University of Victoria, Canada Vol. 1, No. 2 | Winter 2011

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Dean’s Message 2 Sarah Blackstone considers how our new café connects us to the greater campus community

Joan MacLeod wins Siminovitch Prize Noted playwright and acting chair of Writing wins $100,000 award, the biggest in Canadian theatre

Being Creative Crea

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Faculty News 3 From the Giller to the Leo and the Order of Canada, find out who’s been making a name for themselves lately

Shop the Fine Arts 4 Stuck for a last-minute holiday gift? Still need a 2012 calendar? Check out what your colleagues have to offer

“You know, this thing is really heavy.” Joan MacLeod in her office with the Siminovitch Prize

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If former instructor and Writing alumna Esi Edugyan winning the $50,000 Giller Prize was big news, then simple mathematics suggests that Joan MacLeod’s $100,000 Siminovitch Prize win is twice as exciting.

In addition to being one of Canada’s finest playwrights, MacLeod is also a graduate of the very Writing department for which she is now the acting chair. Given that this is her second shot at Canada’s largest theatrical award (she was previously nominated in 2005), MacLeod believes it’s her teaching background that made the difference—which is utterly appropriate, given that $25,000 of the prize goes to a designated protégé (in this case, Toronto-based emerging playwright Anusree Roy). “What a great reminder of what drew me to writing

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in the first place—there is joy to be found in creating a piece of writing,” says MacLeod.

While the Siminovitch jury acknowledged her “unique voice, masterful storytelling and the impact that her work has had among audiences in Canada and beyond,” MacLeod definitely doesn’t see this prize as a lifetime achievement award. “I’ve got 25 years under my belt in the theatre, so I hope I have another 25 in me,” she says. “I do truly feel mid-career—I don’t think I only have one or two plays left in me; I feel like I have several.”

When asked if there was anything particularly memorable about the Toronto event, MacLeod just chuckles. “This will sound so corny, but this the first

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time my family has been present when I received an award,” she smiles. “That was fantastic.”

She was also thrilled to have three departmental colleagues present: former MFA student Sally Stubbs plus Lynne Van Luven and Maureen Bradley, all of whom were in Toronto for their own events. “I loved having Lynne and Maureen and Sally there—and that they were there because they had things going on, too.”

 

 

Vol. 1, No. 2 | Winter 2011 University of Victoria, Canada

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notes that, besides the Biblio Café, it’s the only other spot on campus to get espresso drinks. “Every day we’re seeing a few more people,” she says, “mostly through word of mouth.” Food

Services manager Lisa Church confirms the café’s popularity. “We’ve had great feedback,” she says, “and we’re seeing regular repeat  customers.” A grand opening event is planned for January, 2012.

Guangzhou A Go-Go Chinese delegation visits Fine Arts Six representatives of China’s Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts (GAFA) visited Fine Arts in October. In addition to a faculty tour, a luncheon with representatives from UVic’s Centre for Asia-Pacific Initiatives and Office of International Affairs, a lecture by GAFA scholar Wu Yangbo and a public reception, there was also an exchange of gifts and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to pursue future student and faculty exchanges.

“I am very hopeful that we can forge a strong relationship with GAFA that will provide our students with the opportunity to study in China, and our Faculty the chance to learn about Chinese art practices from visiting students and faculty,” said Dean Blackstone.

Founded in 1953, GAFA has developed into one of the finest art institutions in South China. Specializing in two disciplines—Fine Arts and Design—GAFA focuses on traditional Chinese painting as well as oil and watercolour painting, sculpture and art history, while the College of Design ranges from architecture and environmental design to fashion, digital, textiles and more.

The visit was organized with the assistance of Mrs. Eunice Lowe, widow of noted artist Stephen Lowe and a donor to History in Art. Mrs. Lowe also organized an evening reception at the Union Club, where guests included Barry Till, curator of Asian Art for the AGGV, local art writer Robert Amos and former mayor Alan Lowe. Also present at the luncheon was Writing professor and poet Tim Lilburn, who was instrumental in bringing acclaimed Chinese poet Xi Chuan to UVic in 2009.

And in unrelated Chinese scholarly news, stay tuned for details about a possible Fine Arts residency by a Chinese artist from a different academy in 2012.

Another semester has come and gone with some extraordinary changes and accomplishments in the Faculty. The most obvious change is Arts Place café in the Fine Arts lobby. The café was the brainchild of our first Faculty-wide retreat; we hoped a café would bring us together and make our working lives easier. The idea grew and changed through discussions with Food Services, and the resulting eatery has had a very successful beginning. The positive energy in the Fine Arts building is palpable, as we see and talk to one another more often, and we have become a preferred stopping place for folks from other parts of the campus and the community. Soon I hope to bring student art work, performances and readings to the space to make it truly an arts place.

Our next retreat (set for January 21, 2012) will give us the opportunity to brainstorm about our new strategic plan, and our hopes and dreams for a new building in the Faculty. Please plan to attend. It is clear that coming together for discussion and debate is a powerful tool for change and growth in the Faculty. You will read about many of the accomplishments of faculty, staff, students and alumni in the pages of this newsletter. Please join me in congratulating our colleagues for their fine work.

