somethin’ It can also get dicey trying to work around workload schedules to meet up with someone. And then one must find out if this person is already in a relationship. After all that, they might just turn you down. Sounds like fun, don’t it? There’s an aura of intense work at the school, and “love” or “rela- tionship” or “partner” may not be on everyone’s mind. Some simply are not here to find a mate. They find that their priorities are more inclined towards interacting with other people on a creative basis, making friends, and making business and art connections. As one respondent mentioned, it’s not really a place where people come to find a “marriage degree,” which might be more common at a large university. Still people don’t seem to be paired off as much here as might be expected for a place where the age group is relatively com- patible. Perhaps Emily Carr stu- dents are less dependent on rela- tionships as a source of happiness or fulfillment. As The Tragically Hip say: “No one drags me anywhere.” Artists (as a certain portion of the students like to be known) might be more open to new ideas and might be “free-flowing” in their work, but do they live a more conservative love life? Do we not “get-down” and “party-up” like everyone else? I don’t claim to know the answers to these questions. Rather I think my role is to question the body of people assembled at this institute and begin the discussion from that point. Maybe we are more focused on our work, but work isn’t everything, is it? Or is it the times? The nineties, as a decade Ivana satis deiteeeres 901-A2 — Exhibit A, 1998. Pauletig, Case No. of political-correctness and sur- veillance in regards to sexual harassment, has a different social mentality than the “free-luvin” ' sixties and seventies. With HIV and AIDS to worry about, as well as pregnancy and other conse- quences, are we simply more edu- cated and aware of the risks and therefore observe caution in these matters? Or have I simply inter- viewed a skewed portion of our school’s population? Some see relationships as a form of high-maintenance labour that they can’t be bothered deal- ing with. Is someone less worthy if they are without a “boyfriend” or “girlfriend” or “(insert appro- priate term here)? When playing the game of love, you must remember that it is not a reflec- tion on your personality if some- one does not reciprocate your feelings. Sure, rejection is tough sometimes, but one might need toughened skin to handle the “slings and arrows” of this unend- ing joust. Love does have a strange effect on us. Perhaps some just don’t need that right now. But hey! For those of you with your “love radar” on continuous, how do you find it? Is the cafete- ria an ideal spot to “scope and be scoped?” Do we need a more laid back space to foster interesting meetings? Are we lacking in pub nights? Do we want a student lounge which offers a more inti- mate setting, or do we simply want to get off this cleaned-up industrial island? Where does that leave us? Is “the look” alive and well? Are there connections being made? It seems so, as there are couples around, just not that many. Are there more “high- turnover” and casual relation- Ivana Pauletig, Case No. 901-A2 - Exhibit B, 1998. ships in this place? Should we lay off some security guards so we can copulate more readily in inconspicuous spaces? Sure, we have a lot of similar interests here, as it is a pretty specialized institution, but is there enough variety in the student body to fulfill the apparent demand? Or are some just not interested in meeting a partner here, and so look to other settings to hook up? Ben in second year opines “It’s just dumb. Disgusting!” Another respondent thinks this is a great place for romance, be it heterosexual or not. There are a lot of different people here, maybe not the entire spectrum, but our school sure has a motley complex- ion. And this makes it all that much more interesting to play the chess match of romance. Love isn’t fulfilled like an itemized shopping list, but then again if you don’t buy a lottery ticket how can you win? Play it cool, and the deities will smile upon you. Some people can get quite wound up about someone before even conversing. Spending time getting to know someone casually can be a great way to find out the status of the mission. And hey, if things aren’t conducive to forming a relationship, at least you've met another interesting person (hope- fully), and you've made the Emily Carr family that much: more extended. One of the great things about this place is that one can make some really good friends, and