Art Themes in Bellingham Sculpture Collection

Skyviewing Sculpture by Isamu Noguchi, photo ERICA TIMMERMAN

ERICA TIMMERMAN, Suite 101, Apr. 14

For over 60 years Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington, has invited artists to design sculptures on their campus grounds as part of a public artwork walking tour. They now own one of the top ten university art collections in the United States.

WWU has always allowed the artist to choose the location where their piece will be displayed. This opportunity has made the use of land a very important theme to many of the artists.

In the 29 sculptures situated around the campus there are three major themes: Man and Nature, Man and Learning, Man and History. Many of the sculptures are meant to be participatory so the viewer can walk through, sit on and even climb to achieve higher understanding of the artwork. The themes represented through the sculptures are integral to understanding the artist’s meaning.

Man and Nature

In 1969 Isamu Noguchi decided to locate Skyviewing Sculpture in the center of Red Square where Miller Hall is located. He designed the sculpture in the shape of a black cube, tilted, with cutouts on three sides. The 12,000 pound steel sculpture rests its three points lightly on brick piers appearing weightless. The top point rises towards the clouds.

The viewer is invited to go inside of the sculpture and look up to the sky with the cube. In Clark-Langager’s Sculpture in Place: A Campus as Site it says gazing towards the sun through the open circles plays on the Japanese philosophy of sun and creation. Being part of the sculpture, Noguchi shows man is center of creation.

In Bruce Bassett’s Portrait of an Artist Noguchi explained, “Man’s involvement with nature requires that he leaves his imprint there too, because he is part of nature too.”

Man and Nature is also shown in Meg Webster’s untitled copper planter and Lloyd Hamrol’s Log Ramps.

Man and Learning

Feats of Strength by Tom Otterness, photo ERICA TIMMERMAN

When artist Tom Otterness sat at Haskell Plaza in 1999 he spent the day drawing sketches and watching students mingle around the landscaped area. In the end he came up with Feats of Strength: small bronze figures holding and moving boulders while others sleep or sit cheerfully in various spots around the plaza.

Otterness explained in Sculpture in Place that he wanted to express three layers in his sculptures. The first layer is the landscape that was made before the sculptures. The next layer is a semi-reality where a fictional story takes place between the bronze characters. The last layer is the students and faculty walking or sitting by.

Otterness emphasizes the small versus the overwhelming and laziness versus intelligence in his work.

The theme for Man and Learning can also be seen in the large red steel tribute, For Handle by Mark di Suvero and Bruce Nauman’s stair sculpture Stadium Piece.

Stone Enclosure: Rock Rings by Nancy Holt, photo MARK MCTAGGERT

Landscape artist, Nancy Holt, decided her artwork would be specific to Bellingham as a seaport community. In that regard her 1977 sculpture Stone Enclosure: Rock Rings is mapped around the celestial layout of the North Star, an important calculation for coastal navigators.

In Sculpture in Place it says the circular holes are compared to points on a compass and offer a horizontal view of the landscape across from the track field.

The viewer can walk in and around the 40-ft and 20-ft diameter rings. The rock sculpture looks like a small, old castle.

Holt said she decided to place it near Robert Morris’ Steam Sculpture so its mist would flow over her work creating a “dreamy, misty quality.”

Other themes on Man and History can be seen in local tale, Richard Beyer’s The Man Who Used to Hunt Cougars for Bounty and the more exotic India, by Anthony Caro.

Lo-Fi Rock Band, Women

Women Bassist Matthew Flegel and Drummer Mike Wallace, Photo: ERICA TIMMERMAN

ERICA TIMMERMAN, Suite 101, Apr 09

Don’t be fooled by the band’s name. Women are actually an all-male under-20 rock band who delves into lo-fi, psychedelic rock, reminiscent of 1960s Velvet Underground. Not that they ever consider themselves of the same caliber.

“We’ve even been compared to the Beatles which is unacceptable, untouchable territory. You can’t say our band is like that,” said bassist and vocalist Matthew Flegel in an interview with Suite 101.

Maybe then of the same caliber as ambient punk peer, Deerhunter, perhaps? Women’s self-titled debut album flips back and forth between catchy pop songs, like the well-received ‘Black Rice’, and ominous industrial post-punk, such as “January 8th.”

One thing that stays the same throughout the album, however, is the constant tape hiss and the far-away voice of main vocalist, Patrick Flegel, singing songs in a monotone drone.

Childhood Friends

Women were signed onto Calgary label, Flemish Eye Records, where the band’s hometown is. Through the help of Indie legend, Chad VanGaalen, they were able to get the retro sound they wanted by recording on tape in basements, culverts, anywhere an echo was likely to be heard.

The quartet are childhood friends and family who grew up together and went to the same school. “Mike [Wallace] the drummer lived a block away from us. Pat is my brother and I’m the oldest by three years. We’ve been playing together since we were 12,” said Flegel.

