Bookraft

OCAD - Ontario College of Arts and Design proved to be shortsighted if not downright inept in its handling of the graduating students Art Show this May, 2005. In all of its advertising and postings for the show there is no mention of the fact that No photography , No video, No media is allowed at the show. So if you want to take pictures of the works of art of friends or children or friend of friends - the school and its security force are not prepared to allow for even this.

Several dozen prospective OCAD students from Toronto and other area high schools had to be warned off from attempting to use their digital video phones, cameras, and video because there were no signs at the entrance only a small sign at one desk, easily missed.

But even more disconcerting, the School had not provided for a central area where images and videos could be taken of works of art the creators do want to be shown and pictured and otherwise captured and promulgated with appropriate credit given. Remember these are artistic expressions some of which the creators may want a wider audience than 3 days in May offered by the School.

But the School did not apparently allow the exhibiting students the privilege of saying yea or nay to viewers who might want to take a video or photo of their works and/or some of the viewers reactions to those works of art. Instead, the school helped convey the image of Art as Intellectual Capital to be shielded, hoarded and protected until it can be deployed into a closed and/or limited control world of commerce.

In sum, OCAD proved to be anything but creative, innovative and forward thinking/communicating at a time when their graduating students could use just such wisdom.

(c) JBSurveyer 2005