Patricia D’souza is a third-year Earth
Sciences student, running for the position of Science Representative in the
upcoming MUNSU elections, being held on the 19th and 20th
of March.
Patricia’s involvement on campus began as a
bartender at the Breezeway in 2016. Apart from her undergraduate employment
position, she has volunteered extensively in the Memorial community, thereby earning
the Bronze and Silver awards from the Student Volunteer Bureau’s Volunteer
Incentive Program. Her leadership roles include that of the Treasurer of the Alexander
Murray Geology Club on campus for the past one year, April 2018-April 2019.
Patricia’s campaign revolves around
addressing the needs of science clubs and socieities, bringing those issues to
the university’s immediate attention. While she understands that it may not
always be possible for the administration to accommodate every request, she
believes in putting up a good fight, to say the least. She hopes to create and
provide a welcoming environment for all incoming students in the Faculty of
Science.
I truly believe that having a strong, positive and safe environment makes a huge impact on the mental and physical well-being of the students which allows them to perform better. Due to which, also voicing any concerns regarding [the wellness and accommodation of] students with disabilities will also be at my forefront.
She believes that a campus can only truly be
all- inclusive when all students have equal opportunity to perform. ‘Equality
vs. Equity.’ It is her strong conviction that only when everyone is given the
right tools to be successful, is when it is fair to all the students involved
and this is something she strongly hopes to implement, if elected.
I am an honest and dedicated person and will try to be a voice for all people, be it race colour or gender, etc. I would love to hear from students as well and will keep an open ear and mind to any issue that needs to be addressed.
The president of Canadian Consignor Fine Art, Rob Cowley, stopped by the Muse offices a few days back to show off some Maud Lewis originals and talk about the upcoming appraisal event happening here in St. Johns. We asked him about his career, the art scene in Atlantic Canada, and the process of appraising paintings.
Mr. Cowley’s company is based in Toronto and specializes in art auctions, holding about twelve of them every year. Their building is actually located across the street from the world famous Art Gallery of Ontario. Robert’s been in the business for twenty years, and he knows a ton about Canadian artists and their pieces.
“We located an A.Y Jackson here last year that was valued at 70-90 thousand dollars”.
Robert Cowley, President of Canadian Consignor Fine Art
Part of his job includes travelling the country, holding free events where the public is welcome to bring in art pieces they have lying around their house (with a limit of three pieces a person) so that Robert can appraise them and tell people what they’re worth. When asked what he expects to find in St. John’s, he revealed that there have actually been very valuable pieces discovered here in the past.
“We’ve found works by the group of seven here before. We located an A.Y Jackson here last year that was valued at 70-90 thousand dollars. There’s a lot of astute collectors here in the city… Although you find a bit of everything here you do find a heavy contingent of Newfoundland artists like David Blackwood and Anne Meredith Barry. Also other Atlantic Canadian artists like Maude Lewis – so we find a fair bit.”
Like the A.Y Jackson piece mentioned above, Robert noted that many people may have expensive works of art lying around their house that they are looking to get rid of as they downsize. Some of these pieces, when not evaluated – simply discarded by the owner to make room in their house – end up sitting at a Goodwill or Value Village. His evaluation sessions this week will hopefully stop incidents like this from occurring.
He’ll have his hands full with this task; the session is fully booked, with a new client receiving an appraisal every fifteen minutes for eight hours. “It’s a very busy, long day” he stated. He’ll be doing this solo at the MUN Signal Hill Campus Wednesday from 10:00 – 4:00.
People can also submit photos of their art digitally to Robert through his company’s website, www.consignor.ca. He can appraise art this way for people who may not have been able to make it to the fully booked event.
“[Group of Seven] paintings sold in the last few years have gone for over 12 million dollars.”
Robert Cowley, President of Canadian Consignor Fine Art
When asked about differentiating prints from originals in regards to photos of paintings, he remarked that it isn’t much of a challenge. “We can tell if it’s a significant artwork,” he said jokingly. “If we had an image of the Mona Lisa, we usually will know that it’s a print.”
