TIONS JUNC Space Wars: The Phantom Menace The Third Year Studio Space Conflict by Corinna vanGerwen It's another year started in the amazing world of an incompetent school system. Last September students returned to find a wonderfully flexible concourse gallery replaced with something which more closely resembles a hockey rink. This year a fascist studio space system is being dictated to our senior students. The little people are whin- ing and the rulers are admitting no responsibility. For those of you who've been living in dungeons, let me fill your ignorant minds with information. The studio spaces that used to be allotted to third and fourth year Visual Arts students have been reformulated. The fourth years still have their little lairs, but the third years have been thrown back in time to live the life of a meagre second year student. Although they deny thinking it, students talk as if the faculty sat in a little room all summer trying to figure out the best way to screw them over. The faculty somehow failed to inform third year students of this life-altering change until the first week of classes. (Like it takes too much effort to type a letter, photocopy it and send it out to all the little brats to let them know how their world will change.) It's been claimed as an oversight by the faculty due to the switchover of both a new Visual Arts Dean and Dean’s Assistant. But shouldn't major changes as such be communicated to those whom are affected by it? This seems like the festering sore in the minds of the students. "Why didn't they tell us? How come we didn't get a say in the matter?" It's just another example of how lit- tle the students actually matter in this school. Well, I say fuck, next thing you'll be asking them is to check whether the wall paint should be matte or semi-gloss. As Judy Davis says, “Over the summer things happen — that’s the nature of post secondary." Do you expect that everything be put through a tedious bureaucratic system before any final deci- sions are made? Why don't we all put aside three hours a day so that faculty can call meetings in order to let us know every miniscule detail concerning the school? While we're at “Next thing you’ll be ask- ing them if the wall paint should be matte or Semic-gloss.” Third year ceramic studio space. = photos by Marc Hébert _ it, let's include the custodial staff. Actually, why weren't the custodial staff included? They have to clean the place every- day. Maybe they would've liked it to stay the way it was because there was so much shit left lying around by the stu- dents that they had less floor space to mop. And, come on faculty! Do you not have respect for the majority? These kids make the school what it is. You should be on your knees before them, bowing to their every wish and desire. Do not say a word, do not make a move, do not change your brand of soap without their approval. All you third year students: do you really believe that you deserve something better then second years? How come you rate? According to Judy Davis and Paul Mathieu, your curriculum is more similar to theirs than to the fourth year, so you should have similar facilities. It isn't written anywhere that students get personal studio space. (So be forewarned all you future fourth years: you may be next. Oh, you poor third years. Just imagine if this happens all over again next year!) No, my dear naive third years, you don't deserve more than a measly little wooden locker to store your bad art. Faculty: squish those ingrates in like sardines. If there are no walls taking up space you can fit in more bod- ies. Segregate! They do not deserve to learn from other dis- ciplines. They do not deserve the chance to learn from those wise elders, the fourth year students. And if you keep them all in one spot you can watch their every move without hav- ing to exert the energy it takes to walk across that narrow - street called Johnston. Spaces of creative interactivity “Third year sculpture studio space. Why weren't the custodial staff included? They have to clean the place everyday One anonymous printmaking student complained, "Why go halfway across the school when all your stuff is right there?" Well I say get off your lazy ass and walk up those stairs. Be thankful they gave you a space at all. And learn to incorporate that ceramic dust into your prints. Ceramists, make less delicate things that won't break while you're trying to get through three sets of doors. Painters, be thankful that you don't have to deal with those exceptional- ly high ceilings. Sculptors, the sounds of those woodshop blades create a wonderful ambience during critiques. Give students a space without walls for them to roam, faculty. Give them an area where they can spread out. A space where they can create the largest works they could possibly imagine. Artworks that they can leave for the cus- todial staff to dispose of at the end of the semester because they’re too big to take home. They don't need a secure place to store their work. They'll welcome the colour that wander- ing intruders may bring. They don't need a place where they can safely leave their work to dry, comfortable that it will not be moved. So, here's the deal kids: quit your bitching. Get off your lazy ass and do something about it. Build. your own walls. Have a peaceful hippie sit-in in the Dean's office. Put together some civil disobedience actions. Stir up the shit. You've got the power. As it stands now our school is riddled with passivity. 