Finally, I would like to note that next semester will give you the opportunity to review my performance over the last five years and to decide whether you would like me to continue to lead the Faculty. I look forward to the review process and encourage you to work with your department or union representative as the process unfolds.

—Sarah Blackstone, Dean

Changes & Accomplishments

Kevin McGinn wins café naming rights

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For the past 17 years, Kevin McGinn has been making the hike across campus for coffee. Now, thanks to his namesake Arts Place, an Americano fix is mere steps away. “I used to go to Mac’s, Biblio or Cinecenta,” says the VIsual Arts workshops technician (seen on the cover), “which was okay when we were quieter, but that’s a long way to walk when it’s busy.”

What’s Your Great Moment? Deadline for 50th Anniversary ideas sooner than you’d like

When it came to finding a team of students to tackle the debut of his risky new play, Inside, Daniel MacIvor couldn’t have found a

Dean Blackstone and GAFA Vice President Wang Yuesheng sign a Memorandum of Understanding

Tired of waiting for the café to open in September, Sam took matters into her own hands

Who is Art, anyway?

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McGinn picked up a $50 food card for his winning entry in the name-the-café contest. Chosen from a field of 80 entries, “Arts Place” triumphed over the likes of A Sweetbar Named Desire, Much Abrew, Supporting Roll and Affairs of the Tart. “I think it’s appropriate,” he says of the name, “so simple, so easy.” No question, Arts Place has been a success. Retail operations coordinator Sandra Hagedorn (above)

Tired of waiting for the café to open in September, Dan Hogg took matters into his own hands

Tired of waiting for the café to open, Fran Gebhard took matters into her own hands in September

 

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Vol. 1, No. 2 | Winter 2011 University of Victoria, Canada

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September 11th-themed installation “Liberty” at the Audain Gallery, and Visual Arts hosted a reception for current Audain prof Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas. They also welcome new hire Paul Walde, who starts in January . . . . History in Art’s Allan Antliff launched the digital Anarchist Archives in conjunction with the McPherson Libraries this fall and saw his book, Anarchy and Art, reprinted in German. Marcus Milwright has been named a Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and will be a Scholar-in-Residence at Honolulu’s Shangri La Centre for Islamic Arts and Cultures this spring . . . . Over in Theatre, 2009’s play The Moons of Jupiter by Jennifer Wise was a finalist in this year’s Herman Voaden National Playwriting Competition, and Bindon Kinghorn’s Phoenix production Rookery Nook received good notices this fall. Finally, four of Dean Sarah Blackstone‘s framed bird photographs were chosen as this year’s Legacy Awards for the gala in November.

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Writing was definitely in the spotlight this fall, what with all the Esi Edugyan hoopla, Joan MacLeod’s Siminovitch Prize and Lorna Crozier’s Order of Canada and $10,000 Kloppenburg Prize (Crozier also guest-hosted CBC’s The Current on December 2). In other Writing news, Stephen Hume and Carla Hesketh-Funk were both nominated for the City of Victoria Butler Book Prize, which was won by professor emeritus Jack Hodgins. Associate dean Lynne Van Luven launched her latest edited collection, Somebody’s Child, and Madeline Sonik has been nominated for the $40,000 BC National Award for Canadian Non-Fiction for Afflictions & Departures. Maureen Bradley and Dan Hogg were part of the Freshman’s Wharf team that won a Leo Award for Best Web Series this summer, and new hire Lee Henderson kicked off the first Open Word: Readings and Ideas event of the year . . . . Over in the School of Music, Daniel Peter Biro is busy overseas, teaching at the Experimental Academy in Germany,

Around the Courtyard

Clockwise from below: Rebecca Belmore’s art installation “Liberty,” Lorna Crozier and Governor General David Johnston, Allan Antliff launches the digital Anarchist Archives, Andrew Schloss celebrates five years of music/comp-sci, the Freshman’s Wharf Leo winners.

Turn On Your Electric showcased the latest exhibit of light-based art by Visual Arts prof Robert Youds at Diaz Contemporary in Toronto this fall. How about one of these pieces for Arts Place?

Visiting Writing department Southam Lecturer Terry Glavin attracted a large crowd at his public lecture and book launch in October, not all of whom agreed with what he had to say about Afghanistan. Public lectures rarely get so exciting!

In  lacinia,  enim  sed  luctus  ultricies,  velit  odio  tempor  mauris,  in  aliquet  nunc  sem  tempor  nisi.    

Vestibulum  sodales.  Proin  sit  amet  dolor.  Aliquam  aliquam  lobortis  lacus.  Suspendisse  sed  est  eu  pede  malesuada  sollicitudin.  Sed  vulputate.  Nulla  facilisi.  Lorem  ipsum  dolor  sit  amet,  consectetuer  adipiscing  elit.  Vivamus  tellus  est,  hendrerit  id,  elementum  a,  tempor  eu,  dui.    

byline  Dolor  Sit  Amet  

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Writing alum, former instructor and now Giller Prize-winning author Esi Edugyan (seen here with Michael Ondaatje) was the toast of the literary set this autumn with her novel, Half-Blood Blues. $50,000 can buy a lot of diapers for this new mom!

