By NOELLE NICOLLS

Tribune Features Editor

nnicolls@tribunemedia.net

Art students at the College of the Bahamas have "basically lost faith" in the academic institution, claiming the administration parades the department like "a prize trophy" when convenient, while turning its back to the long-standing cries of students.

Recent graduate Kachelle Knowles forewarned the administration, shape up or risk becoming obsolete. She said private institutions like Popop Studios, are offering private art classes, and if they acquire accreditation, the COB art programme would become an empty shell.

Last week, art students donned the colour of defiance at the highly anticipated Colours of Harmony production, an annual display of artistic talent and creativity from visual and performing arts students.

In a silent protest, students let their artwork speak for itself. College officials were blindsided by the "All Black Everything" protest theme, which students kept closely guarded over weeks of preparation.

"Thanks for migrating us into the Rabbit Hole," said a life-size painting of art student Steven Schmid. One of the drawings accused COB President Dr Betsy Vogel Boze of putting students in the "sardine shack".

The heart of the concern is the T-20 classroom, otherwise known as "the rabbit hole", designated as the art studio for dozens of students across four year-levels. Arts students have access to a ceramics room, but as the name suggests, this room is filled to capacity by ceramics students.

Less than two years ago, T-20 was a dilapidated classroom with broken fans, a broken air conditioning system, corrupted electrical sockets and broken window shutters. Even in that state, art students who annually pay a studio usage fee ranging from $50 to $150, were expected to work, and be creative.

After failed attempts to get the administration to act, students resorted to a street protest to secure a meeting with then acting president Dr Earla Carey-Baines. They were accused of "embarrassing" the college, but their efforts resulted in basic, albeit much needed improvements to the T-20 classroom. The windows were boarded up and the air-condition was fixed.

However, in a department that grows every year, students continue to say, enough is enough, more needs to be done.

"It hurts my heart to see the freshmen, they have nowhere to put their stuff. As higher levels, our spaces are sectioned off. (We manage), but the freshmen have nothing. How can you have three classes going on in one space at one time? You can't even say today I am going to work on a piece; you have to take your work home, on the bus. But you can't build an 8-foot sculpture in your bedroom," said Yutavia George, a third year student.

This semester, first year students had to create a makeshift table using an unhinged door and two stands just secure desktop space to do their work.

About two weeks ago, ceramics students held their final critique outside in the hallway, because of the overcrowding. In fact, art students routinely mount their easels on outside walkways and occupy outdoor foyers to work on class projects.

Art majors have priority in the T-20 classroom, so elective students are routinely booted when space is tight.

June Collie, a third year student, said the administration even tried to split the classroom into two parts: T-20a and T-20b.

"Art is not like English, where you can bring extra chairs if you need to accommodate 30 people," said June.

Suggestions to convert the old library into space for art students has been rejected by the college, claim the students.

Students were advised by the college that administrative offices would be placed in the old library, said Yutavia. She said the Portia Smith Student Services Centre, where some offices are currently located, is apparently mouldy and in need of renovation.

Students suggested the university transform the recently vacated City Market building in the nearby plaza, but were informed that the college has other plans for that space.

For now, students say they still have no answers.

They turned out in numbers during a general student meeting held by Dr Boze on Friday in an open air venue. The president and other administration officials sat on an elevated platform under university umbrellas as they spoke to students.

"That was to show they have status. They wanted us to see that they have status and we don't. They were there to hear, but not listen," said an art student, who said temporary solutions would not resolve the department's problems.

In a statement issued by the Office of Communications, the college said that it valued the visual and performing arts as an "important means of self-expression".

"Senior administrators continue to meet with students. Friday, April 13, is the last day of Spring classes at the College of The Bahamas and we are exploring options for the Fall Semester. The college is in the initial stages of a comprehensive Campus Master Planning process that will guide future campus construction and development," stated the COB Office of Communication.