Wide shot of crowd playing ukulele together. PHOTO BY KOLLIN LORE

Kollin Lore
A&E Reporter

Violette Clark, a visual artist and blogger extraordinaire in White Rock, B.C. has found a new, creative way of reinvigorating her brain under the tutelage of a 1992 Humber jazz dropout.

“He knows his stuff, he’s not intimidating, he’s very affable with his students, and he’s a good guy,” said James Devon, guitar teacher and associate at Tapestry Music in White Rock, B.C.

The 48-year-old Julie spent two years playing bass at Humber from 1991-1993 before leaving the program for personal reasons.

However, music has always remained in his life. He has taught several stringed instruments at Sherwood Music in Kitchener, ON from 1989-2009, and at Tapestry Music in White Rock B.C. for the past two year.

“When you are learning things you’ve never really done in your life – muscle memory, information of any sort – you do everything in very short time frames,” said Julie. “That way your attention span is not going all over the place.”

Julie’s teaching methods also include getting his students to visualize what they are practicing, and he uses a principle called accelerated learning, that encourages faster learning on specific skills based on a foundation of success.

One of Julie’s more recent students is visual artist and blogger, Violette Clark, 57, who he began teaching on the ukulele.

“I think if I had somebody back when I was a kid who was encouraging like Shawn, I’m pretty sure I could’ve picked up any instrument,” said Clark.

Though only at Humber for two years, Julie has fond memories and gives credit to such music teachers as the late Lenny Boyd, retired Roger Flock, and Will Jarvis, who still teaches at Humber.

An artist works on their submission for Newad’s ‘Art Here’ contest. PHOTO BY JULIE FISH

Julie Fish
A&E Reporter

The fourth annual Art Here contest, organized by the national advertising company, Newad, is taking over ad spaces around selected post-secondary campuses, including Humber College to gain exposure for emerging artists.

“Newad specializes in what we call the ‘young and affluent,’ so 18 to 34 year-olds,” said Marie-Christine Fournier, manager of marketing and communications for Newad. “We know that the establishments, in which our products are, reach this demographic, so we thought the space was there to promote these artists.”

Contestants who submitted work from Jan. – Dec. 2011 will find out in early February if their art was chosen to be showcased in Newad’s indoor advertising network across Canada throughout 2012.

The year-long admission period is plenty of time for amateur artists to construct a masterpiece worthy of ad space across the country for 2013.

There is no set number of winners per year since the contest is growing, up from 900 participants in 2010 to 1200 participants in 2011.

The contest accepts art in all mediums, including paintings, photographs, digital art and photographs of sculptures, barring any offensive or provocative images.

Although Newad does not keep tabs on the winners and participants, Fournier said that at least four or five times a year her office is contacted by people wishing to connect with artists who had submitted their art to the contest’s website.

Despite the heavy course load students are dealing with, time put towards the contest could prove to be invaluable in the future.

“I encourage students as much as possible to go out there and take part in as many exhibitions and contests as possible,” said Noni Kaur, program co-ordinator for the visual and digital arts program. “Any exposure of the students’ work is good.”

Humber’s alumni magazine, Humber dialogue, receives distinguished award. PHOTO BY LISA GILLAN

Lisa Gillan
A&E Reporter

Humber’s alumni magazine, Humber dialogue, has received a distinguished award, recognizing it as a standout among several North American post-secondary publications.

“It’s a big deal because it’s actually our first award for this office and specifically for this publication,” said Adelia Marchese, associate editor of the two-year-old magazine, and manager of advancement and alumni relations at Humber.

The judges praised dialogue’s “quality, creativity, innovation, adherence to professional standards, success in meeting objectives of the category,” Marchese said.

It was competing in a group of alumni magazines from District II, including New York state, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Ontario.

Within the district, “we were the only Canadian college to receive an accolade award,” said Marchese, who attended the Council for Advancement and Support of Education conference and award ceremony in New York City from Jan. 22 to 24.

“They had 500 submissions overall,” Marchese said, though the council doesn’t reveal what percentage of submissions come in for each category.

“We are working hard to try to engage alumni so this validates the fact that we’re doing a good job,” said Debbie Krulicki, editor of the magazine.

Krulicki also writes many of the articles, and is a communications officer with the office of advancement and alumni relations.

“I think some of my favourite experiences would have been interviewing the alumni that we feature,” she said.

Much of the work on the publication is done by people like Marchese and Krulicki, who have other roles within the school as well.

“This is the first alumni magazine that I’ve really had any access to,” said Lara King, a member of the periodical’s advisory committee, who teaches in Humber’s journalism program and is herself an alumina. “It’s nice that I have some input in something that is related to my industry and I can get involved on a different level as a member of the Humber community.”

