In 1990 I was invited to conduct a weeklong workshop at the architecture school at the Technical University of Nova Scotia. … After meeting our respective groups, Gordon, Sanford and I each confessed that we were dismayed at the apparent lack of enthusiasm, awareness, energy and exubarence in the students that we were faced with.
That evening we changed the plan completely. We would … simply produce a «blast» of culture. We realized that the most important thing we could do was simply to expose them to what we thought culture was in the outside world. Rather than telling the students, we would show them, and give them what we could. Every day we produced performances, audio works, projects and lectures. We showed videos, films, art works, typography, design and history. … Some of the students loved it. Many hated it. … They walked out on David Cronenbergs early films. They ignored audio works by Alvin Lucier. By midweek the students’ enthusiasm and anger were palpable.
…
We met on Saturday morning as a group to discuss the week’s events. The students formed a circle around him [the dean of the University, Essy Baniassad]. He asked what happened. They were timid at first. One or two claimed the workshop was «interesting».
One complained, «I didn’t like it». Then the floodgates opened.
«We weren’t told what to do or how to respond.»
«We didn’t know what was going to happen.»
«Every day was different.»
Essy sat and listened, calmly, turning in his chair to address each complaint directly. When the students had finished, he said, «It seems that we have finally been able to deliver one week of education. It’s unfortunate we can’t do this all year long.»
…
Bruce Mau, Life Style.
29. März 2007 21:24 Uhr. Kategorie Design. Keine Antwort.
