BY KAREN OPAS

Problem: nervous 3-D and I-D
students see their studio space being
swallowed by that evil stepdaughter,
Design.

Solution: move Design to First &
Fir and Painting back where it be-
longs in the bosom of Fine Art.

What’s wrong with the preceding
statements - apart from the grammar?
To start with, there is nothing intrinsi-
cally evil about Design — it is simply
a more accessible part of the equation
we designate under Art, a communica-
tion of a very specific idea or message.
Atthis college there is a growing schism
between the two. This is primarily due
to Administration’s short-sighted rush
to cash in on the Provincial Govern-
ments willingness to fund.‘useful’ pro-
grams.

Fine Artists have a natural resent-
ment towards Designers based mainly
on the sneaky envy we feel about their
future monetary status. Realistically,
unless I’m very fortunate, I'll probably
spend my life on the cutting edge of
poverty. I’ve made this trade-off be-
cause I’m egotistical enough to think
that artistic freedom is vital to the com-
munication that I want to establish
through my art. Naturally, I’d be de-
lighted if I could make a living doing
this. Designers have decided that they
can be satisfied expressing their artistic
needs through a medium which will
permit them a comfortable living.
Friends that I’ve talked to in Design
also feel they can enrich everyday life
through an aesthetic approach to the
problems of functional needs. Yes,

there are differences in our disciplines
but certainly not the gulf that is per-
ceived by most of the students at
ECCAD.

What does really piss me off about
the Design Program is the alarming
increase in enrollment without due
consideration to the effects that its’
need for more space involves. Studio
area is already incredibly overcrowded
and, if the trend continues, we’ ll all be
working in the miniature next year
because there isn’t any ROOM. Studio
disciplines need studio space!!! In-
credibly obvious as this may seem,
may I point out that the studio space, all
seminar rooms and the only available
room for installations (all located on
the second floor and currently shared
by I-D and 3-D) will be taken over by
the vigorously burgeoning Design
department next year. What next, the
(gasp) Faculty Lounge? Oh, wait, that’s
needed for Board meetings.

When I’ve met with Alan Barkley
he’s lamented the fact thatpeople come
to him with their bitches but not their
solutions. I find this a little naive on the
part of someone who is essentially paid
to solve problems, but I’m willing to
put in my two cents worth. Why not
move Design to the Annex and let
Painting re-occupy it’s former space?
It gives Design it’s own unencroach-
ing, separate domain. Ithelps to allevi-
ate the anxiety crisis thatis occurring in
Fine Arts regarding our utter lack of
importance to the college administra-
tion.

My knee-jerk reaction is simply:

VOL.4NO.6 1989

“No more Design”. I’m green-eyed
over my sibling’s good fortune to be in
a politically ‘correct’ field of study.
The Annex boasts 25,000 sq. ft. of
space just aching for that Design touch.
Maybe this move would accomplish
absolutely zilch, but a neutral value is
definitely superior to the increasingly
negative feelings that the Design Space
Race is arousing in Fine Art students. I
make this suggestion only half in jest
because, even though it would aggra-
vate the problem of separation, I
wouldn’t be getting so freaked out by
the dismissal of studio concerns. im-
plicit in Designs’ territory grab. Now
T have an inkling of how the Blackhill
Sioux felt during the Gold Rush.

I feel betrayed by an Administra-
tion that has shamelessly pandered to
the Socred’s “money is validity” creed.
To give credit where it is conceivably
due, I’m glad that the Degree Status
question is swimming along and that
existing foreign students will get to
complete their studies at the rates they
were led to expect.

Now, back to the bitching; when
the college was happily accepting the
funding to expand Design why wasn’t
Alan Barkley fighting for increased
monies for Fine Art? The path of least
resistance is not called for by the spe-
cial needs of an institution devoted to
the arts - all of them. As the head of
Administration Alan had some respon-
sibilities he failed to fulfill. When it
was realized that Design was going to
expand so dramatically, why wasn’t
the student-to-studio ratio taken into

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consideration? Ifthedecision was made
to put the space needs of Design ahead
of Fine Art why wasn’t a policy of
limited studio admissions instituted?
Unpalatable as I find this idea, it would
at least ensure that those who were
admitted would have their studio space
requirements adequately met.

I have been told that the college
had approximateiy 450 students when
it opened here. It now has about 700.
The college gained a space increase of
22% with it’s acquisition of the Annex
but has increased it’s student load by
over 60%.* This doesn’t begin to take
into account the influx of part-time and
evening studies students. While they
do not have permanent space, it does
mean that the rooms they use are inac-
cessible most evenings and weekend
days, and work cannot be left in them.
Just ask any Foundation student (they
bear the brunt of this incursion) how
they feel about this and the overall lack
of adequate space for studio work is
made painfully clear.

The have-nots cannot help but re-
sent the haves. I am asking Admini-
stration to acknowledge this lack, to
find a way to prevent its’ favoured
child, Design, from becoming an out-
cast to the rest of the college commu-

nity.

*Editor’s note: the Administration
disputes these figures. Percentages and
ratios aside, however, the overcrowd-
ing in all departments is clearly evi-
dent, especially to those who work there.

7 ~
BT pose >

SLLUND ABHAIOAID
BY KAREN OPAS

PALE

Problem: nervous 3-D and I-D
students see thelr studio space being
swallowed by that evilstepdaughter,
Design.