The magazine was started in 2010 “to give alumni relations, or the cultivation of the alumni group once the students graduate, more prominence,” Marchese said.

(From left to right) Ashley Comeau, Jason DeRosse and Nigel Downer from a scene called Breastaurant. PHOTO COURTESY OF DAN ABRAMOVICI

Sharon Tindyebwa
A&E Reporter

Humber alumna Ashley Comeau has taken the stage as a cast member of Second City’s Dreams Really Do Come True! (and other lies).

“I’ve got the best castmates – a super supportive group- and Second City is amazing,” said Comeau. “Doing the show every night, this sounds really corny, but it really is a dream come true.”

Comeau was planning to apply for the funeral services program at Humber but decided to apply for the comedy writing and performance program after seeing it on the Ontario colleges website.

After her first audition, she said she knew she had found her calling.

“Nothing has ever felt more right in my life,” Comeau said. “I was like ‘this is what I want to do.’”

Since graduating from Humber in 2008, Comeau has found success with Second City and as half of Lusty Mannequins, a Toronto-based sketch duo with boyfriend Conner Thompson.

Comeau credits Humber with teaching her a lot of what she knows about comedy.

“I learned so much,” Comeau said of her experience at Humber. “Every class taught me something different.”

Andrew Clark, director of the comedy writing and performance program, said Comeau was a pleasure to teach.

“Ashley was a great student,” said Clark. “Not every person who is funny is also a straight-A student. She has strong talent, combined with a mature attitude and drive.”

Robin Duke, a professor in the comedy program, said Comeau’s success is not a surprise.

“It happened very fast, but she is extremely mature,” said Duke. “She has all the qualities it takes it to make in comedy.”

Dreams Really Do Come True! (and other lies) is scheduled to end its run on Jan. 31, but the whole cast will return for a new show in March.

Comeau’s castmate, Inessa Frantowski, said she is excited to work with her again.

“A positive attitude is really important in this business, and Ashley has that and she works hard,” said Frantowski. “We’re lucky that we get to work together twice.”

Jon Hyde (drums), Fraser Melvin (vocals and guitar), Alex Furlott, Andrew Moljun (sax), Josh Cavan (keys) will compete for big prizes at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis. COURTESY THE FRASER MELVIN BLUES BAND

Neetu Thind
A&E Reporter

Humber Contemporary Music graduates, The Fraser Melvin Blues Band are showcasing their talents in the 2012 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tenn.

With roughly 400 different groups appearing, Frank McNulty, president of the Collingwood Blues and Jazz Society that is sponsoring the band, said he’s hoping the group will, at the very least, make it to the top 10.

The five-piece band consisting of Fraser Melvin (vocals and guitar), Josh Cavan (keyboard), Andrew Moljgun (saxophone), Alex Furlott (bass) and Jonathan Hyde (drums), will represent the Collingwood Blues and Jazz Society in Memphis between Jan. 31 and Feb. 4.

“Their technical musical ability, stage presence, and the material that they played, set them apart from other bands,” said McNulty.

Before heading south, the band’s front man said that he planned to showcase Canadian blues talent.

“We have a really incredible blues scene and I would like people to start taking note of the Fraser Melvin Blues Band,” Melvin said.

The band leader believes there are a few things that will separate the ensemble from the rest of the pack.

Melvin said the keyboardist, Cavan, writes a lot of their songs and adds funky little changes like an altered chord, which adds a unique quality and a jazz flavour to the band’s music.

The small-framed 22-year-old’s powerful and soulful voice could also give them an edge in the competition.

“Usually, when people hear him sing, it gets their attention because they don’t expect him to have the voice that he does,” said Melvin.

Winning the competition would mean big things for the band’s future.

The grand prize consists of $1,500 and gigs at some of the best festivals in the U.S., as well as a slot on the 2013 Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise.

Despite the high stakes, Melvin keeps a laid-back attitude about the competition.

“I don’t expect us to win,” he said. “If we do, that will be nice, but we just want a good reception and the crowd to like us. …We’re all looking forward to the food, so if we lose we’ll just start eating right away.”

Andrew Ballantyne, a teacher in the contemporary music program at Humber and a former instructor to most of the group members, sees this as a great opportunity for the band.

“Getting their name out there is huge. It’s great to see recent graduates who are having some success and getting a real shot at something that could be a big deal.”

