38 planet of the arts / october 1997 FEATURE Steven Brekelmans and Dawn Huck (right) swing to the beat of the new lounge. Diversity, quality in programming and inclusiveness are the goals of the Lounge Working Group. Breaking down social barriers between divisions, year levels, and constituencies is well underway. New Lounge Initiatives by Alexander Duff he new Emily Carr lounge is the product of the complete transformation of a previous- ly dead space. Physically, the lounge is being reconstructed, and socially, the space is being rede- fined. Stools, benches and tables have already been installed and art is on display. More than half of the new physical design features have been completed and the new programming initiatives are well underway. The new lounge is transforming into a dynamic space for student gatherings and commu- nity events. The physical design aspects of the space have been worked on for many months. Only the final installation of several items remain outstanding. This impending completion of the physical renova- tions coincides with the increased activity of the Lounge Working Group whose task it is to set up and facilitate the programming of the lounge. While this is a student-led initiative, the space is intended to be for the entire community. Therefore, stake- holders from all of the sectors of the Emily Carr community have been included in the process of defining objectives. The stakeholders group includes representatives from: students, staff, facul- ty, Jamm Caterers, facilities (Glen Black, rep.), administration (Michael Clifford, rep.), lounge designers, audio/visual specialists, event program- mers, and the Students’ Union executive. The stakeholders group has created a Lounge Initiative with the overall objectives of increasing student participation and activating the space as much as possible. Other primary tasks include anticipating obstacles and devising problem-solving strategies. As it stands now, the physical renovations will be complete with the installation of the stage, elec- trical rewiring, ambient lights, stage lighting, and audio/visual equipment. Two e-mail computer sta- tions are also in the process of being set up in the lounge for student use. The programming aspect of the Initiative, while still in its infancy, has already organized the inaugural social event of the 1997-1998 academic year (the Sapphire. Lounge), and has sponsored and curated the inaugural art show exhibited in the new space (Foundation Year’s Map Your Week). Planning, programming and coordination are key components to the realization of the lounge stakeholders’ core objectives. With the facilitation of students on the Lounge Working Group, the new lounge will strive for diversity and quality in programming. By encouraging inclusiveness in events, the Initiative hopes to bring together the Emily Carr community and foster the normalcy of social gatherings. The Lounge Working Group will try to discourage partisan events that attract only subsections of the community. Without a focus and a place for interaction across divisions, it’s not surprising that the school has tended to be ghet- toized by year levels and curricular divisions. Breaking down social barriers between divisions and years is a relatively new phenomenon at the Institute. Old habits of thought and behavior (dis- trust, suspicion and clique-ishness) will undoubt- edly be encountered. Diverse programming, such as booking different years and departments to show art work in the lounge, will hopefully help break down these barriers. The Lounge Initiative is also focused on pro- moting broad-based involvement and generating funds for projects and events. Currently there is about $2,000 in the annual operating budget for lounge programming. Most events will need to break even or generate a profit. Other alternatives to funding (such as external sponsorship) will be looked at further down the road. The Lounge Working Group has already identified areas of possible programming (such as spoken word nights and live music nights) that need student participation in terms of organizing and performing. Some events to be held in the space will be used to help generate funds for specific projects. Traditionally, pub nights have been used by continued on page 40... The Sapphire Lounge alking into the Sapphire Lounge was like walking into a Frank Sinatra movie. I could Wi: sworn I saw Old Blue Eyes himself crooning to all the guys and dolls cutting a rug on the dance floor. The place was hopping but I knew Charlie and his boys would be looking for me, so I had to keep out of sight. That’s why I came in the back way, from the alley. When Charlie’s looking for you, you don’t want to be found. I only came because of Alyssa, it was so damn important to her... but she’s a sweet kid and I couldn't let her down. I'd never seen a joint like this before — it was swinging — real hip, crazy like. Everyone was dressed to the nines and playing it cool. I kept to the corners and slipped over to the bar. | didn’t know what to order but then I remembered Alyssa’s favorite drink — the green morrissey. I tried to order one but the bartender ignored me until I pulled out some cash. I watched him mix it. They called him “the Hoffman”. He was good, real good, and he knew it too. He said he’d seen Alyssa about a hour before, she’d been asking about me. He told me to check the lobby, that’s where she was working that night. I made my way through the crowd keeping one eye on the door and one on my drink. I didn’t want to spill the vodka and the créme de menthe. It wasn’t for me but I started to drink it anyway. The place was starting to effect me. I think it was the bubble machine. Or maybe it was Jackie, the cigarette girl. Man what a looker, she shoulda been in Hollywood. I tell ya, a pack of Lucky’s and a pretty smile, that’s all you need to know your having a good time. My drink was gone by the time I made it to the door. But the bright lights and cold faces in the lobby sobered me up quick enough. I caught Alyssa looking at me and she didn’t look good. She was trying to concentrate, trying to smile, but no one cared... no one gave a damn about a coat-check girl. Except for Charlie, if he caught me