Having a painting appraised is a pretty substantial financial opportunity for some Canadians, especially considering that the service is free. “The Group of Seven”, a collective of prominent Canadian painters, produced many works in the early twentieth century that are worth significant amounts of money and sometimes find their way into the homes of everyday people. When asked about how much “Group of Seven” paintings are worth, Robert said that the values can vary.
“An original painting by the group of seven, if it’s a work by Franz Johnston, who is a member that left – and it’s a later work – a small painting by him could sell for three or four thousand dollars. Although other [Group of Seven] paintings sold in the last few years have gone for over 12 million dollars. So the range is immense.”
Where individual members of the group are concerned, “Lawren Harris tends to be the most valuable. Probably the most revered of the Group of Seven. Some of the later members are of a little less value.” Robert added that subject matter and period are important indicators of appraising these pieces as well.
When [Maud Lewis] was an active artist, people would send her five or ten dollars in exchange for a painting.
Apparently there are general trends in the art market and in consumer interest right now that effect the price of paintings as well. Post-War art is in fashion these days, especially abstract painters from the fifties, sixties, and seventies. These paintings also tend to fit modern decor. “People are looking for rarity and quality right now”.
Although most of his high-end finds tend to be in central Canada, Robert’s company finds a lot of great work in Newfoundland and St. John’s. He noted that, per capita, there are a ton of great pieces discovered across the province considering the population difference between this island and other locations. When asked what his most surprising or exciting appraisal was, he had a few stories to tell.
He described a time when someone had brought in five paintings to be appraised. Four were cheap copies worth next to nothing. Dejectedly, the man offered a fifth and final painting, expecting it to be yet another dud. “He was almost embarrassed to pull it out”.
The painting was of a boy in the snow trying to catch two rabbits. The caption on the piece read “he who tries to catch two rabbits will catch neither”. Robert thought that the client was joking with him; this painting was an original from the renowned artist William Kurelek. The man had bumped into Kurelek at a neighbours house and befriended him, which eventually led to them coming into the possession of the piece. They had no idea how valuable it was, or who Kurelek even was. The painting was valued at around 12 thousand dollars and sold for near 50 thousand dollars at an auction.
Art Specialist Robert Cowley with two Maud Lewis originals. These are both worth 12-15 thousand dollars at auction.
Maud Lewis is another Canadian artist whose works are highly valuable. When she was an active artist, people would send her five or ten dollars in exchange for a painting. Those same paintings now sell for ten to fifteen thousand dollars, with interest in her work increased following the release of a biopic based on her life recently.
Robert brought two originals to the office for us to see, and they were amazing.
“We found a lot of Maud Lewis’ in the states, because so many people on the eastern seaboard were travelling to Nova Scotia. So many Americans would come for vacation and buy her work when they were there” Robert noted.
Although most works by major Canadian artists stay in the country, he once had to fly to Australia to pick up a group of seven piece that would’ve been insanely expensive to ship. He described the necessary shipping accommodations to include an armoured truck driven by a single courier wearing protective gloves. “It would’ve cost tens of thousands of dollars”, he said. So instead he was able to make a trip out of it and pick the piece up himself.
Here at home, the art market in Atlantic Canada is in good shape. “Right now, when you look at Atlantic Canada, the maritimes, and Newfoundland, David Colville is one of the most valuable artists at auction. His work is sold in excess of a million dollars. Chris Pratt’s major works sell for six figures. Colville, Pratt, and Blackwood’s prints are some of the most popular in Canada. A print by David Blackwell just sold for just under 80 thousand dollars.”
Robert managed to offer some career advice for people looking to get involved in his field as well, suggesting that an Art History degree would be beneficial (Robert has a theatre background, however, and learned most of what he knows by working in the business). “Typically when we’re hiring, we’re looking for individuals who have a background related to Canadian art and customer service”.
On the importance of customer service skills, he added that “many clients who are dealing with us are encountering the art world for the first time. If someone inherits a painting tomorrow, and decides to sell it, it will likely be the first time they even think about talking to an auction house or talking to a gallery. And so we have to keep that in mind.” Robert spoke of the reputation that art specialists have garnered in movies and television as “snooty and scary to deal with”, but says that it’s not really like that.