you might find appreciation handed back and forth like candies. Our community seems like a fair- ly elastic group that associates with each other not for the sake of being in a club but to contribute to a common, not necessarily iden- tical, objective. That is where the diversity and energy combine to make Emily Carr, ‘the House of Creating, a more habitable place. I didn’t get a chance to verify the theory that Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus, and I didn’t let you in on any real-live- couple stories, but I have a feeling that this article is only a beginning to a certain type of query into the state of Emily Carr’s social scene. Let me know what you think of this article, because I find myself to be quite clueless when it comes to matters of the heart, and I might be back with “Couple Success Stories @ Emily Carr.” But don’t hold your breath. p-s. Heh, heh... well, so much for that. Just after I handed in this article I asked Pax (the Free Help guy sitting in the Concourse) about which avenue of love I should personally pursue in this matter. He said very plainly: “Find a girl,... then drop ‘er,’ and continued chomp- ing on his zucchini. Right. Great! Thanks, man! But, alas, I found myself at the Arts Club that night (a great socializing venue right here on the island), consuming large quantities of reduced price alcohol and something happened. I met someone I had seen before in my classes but hadn't really talked to. So we talked, (I wasn’t completely out of my gourd), danced a bit, no, quite a bit and things were startin’ to hum, as it were. Talk about Karma. I had fallen into the hands of a ceramicist... Yeah, yeah, we’ve both heard all the “Ghost” stories! So anyway, like I said, my next piece will be on real live couples and I'll be able to let you in on some juicy details, if she lets me... Ol 32 plonet of the arts / spring 1998 SERENDIPITOUS SPACES Lookin’ fer Luv at Emily Carr Make Art, By Marc Hébert roa! What an ail to erie. certainly hs been, intigu ‘ducational interviewing students at the Insitute and finding out how people se thegame of lov. Have you found love at Emily (Care! Or anything. resembling ove? Ist even a priory? how {opened myinterviews learned something ne from each pr son, and the tone ofthe artic shifted drastically the more I uncov re, really would have liked to speak with more of the student, fc tty and staff body, but f believe I'v heard enough to supply at east an introductory survey ofthe “Tove seat ECIAD. I thank my ol laboratorsand hope you enjoy what edi. With a student body of eight hundred or 50, we have & pretty small community to work wih This is good in that the people assembled at this place fart educs- ke on the persona ofa realy lange family. We co-exist with our peers, mentors, support groups and ‘others we have yet to meet. Those l interviewed seem to share sense ‘of appreciation forthe choo a fantastic environment 0 ‘work in and cross pollinate our ideas. However, in such an educa tional climate, it is so perhaps dificult or not important to devote time an energy ito finding romance. have tos, OK, 0 in that. Should we lay off some security guards so we can copulate more readily in inconspicuous spaces? Not Love! As far as difcltis go, theres the question of frst gathering the nerve to ask somcone to get together over coffe or somethin. It can alo get dicey trying to work around workload schedules to meet up with someone. And then one must ind out if ths person isalready in a elationship. Afterall hat, they might jas turn you down, Sounds like fan, doit i Ther’ an aura of intense work at the schoo, and "“Tove™ or "rel: tionship" or “partner” may not be on everyone's mind. Some simply are not here to find a mate. They find that their priorities ate more inclined towards interacting with other people on a creative bass ‘making frends, and making business and art connections. As one respondent mentioned isnot realy a place where people come to find "marrige degree” which might be more common at large university Sul peopl dont seem to be pied off ax much ere a8 might be expected for apace where the ge group is ratively com: patible. Perhaps Emily Carr stu ents are less dependent on rea tionships asa soure of happiness ‘orfullment.As The Tragically Hip say: No one drags me anywhere Artists (as a certain portion of the students like to be known) might be more open to new ideas and might be free-flowing” in their work, but do they live a more conservative love life Do we not “get down’ and “patty-up" like ‘everyone else? I dont aim to know the answers to these