'Ooh, I just wanna make my art. I only have to deal with it for a year.' There'll be enough time once you're out of school to make art. It's only a year. And for all you faculty: own up to your decisions. Believe in them. Student Union member Andrew Luketic wants to know, "Who made this decision? There’s no one taking responsibility for it." Don’t let those territorial brats cause you to deflect responsibility. Rule with an iron fist. I say take their precious studio space away from them. That'll teach 'em. October 1999 25 influx * Magazine TIONS JUNC Space Wars: The Phantom Menace The Third Year Studio Space Conflict by Corinna vanGerwen Tes another year started in the amazing world of an incompetent school system. Last September students returned to find a wonderfully flexible concourse gallery replaced with something which more closely resembles a hhockey rink. This year a fascist studio space system is being dictated to our senior students. The litle people are whin- .dmitting no responsibility: For those of you who've been living in dungeons, Jet me fill your ignorant minds with information. The studio spaces that used to be allotted to third and fourth year Visual Arts students have been reformulated. The fourth years still have their itl lars, but the third years have been §] ‘thrown back in time to live the life of meagre second year 2} student ! Although they deny thinking it, students talk as if the faculty satin a litle room all summer trying to figure ‘out the best way to screw them over. The faculty somehow failed to inform third year students of this life-altering change until the first week of classes. (Like it takes t00 ich effort to type a letter, photocopy it and send it out to all the little brats to let them know how their world will change.) It's been claimed as an oversight by the faculty due to the switchover of both a new Visual Arts Dean and Dean's Assistant. But shouldn't major changes as such be ‘communicated to those whom are affected by i? Tis seems like the festering sore in the minds of the students. "Why didn't they tell us? How come we didn't get a say in the matter? Ie’ just another example of how lit- tle the students actually matter in this school. Well, I say fuck, next thing you'll be asking them is to check whether the wall paint should be matte or semi-gloss. As Judy Davis says, "Over the summer things happen ~ that's the nature of post secondary.” Do you expect that everything be put through a tedious bureaucratic system before any final deci sions are made? Why don't we all pu aside three hours a day so that faculty can call meetings in order to let us know every miniscule detail concerning the school? While were at “Next thing you'll be ask- ing them if the wall paint should be matte or Semi-gloss.” Third yéar ceramic studio space. it let’ include the custodial staff. Actually, why weren't the custodial staff included? They have to clean the place every day. Maybe they would've liked it to stay the way it was because there was so much shit left lying around by the stu- dents that they had less floor space to mop. ‘And, come on faculty! Do you not have respect for the majority? These kids make the school what it is. You should be on your knees before them, bowing to their every wish and desire, Do not say a word, do not make a move, do not change your brand of soap without their approval ‘All you third year students: do you really believe that you deserve something better then second years? How ‘come you rate? According to Judy Davis and Paul Mathieu, your curriculum is more similar to theirs than to the fourth year, so you should have similar facilities. It isn't written anywhere that students get personal studio space. (So be forewarned all you future fourth years: you may be next. (Oh, you poor third years. Just imagine if this happens all cover again next year!) No, my dear naive third years, you don't deserve more than @ measly little wooden locker t0 store your bad art Faculty: squish those ingrates in like sardines. If there are no walls taking up space you can fit in more bod- ies, Segregate! They do not deserve 0 learn from other dis- ciplines. They do not deserve the chance to learn from those wise elders, the fourth year students. And if you keep them all in one spot you can watch their every move without hav- ing to exert the energy it takes to walk across that narrow stret called Johnston, ‘Spaces of creative interactivity Third year sculpture studio space. Why weren't the custodial staff included? They have to clean the place everyday ‘One anonymous printmaking student complained, "Why go halfvay across the school when all your stuff is right there?" Well Tsay get off your lazy ass and walk up those stairs, Be thankful they gave you a space at all. And learn to incorporate that ceramic dust into your prints Ceramists, make less delicate things that won't break while you're tying to get through three sets of doors. Painters, be thankful that you don’t have to deal with those exceptional ly high ceilings, Sculptors, the sounds of those woodshop blades create a wonderful ambience during critiques. Give students a space without walls for them to roam, faculty, Give them an area where they can spread out. A space where they can ereate the largest works they could possibly imagine, Artworks that they can leave for the cus- todial staff to dispose of at the end of the semester because they're too big to take home. They don't need a secure place to store their work. They'll welcome the colour that wander- {ng intruders may bring. They don't need a place where they ccan safely leave their work to dry, comfortable that it will not be moved. So, here's the deal kids: quit your bitching. Get off your lazy ass and do something about it. Build. your own walls. Have a peaceful hippie sit-in inthe Dean's office. Put together some civil disobedience actions. Stir up the sh You've got the power. As it stands now our school is riddled with passivity ‘Ooh, I just wanna make my art. I only have to deal with it for a year” Therell be enough time once ‘out of school to make art. Ie’ only a year. ‘And for all you faculty: own up to your decisions. Believe in them. Student Union member Andrew Luketic wants to know, “Who made this decision? There's no one taking responsibility for it.” Don’t let those territorial brats ‘cause you to deflect responsibility. Rule with an iron fist. 1 say take their precious studio space away from them. Thatll teach ‘em. influx Magazine October 1999 25