One challenge that appraisers face is the presence of “fakes” in the world of art trading. Robert admitted to having run into a few fake pieces during his career, but added that the people getting their art appraised are usually not even aware that they are in the possession of something that is not wholly authentic. “Some of them pass through families. And no one realizes that until they get to us, and then we do research. It doesn’t happen often.”
Although appointments are fully booked at the Signal Hill Campus this week, you can catch Robert Cowley and Canadian Consignor Fine Art next time they’re in town to get your art pieces evaluated by a seasoned expert.
His company’s website is available at https://www.consignor.ca/.
Jessica Richards is a second-year Memorial University student, with a double major in Political Science and Law & Society. As a contender in the upcoming MUNSU elections, being held on the 19th and 20th of March, Jessica’s campaign for Women Students Rep stems from her passion for politics and the strong belief that we need to stand up for our rights.
Jessica has been heavily involved in student life at MUN through her participation in a number of debate conferences such as CHOGM, Metro Youth Parliament and Newfoundland and Labrador Youth Parliament (NLYP), currently serving as the Director of Recruitment in the latter organisation. Besides, she is an active volunteer with the Rights to Play movement, We movement initiatives, Burry Heights, Special Olympics NL as well as Sharing our Cultures event and the 2017 Provincial GSA Conference committee.
On talking about her decision to run for this particular position, Jessica had this to say:
On campus, we have students from all over the world with different backgrounds and experiences. I hope that through leadership opportunities and representation of women, we as students can not only represent women on campus, but bring initiatives and empowerment back to our own communities…and the city of St. John’s. I believe that femininity doesn’t have to fit the conventional mold and that being a woman can take many definitions and I want everyone to have their identity treated as they wish. I would like to be a voice for all women on campus and be able to help motivate and empower others to have their voice be heard.
If elected, Jessica would dedicate her time to increasing awareness of MUN’s available resource centres, societies and student groups, creating accessibility to the free products the university offers to deal with menstruation, promoting the reuse of appropriate resources in an attempt to protect the environment as well as increasing promotion for the free rides offered from the clock tower.
I believe that I would be a better fit for the role because I have lots of experience with public speaking and being in leadership’s positions. I am not shy and [am] very outgoing, making it easy for me to connect with the students on campus. I have dedicated many hours previously to initiatives not yet seen on campus and I would love to introduce them to the students on campus, such as the Women’s We Movement, empowering women in other countries. I have a vision for campus, that all women be represented and to ensure everyone who identifies as a woman on campus has a voice and that their opinions matter.
Alyssa Gulliford is a contender for the Executive Director of Student Life in the upcoming MUNSU elections, to be held on the 19th and 20th of March. Her experience with MUNSU largely stems from being a Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) rep for the past year. You may also have seen her before at the Breezeway, hosting events like the open mic nights. On occupying these roles, she says that “through this position, and as the Open Mic Host at the Breezeway, I have planned and hosted many events at the Breezeway and elsewhere”.
When asked about her platform, she stated that it is based on two principals: organization and communication.
“There needs to be communication, not only between MUNSU and the students, but, between the students and MUNSU. We need to put the time and effort into truly representing the students. I am positive I can achieve these high goals through my experience and qualifications.”
In regards to the afore-mentioned experience, she noted,
“I have been involved in planning and hosting events for 10 years. I am very familiar with many aspects of the University community as I have been involved in numerous groups, communities and clubs. I lived in residence for 2 years, with one of those years being a Residence Assistant. I am completely dedicated to our student community”.
She is very passionate about student government and MUNSU, saying in her correspondence with us, “This is what I do”.
Alyssa encourages anyone who has questions about her campaign to email her at the address forstudentsforlife@gmail.com . Her twitter is also available at @lyssgulliford, and you can find a Facebook page dedicated to her campaign under “Alyssa Gulliford for Student Life”.
Remember to get involved and vote in the upcoming MUNSU elections to have your voices heard this week!