From left to right: Adrian Smith stands with his crew Michael Grant, Matthew Grant and Gordon Dewar after drumming their way into the hearts of audiences at this years’ Humber’s Got Talent. PHOTO BY SHARON TINDYEBWA

Sharon Tindyebwa
A&E Reporter

Adrian Smith, 21, a general arts and sciences student and his drumming crew took home the top prize – a trip for four to Panama Beach City, Florida – at Humber’s Got Talent competition on Jan. 31.

The group said they were still in shock over their win.

“It’s going to sink in when we go on the trip,” Smith said. “There was more excitement before we went on stage and during the week.”

Smith and his crew faced stiff competition from beat boxers Karandeep Singh and Savreet Singh who received the second place prize of $500.

Karandeep Singh said that the duo was “very, very happy with the results.”

“We weren’t even expecting second place,” he said. “I guess we are something different that they haven’t seen.”

Savreet Singh said he thought the right group won the first place prize.

“They deserved it because their stage presence was so strong,” he said.

The third place prize of $250 went to crowd favourites Anmol Singh and Jagpreet Singh who brought the packed HSF student centre to its feet with their Bollywood performance.

The North and Lakeshore campuses held a preliminary round on Jan. 26. Eight finalists from both campuses were selected to compete in the finals at the North campus.

For one of the judges at the preliminary round the talent was less than impressive.

“I was a bit disappointed,” Sindy Nguyen said. “Last time we did it, there was a bit more talent. This time I just found that some people went up there as jokes or they were very unprepared.”

Nguyen, a contestant in the last Humber’s Got Talent, received frequent boos and jeers from the audience for her liberal use of the x button.

Nguyen and the other judges could attempt to put an end to a contestant’s performance by pressing the x button. Three x’s resulted in an immediate end to a performance.

At the finals there was little use of the x button.

Finalists were divided into four groups and judges chose one contestant from each group to advance to the next stage.

The decision of who would take home the top prize, however, was left to the audience.

One judge, HSF president Bryan Tran, said while he respected the audience’s decision, he would have chosen differently.

“Personally I thought the beat boxers had more talent,” Tran said.

The completion is based on the popular television show, America’s Got Talent, which Citytv is adopting for Canada this spring.

Stephen Colbert campaigned for votes during the South Carolina Republican primaries but halted his exploratory committee shortly after. COURTESY SCOTT GRIES (PICTUREGROUP)

Sarah Rix
A&E Reporter

Stephen Colbert’s run for “president of the United States of South Carolina” lasted only 11 days, but exposed the complications of American politics and showcased Colbert’s comedic, right-wing character.

“If politicians are going to be upstaged by a comedian, it’s not the comedian’s fault,” said Andrew Clark, comedy writing and performance program director at Humber College. “It’s the fault of the politicians for not offering a more viable or interesting platform.”

The Colbert Report host televised on Jan. 12 his intention to run in the Republican primary in his native state of South Carolina, ridiculing American politics and super political action committees during the process.

Introduced in 2010, super PACs are independent expenditure-only committees that accept unlimited donations from corporations, groups and individuals to support or oppose particular candidates.

“Part of the difficulty with American politics right now is the amount of money it requires to make a credible run,” said Greg Narbey, a political science professor at Humber. “Super PACs are really unaccountable in terms of who’s donating and the kind of influence they’re potentially buying.”

Colbert’s “Definitely Not Coordinating with Stephen Colbert” super PAC is run by Daily Show host, Jon Stewart.

Narbey said he suspects Colbert’s super PAC will continue past the Republican primaries, through to the end of the election.

Though Colbert ended his campaign on Jan. 23, the primaries could continue for about five more months before the presidential election on Nov. 6.

“There are a good number of Americans, particularly independent voters, that are pretty disgusted with what’s on offer by the Republican party and not exactly thrilled with President [Barack] Obama’s first term,” said Narbey.

South Carolina held its Republican primary Jan. 21 and voters cast ballots for former candidate Herman Cain, standing in for Colbert, who missed the deadline to submit his own name.

“Colbert and Stewart have a marvelous way of making points through humour,” said Sam McGregor, a South Carolina resident who voted with Colbert’s campaign.

Cain received 6,234 votes, finishing a distant fifth but indicating voter discontent.

“It’ll be interesting to see where the support goes as the primaries continue. There’s not really a figure that galvanizes everybody on the Republican side,” said Croskeys Royall, a South Carolina resident. “Colbert has a very pointed commentary that they should take heed of and maybe adjust some of their platforms. He makes sense beyond the basic humour, he’s got good observations.”

Humber students can get their Mad Men fix and discover the art of successful advertising during the fourth annual Advertising Week put on by the Institute of Communication Agencies (ICA).