Sheesh, are all faculties this busy?

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Utrecht University in the Netherlands, and at the Meitar Academy of Contemporary Music in Israel; his composition “Hadavar (The Word)” was also given special mention in the Canada Council’s Jules Léger Prize Competition. Jonathan Goldman received a Learning Without Borders grant from the Learning Teaching Centre and won an Opus Prize from the Quebec Music Council. Musicologist Michelle Fillion was just announced as the winner of this year’s Award for Teaching Excellence in Fine Arts, and four Music faculty were honoured in October for their long service to UVic: Harold Krebs and Alexandra Pohran Dawkins (both for 25 years), Eva Solar-Kinderman (30 years) and Eugene Dowling (35 years) . . . . Robert Youds of Visual Arts had exhibits at both Diaz Contemporary and Winchester Modern galleries (alongside professor emeritus Mowry Baden), and Daniel Laskarin’s earlier AGGV exhibit was reviewed in Sculpture magazine. Inaugural Audain professor Rebecca Belmore returned with her

 

 

University of Victoria, Canada Vol. 1, No. 2 | Winter 2011

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10th Anniversary Celebration (both recorded at the Phillip T. Young Recital Hall). Or you could pick up tickets to any of Music’s upcoming concerts, or consider a tax-deductible donation to the ongoing Steinway piano fund.

Speaking of tickets, Phoenix Theatre has two show coming up this spring: Eurydice and The Marowitz Hamlet. Remember, Phoenix seats always go fast!

Support our Visual Arts MFA students via their work in the exhibit surface to air (including Yang Liu’s piece “With Melting Snow,” below left), running until December 17 at downtown’s Deluge gallery.

Finally, busy shutterbug Dean Sarah Blackstone has produced a limited number of $10 calendars again, this time in two varieties: the ever-popular birds and her latest passion, flight photography. Come on, who doesn’t love (or, at least, need) a calendar?

Whenever the Theatre Department is mentioned in dispatches, the focus inevitably tends to be on the Phoenix’s mainstage season. So in these notes, I intend to talk about an aspect of our work that often passes unnoticed. In 2004, a specialist program in Applied Theatre was introduced—and, in September 2005, I took up my present position as University Scholar in Applied Theatre (so it will be obvious that I am indulging in a little shameless self-promotion here). Since then, we have produced one PhD in Applied Theatre and five Masters’ graduates; this year, we have over 80 undergraduates in our four Applied Theatre courses.

Our two most recent post-graduates, Will Weigler and Lauren Jerke have received some recognition in local press notices; but I wanted to draw attention to some of the work that has recently been done by Applied Theatre undergraduates. Over the years, the definition of Applied Theatre that we have developed is: theatre used for extra-theatrical purposes, where extra-theatrical refers to education, social change and community-building. Recent work has involved students working with local elementary and high schools, Camosun College nursing students, the Legislature, the BC Ministry of Children and Family Development Eating Disorder Program, the Cedars at Cobble Hill Drug Rehabilitation Program and the Crystal Meth Society of Victoria. In March of next year, four recent graduates of the Applied Theatre program have been invited to present aspects of this work at the National Therapeutic Community (TC) Conference in Nanaimo. — Warwick Dobson

Warwick Dobson is (obviously) the Chair of the Theatre Department. Future newsletters will feature reports from different chairs each time.

FACULTY OF FINE ARTS PO Box 1700 STNS CSC Victoria BC V8W 2Y2 email finearts@uvic.ca www.finearts.uvic.ca

Creative Being is published twice a year by the Faculty of Fine Arts to communicate the faculty’s goals, strategic direction, achievements and activities in order to connect alumni and teaching faculty with each other and the university.

Musings from a Chair

Keep up to date with your colleagues via Artsy Type, the new Faculty blog, which you can find on the Fine Arts homepage. (Better yet, subscribe to the RSS feed and be notified of each new update.) We’re also now on Facebook and Twitter, so there are plenty of ways to stay in touch.

Stuck for gifts this holiday season? Fine Arts has something for all tastes

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Not sure what to get that special someone on your list? Give the gift of faculty this year with this brief sampling of some of what our collective talent has to offer.

Associate Dean and Writing prof Lynne Van Luven has just edited her third collection of modern family tales, Somebody’s Child: Stories About Adoption. Also recent from Writing is the Victoria post-earthquake tale Into That Darkness by instructor Steven Price, as well as Madeline Sonik’s short-story memoir Afflictions & Departures and Lorna Crozier’s latest, Small Mechanics. And if you sprechen ze Deutsch, check out the German language reprint of History in Art professor Allan Antliff’s page-turner, Anarchie und Kunst.

Over in the School of Music, Bruce Vogt has released three CDs this year—Franz Liszt (Vol.1), plus two with soprano and voice instructor Susan Young, Das Marienleben and the

Shopping the Faculty