Flegel admits he and his band mates were avid listeners of 60s music and pointed to the Everly Brothers and Skeeter Davis as inspiration for their own music. At one point they dispersed as a band and went on to play back up for Xiu Xiu and Hella.

By 2008 the friends got back together, formed Women and sent some demos in to Ian Russell, president of Flemish Eye. Within three months they produced their album, released it in October 2008, and since then have been on the road touring throughout Canada, the U.S. and Europe.

“We’ve covered so much ground in such a short period of time,” said Flegel. “We’re actually getting really used to it. Like I’ll get home and get really antsy. This is all I ever really wanted to do.”

Non-Stop Touring

In March and April 2009 Women went on a tour across the West Coast with Chad VanGaalen, playing in locations such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland and Seattle. They received many positive reviews, -the San Diego CityBEAT described Women as “basement rock goodness” – and even sold out concerts.

“Everything has been mind blowing,” said Flegel. “In Calgary the shows are a really small, closed in scene. Some 50-60 people come. But touring we have filled up venues with people who shouldn’t even know who we are.”

This summer Women will be packing up again and touring throughout Europe which they are very excited about because they’ll have a chance to meet rock heroes Sonic Youth and The Jesus Lizard.

“At the Primavera Sound festival [in Barcelona, Spain] we will be setting up a point system. Like you’ll get five points talking to this person or that person,” explained Flegel. “I’m going to try and get a conversation with Neil Young, that will be worth 100 points.”

The Multi-Talented Chad VanGaalen

Indie rocker Chad VanGaalen, Photo: ERICA TIMMERMAN

ERICA TIMMERMAN, Suite 101, Apr. 09

Calgary rocker, Chad VanGaalen, often wishes he could go back to busking his hometown city streets before he unintentionally became an indie darling.

“I learned by busking I could usually make $200 a day and pay my rent. It’s what I wanted to do and was a great life,” said VanGaalen during an interview with Suite101.

That was the past however and today VanGaalen is fast becoming one of the top Canadian indie singers as well as a favourite in the U.S. and Europe.

Unconfirmed Style

After signing onto Flemish Eye Records in Canada and Sub Pop Records with the U.S. in 2004, he released his first album, Infiniheart, to critical acclaim. The Globe and Mail described it as, “Pulp fairy tales that are easy to enter, so hard to leave behind.”

Since then he has worked hard to write, produce and animate a new album every two years. In 2006 he came out with Skelliconnection and in 2008, the album he is promoting currently, Soft Airplane.

VanGaalen’s songs are original and experimental. His willowy, fragile voice sings songs of death and dreams in beautiful context. He uses a variety of instruments, including the harmonica, ghetto blasters, banjo and his favourite, the Steinberger, a small electric guitar.

His music moves back and forth from rock flirtations to electronic diversions to folk digressions. In Skelliconnection VanGaalen was accused of alienating his audience because he was creating too much noise and not enough music. His record producers asked that he concentrate on a niche and stick with it. Soft Airplane has a more defined balance, VanGaalen said. “It’s not too thought out, but is a happy medium of improv and focus.”

Critics have a hard time pin-pointing his style. The magazine Treble Zine commented, “The reason I may not be able to put a finger on that extra quality is most likely what makes him one of a kind.”

Some relate him to rock legend, Neil Young, but VanGaalen declines the compliment. “I didn’t listen to him at all growing up. I thought he was this burnt out old hippie dude.“

Instead VanGaalen said he often seeks inspiration through ambiance music, trains and bird songs. “Music can get kinda boring,” he explained, so he looks for natural sounds to get his mind thinking outside the box.

Notorious Homebody

VanGaalen spends the majority of his time in his basement where his studio is. There he writes songs, records music and animates the videos that accompany them. Recently he recorded the debut album of the band, Women, using ghetto blasters and old tape machines to create a lo-fi, psychedelic sound.

VanGaalen is vehement about his distaste for touring, explaining he would rather stay home creating music than performing. “I would much prefer making videos than I don’t have to leave the house. Seems crazy to tour because I get the same message out and I put as much good energy into what’s produced.”

But the power of the record label is high and so is the demand from his fans. Recently he completed a tour throughout the West Coast that proved successful. Seattle Weekly wrote, “ If Chad VanGaalen is any indicator, Canadians have excellent taste in music.” He toured with Women and almost every night tickets were sold out, VanGaalen said.

This coming May VanGaalen will be touring again, across the Atlantic and around Europe. This particular tour he is looking forward to because he said he likes the European lifestyle.

“In North America when you say you are an artist, people think you make no money, but when you’re an artist in Europe, they let you express yourself and are more accepting.”