Solution: move esignto First &
Fir and Painting back where it be-
longs in the bosom of Fine Art.

‘What's wrong with the preceding
statements - apart from the grammar?
To start with, there is nothing intinsi-
cally evil about Design —itis simply
amore accessible part of the equation
we designate under Art, acommunice
tionof avery spcificidea or message.
Authiscollegthereisagrowingschism
‘between thetwo. This is primarily due
to Administration's short-sighted rush
to cash in on the Provincial Govern
‘ments willingness to fund ‘useful’ pro

rams.
ine Artists have a natural resent.
‘ment towards Designers based mainly
onthe sneaky envy we feel about the
future monetary status. Realistically,
‘unless I'm very fortunate, I'l probably
spend my life on the cutting edge of
poverty. I've made this trade-off be
‘ease I'm egotistical enough o think
thatartitiefeadom is vtaltothecom=
‘munication that T want to establish
through my art. Naturally, 'd be de-
ighed if T could make a living doing
‘this, Designers have decided that hey
can besatisfied expressing theiratstic
needs trough a medium which will
permit them a comfortable living
Friends that I've talked to in Design
also feel they can enrich everyday life
‘rough an aesthetic approach to the
problems of funetional needs. Yes,

there are differences in our disciplines
but certainly not the gulf that i pe.
cxived by most of the students at
ECCAD.

‘What does really pss me off about
the Design Program is the alarming
increase in enrollment without due
‘consideration to the effects that is’
need for more space involves. Studio
sxeais already incredibly overcrowded
and, ifthe trend continues, we'll al be
working in the miniature next year
because thereisn'tany ROOM. Studio
disciplines need studio spacell!_In-
credibly obvious as this may seem,
‘may Ipointoutthat the studio space, ll
seminar rooms and the only available
room for installations (all located on
the second floor and currently shared
bby ED and 3.D) willbe taken over by
the vigorously burgeoning Design
department next year. What next, the
(gasp) Faculty Lounge? Oh, wait that’s
needed for Board mestings

‘When I've met with Alan Barkley
he's lamented the factthat people come
to him with their bitches but not their
solutions Ifindthisalitlenaiveonthe
partofsomeone who isessentially paid
to solve problems, but I'm willing to
‘pt in my two cents worth, Why not
‘move Design to the Annex and let
Painting re-occupy it's former space?
1k gives Design it's own unencroach-
ing, separate domain. Ithelpstoallevi.
atethe anxiety crisis thatisoccurringin
Fine Arts regarding our utter lack of
importance to the college administra

My knee-jerk reaction is simply

“No more Design”. I'm green-eyed
‘over my sibling's good fortune tobe in
a politically ‘coret’ field of study.
‘The Annex boasts 25,000 sq.ft. of
space just aching forthat Design touch
Maybe this move would accomplish
absolutely zich, but a neutral value is
efinitely superior to the increasingly
negative feelings thatthe Design Space
Races arousingin Fine Artstadents. I
‘make this suggestion only half i est
because even though it would agara
vate the problem of separation, T
‘wouldn't be getting so freaked out by
the dismiseal of studio concerns im.
plicitin Designs’ tertory gab. Now
Thave an inkling of how the Blackhill
Sioux felt during the Gold Rosh.

[feel betrayed by an Administra
tion that has shamelessly pandered to
the Socred’s “money is validity" cred,
‘To give credit where itis conceivably
‘due, I'm glad that the Degree Status
question is swimming along and that
existing foreign students will got to
complete their studies athe ates they
were led to expect.

‘Now, back to the bitching: when
the college was happily accepting the
funding to expand Design why wasn't
‘Alan Barkley fighting for increased
‘monies for Fine Art? The path of east
resistance isnot calle for by the spe-
cial needs ofan insination devoted to
the arts - all of them. AS the head of
‘Administration Alan had some respon
sibilities he failed to fulfil, When it
was realized that Design was going to
expand so dramatically, why wasn't
the student-o-stdio ato taken into

‘consideration? Ithedcisionwasmade
to put the space needs of Design head
of Fine Art why wasn't a policy of
Timited studio admissions instituted?
Unpulaableas find this idea, it would
atleast ensure that thore who were
admitted wouldhave their studio space
requirements adequately met.

have been told that the college
had approximately 450 students when
itopened here. It now has about 70,
‘The college gained a space increase of
22% withit’s acquisition of te Annex
but has increased it's student load by
‘over 60% * This doesnt begin to take
into account the inflaxof parttime and
‘evening studies students. While they
{0 not have permanent space it does
‘mean tha the rooms they use are int.
cessible most evenings and weekend
ays, and work eannot be left in them.
Just ask any Foundation student (hey
‘bear the brunt of this incursion) how
‘they fel about this and the overall lack
of adequate space for studio work is
‘made painfully clear.

‘The have-nots cannot help but re-
sent the haves. Tam asking Admini-
stration to acknowledge this lack, to
find a way to prevent is’ favoured
child, Desig, from becoming an out
‘cast to the est of the college comm
nity

*Bator'snot: the Administration
Aisputesthese figure. Percentages and
rats aside, however, the overcrowd-
ing in all departments is clearly evi-
ent especially tothose who workthere

-

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