with Alyssa that'd be it... curtains for me. I took off my hat and looked her square in the face. The poor kid, I kinda felt sorry for her. She asked me if | got it and then she asked me again. Yeah I got it, I'd get anything for that girl. I reached into my jacket and I took it out. I handed it to her and she clung to it. She clung to the pop tart and she was almost in tears. That crazy kid, she’s a sucker for a pop-tart. And she knew I was a sucker for her. Ol AD: 58 plonet of the arts / october 1997, FEATURE Diversity, quality in programming and inclusiveness are the goals of the Lounge Working Group. Breaking down social barriers between divisions, year levels, and constituencies is well underway. ew Lounge Initiatives by Alexander Duff bonne "[icrrte tern dd pc Psy ne ig ‘monn rd nly th pc eh fn Sos rcs nd rv sy ben itll oda no daly Moran bl be ee se dese a eed as et les underway. The new lounge is transforming into a «dynamic space fr student gatherings and commu- “The physical design aspects of the space ave ben worked on for many months. Only the final instalation of several items remain outstanding. This impending completion ofthe physical renova tions ‘coincides with the increased activity of the Lounge Working Group whose task and facilitate the programming ofthe lounge: While {sto set up this sa student-led initiative, the spac is ntended stake holders from all of the sectors of the Emily to be for the entre community. Therefore, ‘community have been included in the process of defining. objectives. The stakeholders group, includes representatives fom: student, taf fac ty, Tamm Caterer, faites (G administration (Michael Clifford, rep), lounge designers, audio/visual specalits, event program: en Black, rep.) rer and the Students Union exe The stakeholders group has created a Lounge Initiative with the overall objectives of increasing student participation and activating the space as much a posible. Other primary tasks include anticipating obstacles and devising problem-solving strategies {As it stands now, the physical renovations will be complete with the installation of the stage, elec- trical rewiring ambient lights tage lighting, and audio/visual equipment. Two e-mail computer sa- tions are also inthe proces of being setup in the lounge for student us. The programming aspect of ‘the Initiative, while still nits infancy, has already ‘organized the inaugural social event of the 1997-1998 academic year (the Sapphite Lounge), and has sponsored and curated the inaugural at show exhibited in the new space (Foundation ‘Year's Map Your Wee) Planning, programming and coordination are ‘ey components tothe realization ofthe lounge stakcholder’ core objectives. With the faitation lents on the Lounge Working Group, the ‘new lounge will strive for diversity and quality in programming. By encouraging inclusiveness in vents the Initiative hopes to bring together the Emily Car community and foster the normale of social gatherings. The Lounge Working Group will try to discourage partisan events that attract only subsections of the community, Without a focus and apace for interaction acros divisions, isnot surprising that the school has tended to be ghet toized by year levels and curricular divisions Breaking down social barriers between divisions and yeas isa relatively new phenomenon atthe Institute, Od habits of thought and behavior (is trust, suspicion and ique-ishness) will undoubs of ccly be encountered. Diverse programming such 4s booking different years and departments 10 Show art work in the lounge, sill hopeflly help break down these bari ‘The Lounge Initiative is also focused on pro: rmoting broad-based involiement and generating funds for projets and events. Currently there is about $2,00 inthe annual operating budget for lounge programming. Most events will need to breakeven or generatea profit, Other alternatives to funding (sich as external sponsorship) will be looked at further doven the rad. ‘The Lounge Working Group has already ‘demifed areas of possible programming (such as spoken word nights and ive music nights that ned student participation in terms of organizing and performing Some event tobe held in the space will ‘be used to help generate funds for speci projets ‘Traditionally, pub nights have been used by The Sapphire Lounge ‘on the dance floor. The place was hopping but knew Chri and his boys would be Tooking for ms had to keep ou of sight. That’ why I camein the bck way, the aly. When ‘Chak’ ooking for you, you do want tobe found. only came because of Als, t was 0 dan important wo her. but she's. sweet id ad I ould ether down [deve sen jon ike this before ~it was swinging rea hip crazy Everyone was res tothe nine and paying coo. hep to the con to order but then I remembered Ay’ favorit drink ‘out the bartender ignored me wt! pled ot some cs Iwate him mi it. They alle hi “the Hofman He was good al god, and he efor, she'd een aking about me, He told me’ that night made ny way through the crow ping nse eoonng tal he gos ad dol eating rg ners and lipped over othe bat diet know what, the green mori tried t ord one new i to, He sid he'd seen Alas about a hour check the lobby that’s where she was working one ey onthe dor and onc on my dink. | dit ‘want to pill he vodka and the créme de menths It was’ for me but tre to dink it anywy, The pac was stating tele me.I think it was he bubble machine. Or maybe it was ick, he cigarette gel. Man what looker, she should been in Hollywood, ely ety smile, that all you ned Yo know you My drink was one bythe time made ito yng to concentrate trying to sil, but no ie Except for Chai if he caught me with Ah pack of Ludy’sand a svinga good tne. the dor. But the bright ight and cold faces the Joby sobered me up quick enough. aught Alyssa looking tm and she dd ook good. She was credo one gave a damm bout a cot-check fsa had be i. curtains fo me "took of my at ad looked he squire in the fc. The poor kid kinda ft sory for het She asked me if got tan then se ase me agi, ah gotta get anything fr that iL eached foto my jacket and I ook it ot. handed ito her and she clang ot. She clung tthe pop tart and she was lost in tears. Tht ray kid she's sucker fora pop-at. And she knew L wat a sucker for her. ©)