A change.org petition entitled “Better Food Quality by MUN Dining Services/Aramark” has reached over 2000 signatures at the time of this article’s publication. Outrage over the condition of food served at dining hall has increased over the past few months after photos began circulating of undercooked meat and mouldy bread being served to students, all at the price of $2655 a semester.
Although issues with Aramark’s quality of food have been known of since their contract with MUN began in 2013, the buzz generated by this petition will hopefully see some progress being made. It is on track to meet its goal of 2500 signatures.
Some comments of outrage and disgust on the change.org page can be seen below:
Of the MUNSU election positions coveted on March 19th and 20th, one spot, the Executive Director of Advocacy, appears to have a strong contender. Kat McLaughlin is currently campaigning for the title, with a solid platform built on improving the relations between students and the student’s’ union itself.
The candidate holds a background in various advocacy groups such as the GSA and IWK Children’s Hospital, as well as previous involvement with the Residence Executive as elected Treasurer. These are just to name a few details of a well-established portfolio of advocacy in support of people from many different backgrounds.
“I am dedicated to working towards a safe, accessible, positive and respectful environment that allows all students to overcome the various unique barriers to their own academic success. I would like to see an emphasis on communication, transparency and accessibility by the student union.”
Having been hired as an assistant to MUNSU campaigns, Kat says that this
has provided substantial insight to the process of the Student Union.
“I feel that the main flaw in the MUNSU is the lack of communication and dialogue between MUNSU and the rest of the student body… student input is very low, and I feel a lot of efforts to communicate were through superficial campaigns.”
With this in mind, Kat has produced a platform policy involving the implementation of an online forum specifically for MUNSU, notably offering the option of anonymity. This would be in line with the aim of expanding the activities of the Director of Advocacy by supporting and interacting with the clubs and societies while opening up dialogue amongst the student body. Furthermore, McLaughlin has called for the MUNSU meeting minutes to be posted online on a regular basis, rather than upon specific request by individual students.
“Students need to be aware of what is going on in MUNSU, and they need to feel that they are just as much a part of the student body regardless of their position or ability to participate.”
It appears that student engagement, direct communication and honest dialogue are key points of the McLaughlin platform which might paint a positive and optimistic picture for potential voters of the upcoming MUNSU election.
For more information on how to cast your vote in the upcoming MUNSU election, feel free to read the following article, “What You need to Know About the MUNSU Elections”.
It’s that time of the year again, and the MUNSU General Elections are just around the corner. Voting will be taking place on March 19th (Tuesday) and March 20th (Wednesday) just next week, so jot down the dates!
Here’s where and when you’ll be able to vote:
Tuesday (March 19)
First floor of the Centre of Nursing Studies (9am-4pm)
Outside the atrium of the Business Building (9am-5pm)
Dining Hall (9am-8pm)
Outside the loft on the third floor of the University Centre (9am-9pm)
Lobby of the Queen Elizabeth II Library (9am-9pm)
Lobby of the Engineering Building (9am-9pm)
Wednesday (March 20)
Dining Hall (9am-8pm)
Outside the loft on the third floor of the University Centre (9am-9pm)
Lobby of the Queen Elizabeth II Library (9am-9pm)
Lobby of the Science Building (9am-9pm)
Lobby of the Medicine Building (9am-9pm)
Lobby of the Education Building (9am-9pm)
And here’s how to do it:
Tables will be set up at the locations above, each one providing an iPad or Chromebook that students can use to log into their MUN Self-Service portal and vote through the MUNSU Web Vote. For students who may not have their own smartphone or laptop, these poll booths will be set up in accessible locations to allow for easy voting.
There will also be cardboard screens set up to ensure votes are confidential. Once done, students can simply log out and exit out of the tab so that no one else is able to access their account.
Want more information?
Check out https://munsu.ca/elections/ for information on the general elections!
As the MUNSU elections approach, many candidates are announcing their candicacy for one of the 38 elected representatives of the Board of Directors. For this session, The Muse presents an executive candidate who will be placed on the ballot during the vote on March 19th-20th, Loveth Lungele.