Running from Jan 23-27, Adweek gives college and university students the opportunity to spend one day at a Toronto ad agency, providing them with a hands-on learning experience.

“We have a full day targeted toward a student program, which we call the Next Generation Day,” said Stacey Robinson, Advertising Week’s sponsorship and event manager.

Richard Bingham, a professor of Humber’s creative advertising program, said students “begin to make some very important contacts. They get to see what life at an agency is like.”

Past experiences with the event have led to internships and jobs.

In the lead-up to Advertising Week 2012, ICA solicited third and fourth-year students who are soon entering the workforce.

“I think it would be a good chance for students to go and learn more about what’s going on in the industry now and maybe make some good connections,” said Sophie Hebert, 21, a fourth-year student in the creative advertising program.

More than 200 students are expected to attend Next Generation Day.

“The ICA does a very good job of creating a series of events that are specifically for students,” said Bingham.

Events include networking opportunities, discussion panels, seminars and the Ad Ball, with this year’s theme of “Shaken and Stirred” inspired by the 1964 James Bond film, Goldfinger.

The events fall within the student price range, said Jani Yates, president of the ICA. “We made sure there’s no cost barrier. That’s something we were very aware of and we wanted to make sure we were opening it up so that students could see the content as well.”

Programs such as the LIFT advertising effectiveness forum are offered to students for $25.

“I went to Next Generation Day last year. It was a really good experience,” said Hebert. “There are a lot of great acts.”

Robinson and Yates are hopeful this year’s turnout will top last year’s attendance of 7,500 people.

Real comedians don’t see the humor in popular Internet fare such as people getting their heads smashed in or a man taking a blow to the groin, said the director of Humber’s comedy program, Andrew Clark.

“People laugh because on video the real life pain is removed,” said Clark, “There’s an old saying, ‘If I prick my finger it’s a tragedy, if you fall off a cliff it’s a comedy.’”

“I think a guy with a camera filming another guy riding a bike into a wall is stupid,” he said. “It is not an acceptable medium of comedy and I do not know any professionals who do that type of thing.”

Websites that host these kinds of videos like YouTube or failblog.org are usually owned by major media corporations such as Viumbe, which runs the popular video website ebaumsworld.com.

“People laugh at videos of people getting hurt because it’s real and they are happy that it’s not them,” said Paul Lewelt, a second-year student in the comedy program.

He’s also a member of Laugh Draft, a comedy troupe based in Toronto.

Lewelt said there is a difference between a scripted comedy act and the stunts on the web. “We have relied on dialogue to get a joke across,” he said.

“Let’s face it, a guy getting hit in the groin with a football is funny,” said Toronto comedian Mickey Geller.

The business of failed bike stunts and backflips gone wrong is lucrative.

Ebaumsworld’s original creator, Eric (Ebaum) Bauman, sold the site to Zvue Corp for $15 million in cash and $2.5 million in stock in 2008.

Cash incentives aside, some comedians would like to make it clear that there is a fine line between Internet slapstick humor and the kind used by the likes of classic comedians like Chevy Chase or in Looney Tunes cartoons.

“That stuff on YouTube is not slapstick, slapstick comes from commedia dell’arte,” said Clark. “They used a stick which when struck, produces a loud smacking noise, creating the effect that the person being struck is being hurt, but the stick is not really harming the person.”

“This medium of comedy is ageless.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF RENDEZVOUS QUARTET // Rendezvous Quartet Performing on Stage. From Left: Danny Fong, Brodie Cuff , Rob McLaren and Andrew Kesler.

Bianca Bykhovsky
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER

The Humber student musical group Rendezvous, winners of the 2011 Ontario Collegiate Quartet competition, have made a guest appearance at the Gentlemen of Harmony’s annual showcase in Simcoe, Ont.

The vocal quartet formed in September, 2010, and features tenor Danny Fond, lead singer Brodie Cuff, baritone Andrew Kesler and bass Rob McLaren.

Fond, Brodie and Kesler moved to Toronto for the music program. There, they met their fourth member McLaren and their love affair with barbershop quartet began.

“We find songs we really like, learn them and then make videos and perform them. We got connected with the Toronto Northern Lights men’s chorus and we’ve grown since then by word of mouth,” said Kesler.

“The barbershop society is very tight knit,” Kesler added. “We spent some time with the Gentlemen of Harmony after the Collingwood District competition in April, and we connected with them.

“When they were looking for another act, they chose us, I guess because we definitely made a good impression on them,” said Kesler.

The group said they plan to wait for two of the four members of Rendezvous to graduate from Humber, and afterwards they are hoping to get a cruise contract and create an album together.