may 08 Over the past 10 years we have grown dramatically and have 1,600 full-time students specializing across a wide range of disciplines at the master’s and undergraduate level. Our alumni have contributed to B.C.’s vibrant art scene and in many cases have been instrumental in the cultural sector not only in this province but nationally and internationally. We are at the cutting edge of what is best about culture in this province. Cultural activity contributes more than seven per cent of the GDP of B.C. Large universities are not necessarily the only model of what works best for students. Emily Carr is characterized by a dynamic interaction among its disciplines, and has small classes. Creative practice informs teaching and research as well as the advancement of knowledge and its dissemination. After much debate and many hard questions, the government decided to act on our request to become a university. This multi-disciplinary institution, which has contributed so much to B.C., will continue to be an engine of innovation and creative practice and will be significantly strengthened by its new status for the benefit of all of the citizens of B.C. Faculty Administrative Secondments Emily Carr University of Art + Design! - Ron Burnett Emily Carr began in 1925 a few years after the founding of the University of B.C. From the outset, this intimate art school issued four-year diplomas. Funding was minimal and, for a while, Vancouver city council taxed its citizens to subsidize the school. The conversion to Emily Carr Institute in 1995 was a response to the fact that our four-year diplomas had evolved into degrees and that we had been given a mandate to provide specialized education in art, media and design to all parts of the province. No new legislation was developed at the time to recognize our university status. The majority of our sister institutions in Canada and in the world are fully fledged universities of art and design. As announced by Ron Burnett in a recent email, Renee Van Halm has agreed to serve as Interim Dean of Graduate Studies starting fall 08. Renee has taught at ECU in Visual Arts and Foundation since 1992 and we are thrilled that she is taking on this new role. Dennis Burke’s term as Associate Dean of Degree Programmes has been extended for two years. Bonne Zabolotney has accepted the new position as Associate Dean of Design for a three year term. Susan Stewart has agreed to be the Associate Dean of Integrated Studies for the 08/09 academic year while Randy Lee Cutler is on sabbatical. Glen Lowry has accepted the position as Chair of Online Learning and External Collaborations. Peg Campbell Completes Her Masters in Fine Arts! Congratulations to Peg Campbell who will receive a Master of Fine Arts, a joint degree in Creative Writing and Film Production, from the University of British Columbia on May 21st! Rita Wong – Winner of The Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize Congratulations to Rita Wong who was recently awarded the winner of The Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize for her book, Forage. This distinguished award is for a book of poetry written by an author from British Columbia or the Yukon. Wedding Bells for Marlene ♥ Ted! Congratulations to Marlene Yuen, Studio Technician 2, Continuing Studies, and Ted Tozer who were married at Vancouver City Hall on Saturday, May 10! We wish Marlene and Ted many happy years together! Also, congratulations to Vanessa HallPatch, Studio Technician 3, Continuing Studies, and Trent Hutton who became engaged in Grand Cayman. They will be getting married on Pender Island on September 27, 2008! New Arrivals Congratulations to Louise Thornton and her husband, Jason Watson on the birth of their baby girl – Sylvie Nina Tess Watson who weighed in at 8lbs and 11oz. Also congratulations to Richard Overington and his wife, Tania, who had a little boy in March whom they named Ryland! Farewells and Greetings! Gary Lee Nova, who was first appointed to the Vancouver School of Art in 1979, will be retiring at the end of this academic year. Throughout his tenure at ECI, Gary has had a long and important career as a Vancouver artist. He was a co-founder of Image Bank (with Michael Morris and Vincent Trasov) and active in the Sound Gallery (circa 1965) and Intermedia 19671972. More recently, he exhibited his work at the Belkin Satellite Gallery with Eric Metcalfe. We thank Gary for his years of commitment to ECU and wish him all the very best in his retirement!. Beth Howe has been appointed Assistant Professor in Printmedia starting fall 2008. Beth received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in printmaking from Haverford College in 1998 and a Masters of Fine Arts from The San Francisco Art Institute in 2003. Christopher Hethrington was recently hired as faculty in Design. Christopher Hethrington received his degree from Swinburne University in Australia and his master's degree from NSCAD. He has previously taught at Emily Carr Institute as a sessional instructor and will be joining us as an Assistant Professor in Design. Nature Challenge: Food Bank Donations The focus on the last month of the Nature Challenge at Work is on food. Many fantastic ideas were provided in the May newsletter. We would like to remind you that Food Bank donations are really strong during the Christmas season, but we need to continue to support the Food Bank throughout the year as individuals and families who use the Food Bank have an ongoing, yearround need. Please consider donating by bringing in some canned or non-perishable food for the Food Bank box that is currently set up in the staff lounge. Emily Goes Green: Water Bottles and the Environment Thirsty and thinking about purchasing a plastic bottle of water? Before you do, think about the consequences of your action. Plastic water bottles generate a huge amount of waste and potential health hazards because of their chemical composition. They may have also traveled around the world to reach us in a country that has some of the best drinking water in the world. Also, big corporations are making huge profits from the bottled water industry. So, before you reach for your wallet and buy that bottle of water, go out and purchase a stainless steel bottle and fill it up with our own cold, delicious water! The world will be a better place for it… Bike to Work Week This spring, workplaces across the Lower Mainland are entering a huge (but friendly) competition to see who can get the most co-workers onto bikes for the trip to work. Emily Carr has a team! To create your personal Bike to Work commuting profile, and join your workplace Bike to Work team please Sign up here During Bike To Work Week (May 26 to June 1), you'll come back here to log your trips and see real-time stats showing how you're doing in relation to your team-mates, how your team is beating the competition at other businesses and organizations, and how much CO2 you're not producing by burning gasoline. There will be sponsored commuter stations along major cycling routes, offering free food and drink, T-shirts you can buy with the money you save on gas, and expert help if you have mechanical trouble with your bike. For more information, please visit http://www.vacc.bc.ca/index.php?task=btw.main Upcoming Exhibits, Events + Lectures Policy Baby: The Journey of Rita/Bev, Directed by Susan Stewart, Associate Professor, and Michael Glassbourg will be premiering at DOXA Documentary Film Festival on June 1 at 2:30pm at the Vancity Theatre, 1181 Seymour Street. Malaspina Printmakers presents new work by Elizabeth Zvonar (01). The exhibit will showcase a selection of photo lithographic prints and solar polymer prints created through the first Print Research Residency developed by Malaspina Printmakers to facilitate new print media based projects by artists. The exhibit runs from May 8 to June 1. Presentation House Gallery presents, MOODYVILLE. Featuring the work of Karin Bubaš (98), Jim Breukelman (retired Associate Professor), Babak Golkar (03), Mike Grill, Kyla Mallett (00), Jeremy Shaw (99), and Dan Siney (04). The exhibition runs May 3June 5, 2008. For more information, please visit Presentation House Gallery. Movers and Shapers 2008 at the Vancouver Museum features 20 designers you should know. Included in the exhibit are three design groups with ECI Alumni: Propellor Design includes Pamela Goddard (98), Toby Barratt (96) and Nik Rust (96). Red Flag Design consists of Barnaby Killam (former student) and Stuart Sproule (01). Finally, Free Agency Creative principal Tak Yukawa (02) and partner Don Williams (02 and Sessional Faculty) works alongside helping the fashion, lifestyle and real estate markets connect more deeply and relevantly with their consumers.