Loveth Lungele has been involved in campus life since she started her academic studies at Memorial University, three years ago. As an executive member of the MUN NSA (Nigerian Student Association) and event coordinator, Lungele has developed her professional experience while bringing students together and promoting school pride. With regards to some of her recent volunteering, Lungele spoke about her time at the MUN Tax Clinic
“This gave me an opportunity to meet new people; which helped me better integrate into the community, It also gave me a chance to work with different people and to give back to the community.”
Upon election, Lungele has stated she would implement a variety of positive changes and improvements to current MUNSU operations. These policies include increasing club funding, implementing bi-weekly emails for clubs/societies activities, and allowing for longer club lifespan through a mentorship and junior executive program which would allow for leaders to pass on the torch to younger members upon graduation. Furthermore, in cohering with her policies on student life, Lungele has proposed bolstering and expanding welcome-week and winter carnival events to “help foster a sense of unity and belonging” amongst MUN students.
Similarly, another policy promoted by the candidate would be to organize “hype-day/tailgate” events for the Seahawk teams with the intention of encouraging student participation in the school’s games, by distributing prizes and conducting rallies to conjure school spirit.
Lungele encourages anyone who might like to reach out to her campaign to do so through her Facebook page @lovethelungele4studentlife or by sending an email to llungele@mun.ca.
John is running for re-election in their position as the Executive Director of Advocacy. People operating under this title are responsible for sticking up for marginalized and underprivileged students, and here is what John had to say about their experiences with this, as a candidate seeking re-election:
“Over the past year as Advocate, I have been breaking down barriers to academic success for students of Memorial and standing shoulder-to-shoulder with students as we have had to navigate career-shaping decisions. I thrill at the many successes we have won together, whether they have been in challenging the exclusion, racism, ableism or other harms of a number regulations, to achieving a reduction in severity and less frequent application of penalties against students in appealing institutional decisions, to changing the very perspective of how students deserve to be supported for mental health needs”.
John’s platform involves continuing to push forward with ideas that have to do with their previous year and election cycle. They see this second term as Director of Advocacy as an opportunity to build on the foundation they have laid:
“Many of the plans I had last year – to provide all students with their constituency reps and [relevant] contact information, to develop a means of assuring action fueled by student experiences, or to produce modes of communication previously underutilized- had been delayed as I had to bridge chasms of wounded relationships between students and the University; but all students are now in a better position to realize much stronger and braver support than ever before. Students will see more of their Advocate and will see even more wins achieved together”.
As their bio on the MUNSU website states, John is an “enviro-geek, feminist and an avid sun-soaked Naturist”.
Make sure to get out and vote for the upcoming MUNSU elections, being held on the 19th and 20th of March!
Derek is someone who’s been involved and volunteering with various on and off-campus organizations for quite a while. You may know him if you’ve spent time with the German Society, or with MUN SAGA (Derek was an elected union leader and manager of the SAGA resource centre). He has occupied several roles at that organization over the years, from Administration to External Affairs and beyond. Aside from MUN SAGA, Derek is a member of the Student Volunteer Bureau and has completed its volunteer incentive program (VIP). With MUNSU, he’s been Queer Rep since 2017 in addition to everything else listed previously. To add to his pile of awe-striking accomplishments, he has also served as the Co-Chair (internal) of St. John’s Pride since late 2017 as well!
His platform has three main principles: better care for resource centres and student societies, better communication between MUNSU and the student body, and increased awareness of MUNSU programs and support for students. Derek had this to say about increased communication between MUNSU and students:
“What we need to do is meet the students where they are when we all have time, and not simply follow old trends. As an individual, I won’t have the man power to reach out to each of our respective 13,000 students. As a board member, I will be able to facilitate an organizational culture that does more to make itself accessible. As a 6th floor UC veteran, I know how, where, and when to reach some of my constituents; as someone going into the exec position, I’d have the organizational backing to reach more of them”.
On increasing awareness of MUNSU programs and opportunities for students, he noted: “…we need to make people aware of extant student programs in the UC and the supports they offer; not only Safe Drive, but the work of MUN Minds, the Gender Gear Initiative, and Trans Support, and more”.
Make sure to get out and vote during this upcoming MUNSU election, being held on the 19th and 20th of March!