Covenant House for the Homeless

Students raise funds for homeless, ERICA TIMMERMAN PHOTO

ERICA TIMMERMAN, Suite 101, March 22

At the Vancouver Covenant House on Drake Street, Community Giving Development Officer, Mark Savard sees up to 80 youth shuffle into their Drop-In centre each day.

He will see teenagers abusing themselves with meth, prostitution and violence. He doesn’t judge, Savard knows life on the streets is about survival, and he just wants to offer food, clothing and conversation.

“The life span of youth on streets generally is between seven to eight years,” said Savard. “ They usually can’t survive longer than that because of the lack of nutrition, hygiene and physical abuse.”

Savard said there are between 500 to 1,000 homeless youth living on Vancouver’s streets at any given time.

Receiving Donations

Recently, three students from Capilano University, in North Vancouver, raised over $2,500 after spending Sunday Mar. 15 to Friday Mar. 20 homeless on campus grounds, begging for donations to give to charity.

As part of a nation wide event called 5 Days for the Homeless eight Canadian universities took part and altogether collected over $150,000 for youth at risk. Capilano decided to give half of their total to Covenant House and the other half to the Urban Native Youth Association.

Savard said that with $1,100 one youth would receive five days of food, shelter and personalized professional care.

Homelessness to Independence

Vancouver Covenant House has four programs dedicated to help the homeless between the ages of 16 to 24.

* Outreach Program: A team of qualified staff visits the streets where homeless youth are usually found. They initiate contact with them and maintain relationships, offering help, food and clothing.
* Community Support Services Program: Youth 24 years of age and under can walk into the Drop-In centre and receive counseling, resources and referrals.
* Crisis Shelter: Doors are open 24 hours a day with accommodation for youth between the ages of 16 to 22. They can receive a bed along with food, clothing and a shower. They also receive help finding a job or going back to school.
* Rights of Passage Program: In an effort to transition youth from homeless to independent living, Covenant House offers bachelor apartments with guidance from residential advisors.

Hour to Hour, Minute to Minute

During the 5 Days for Homeless campaign, students expressed frustration over their poor nutrition, wet clothing, lack of hygiene and exhaustion from sleeping outside on the ground. Savard understood these comments and said they were examples of what homeless experience on a day-to-day basis.

“These people have to live hour to hour, minute to minute. This is why drug use is so rampant throughout the homeless, it numbs them from reality, staves off hunger and keeps them from sleeping, otherwise they might wake up without their shoes,” said Savard.

Covenant House began in New York City in 1972. Since then 20 facilities have opened in six countries. They have estimated there are over 750,000 homeless youth throughout America.

Students Experience Homelessness

(from left) Trevor Page, Connor Welsh and Krissi Bucholtz sleep outside for five days to raise funds for youth at risk, ERICA TIMMERMAN PHOTO

ERICA TIMMERMAN, Suite 101, March 20 2009

Students slept outside on campus grounds from Sunday Mar. 15 to Friday Mar. 20.

Under the guidelines of 5 Days for the Homeless, participants had to give up their common conveniences, such as cell phones, income and showers and only eat and drink what was donated to them. During the day and night they begged for change to give to their local charities.

In the end the organization totaled almost $150,000 nationally, or 50% more than their targeted goal of $100,000.

Students were also expected to still go to class and withstand the stares and looks from their classmates.

Unexpected Heartlessness

“You never really realize how heartless people are to homeless. We have some people who avoided eye contact with us or avoided us altogether,” said Krissi Bucholtz, another student at Capilano who huddled outside with Page and Connor Welsh for five days in the rain.

Students Explain Experience by Blogging

Blogs were set up on the 5 Days website so participants could describe what each day felt like. Many became very emotional as their nutrition level dropped, their hair became matted and their body sore from sleeping on the concrete ground.

Jaclyn Bell from Guelph University, in Ontario, wrote that the experience caused her to re-think her situation: “I am so lucky to be able to flick a switch when I need light, or adjust the thermostat when I’m hot or cold, or turn the water on when I need to shower, or turn the TV on if I’m bored. All these things I had absolutely no choice in doing today. The lights (sun) went out and I stuck, left there in the dark with nothing to do about it.”

In Saskatoon, participants roughed it during night two and three by sleeping outside in -35C weather with wind chill.

Day Five

By day five some schools received donations well over their expected goal and others were disappointed to obtain only 60% of their target.

Back at Capilano, the $2,577 Bucholtz, Page and Welsh made will be going to the Vancouver Covenant House and the Urban Native Youth Association. Welsh said although they have lived uncomfortably for the past few days, it has been relatively easy compared to reality.

“Obviously it is nothing like actually living out on the streets but it’s kind of like doing it with training wheels on. Getting somewhat of an idea what some people have to go through.”

Welsh understands, like all the others who wrote on their blogs, that while the end has finally come for them, it hasn’t for the youth who live each day in fear, wondering where their next meal will be. Thankfully the money that was raised Friday will help some of those who desperately need it.