questions Rather thnk my rle isto question the body of people assembled at this insttate and begin the discussion from that point: Maybe we ae more focused on ou work but work st everything si? Or iit the times? The nineties, as 2 decade ‘of poitial-cortectness and sur- velllance in regards 10 sexual harassment, asa diferent socal ‘mentality than the “free-luvi® sistes and seventies With HIV and AIDS to worry about, as well as pregnancy and other conse- _quences, are we simply more ed- ‘ated and aware of the risks and therefore observe caution in these matter? Or hae I simply inter- viewed a skewed portion of our schools population? Some sce relationships as a form of high-maintenance labour that they cat be bothered dal ing wit. I someone less worthy if they ae without a “boyfriend” ‘or “gilftiend” or “insert ppro- iat term here)" When paying the game of love, you must remember that itis not a reflec- tion on your personality if some- ‘one does not reciprocate your felings. Sure, rejection is tough Sometimes, but one might need toughened skin to handle the “ings and arrows ofthis unend- ingjoust Love does havea strange fect on us. Perhaps some just ont ned that right now. ‘Butey! Fr thos of ou with your “love radar” on continuous, how do you find isthe afte ria an ideal spt to “scope and be scoped?” Do we need a more laid back space to foster interesting ectngs? Are we lacking in pub night? Do we want a student lounge which offers a more int rate setting, or do we simply want t0 get off this ceaned-up industrial island? Where does that eave ws? 1s “the look” alive and well ‘Are there connections. being made? It sems so a there are couples around, just not that many. Are there more “high turnover” and casual elation wana Pale, Case Ne 901-A2- Exhib B, 986. ‘hips inthis place? Should we layoff some security guards so we can ‘copulate more readily in inconspicuous spaces? Sure, we have alot of similar interests hee, as it sa prety specialized institution, but i there enough variety in the student body to fulfill the apparent demand? Or ate some just not interested in meeting partner here, and so lok to other settings to hook up? Ben in second year opines "Ws just dumb, Disgusting” “Another respondent thnks thisis a great place for romance, bet heterosexual or not There are alot of diferent people hee, maybe ‘not the entre spectrum, but our school sure has a motley complex- fon And this makes ital that much moe intersting ply the ches ‘match of romance. Love isn flflled like an itemized shopping list, ‘but then again if you dont buy lottery ticket how can you win? Pay it ool, andthe deities wil mile upon you, Some peoplecan get quite ‘wound up about someone before even conversing. Spendi tng to now someone casually can bea reat way tind out the status ofthe mission. And ey, if things aren't conducive to forming 2 relationship, at least you've met another interesting person (hope fully), and you've made the Emily Carr family that much more «extended, One of the great things about this place is that one can make some relly good frends, and you might find appreciation handed back and forth like candies Our ommisnity seems like a fir ly laste group that associates with ech other not for the sake of being a lab but to contribute toa common, not necessary iden- tical, objective. That is where the diversity and energy combine to ‘make Emily Carr, the House of Creating’ a more habitable pce. 1 dda’ get chance to verify the theory that Men are rom Mars and Women ae from Venus, an I did et you in on any real-tve «couple stories, butt havea feng that hisartce sony a beginning, to a certain typeof query into the sat of Emily Care's socal scene. Let me know wht you think ofthis aril, because I find myself to bbe quite clueless when it comes to matters ofthe heart, and I might be back with “Couple Success Stories @ Emily Care” Bu dont hold your breath 1p Heh, heh. well so-much for tht. as afer hand inthis article Tasked Pax the Free Help guy sting inthe Concouric) about ‘which avenue of love I should personally pursue inthis matter. He said very plainly: "Find a gel. then drop ‘and continued chomp: jing om his zucchini. Right. Great! Thanks, man! Bu, alas, | found. myself at the Arts Cub that night (a great socaing venue right here ‘on the island), consuming large quantities of reduced price alcohol and something happened I met someone I had seen before in my clases but hadn't ely alle to So we talked (I wast completely ‘out of my gourd), danced abit no, quitea bit and things wer startin to hum, as it were Talk about Karma had fallen into the hands of a