Graham House, Graham House, Graham House. We know the name and we hear it often. Everything is there, the Reading Room, Reception Rooms, the Great Hall and the Servery.
Once a mansion, once a home, and once the UBC School of Social Work.
Some people say things are meant to be.
We have taken a journey through many facets of history and memory at the College, but we are far from finished.
Last week, we explored the name behind Graham in Graham House. This week, we are going back to the character of Green College, specifically the exterior spaces.
When exploring the meaning behind the resident building and rooms, the purpose of the walkways came to light. The architects of Green College designed the walkways in such a particular way as to invite and create conversations in the most unexpected ways.
We have danced on the ideas, buildings and energy surrounding Green College. Today, we tiptoe a little closer to the main building essential to the College.
The most central and fondest to recollect is Graham House.
What is the history behind the Graham Family?
The Idea.
The last two Fridays we went over the architects behind Green College and the idea behind the buildings.
How did this idea come about and what inspired such a place like Green College.
To answer this question we turn to the medieval English college system “as well as Thomas Jefferson’s academical village at his University of Virginia.”
Last week, we provided a little background on the buildings that make up the College.
But who were the people behind the buildings we live, play and occupy today? What energy, process and thought went into the ideas, creativity and beauty within the buildings that stand the test of time?
We answer those questions today.
The story is not a straightforward one, but like all stories, it’s filled with wonder, missteps and a conclusion.
If you’re curious, here’s a little background on the buildings that make up the College. The history, ties and intention behind the architecture holds so much more meaning.
We can’t wait to get back to evenings of live theatre with the Green College Players.
Who are the Green College Players?
The Players is the College's theatrical company that mounts a performance each year, which is acted, directed, produced and designed by members of Green College.
Have you walked the Path to Glory? This oil painting of the squash clubhouse that sits next to Green College is titled just that. “Path to Glory” was painted by David Walker (Professor Emeritus in the Department of Chemistry) in 2003.
Unfortunately, David Walker passed away on October 9th, 2020.
“If you’re a musician, you’re a musician, no matter what you do for a living.”
This is the advice Jane Coop has given to many students over the course of her at least thirty years teaching piano and chamber music at UBC. Coop is one of Canada’s most prominent artists, a pianist who has traveled the world and has the stories to prove it.
I wish I had been counting the number of times Kalama Todd said the word “lands” in her 45 minute talk. The quantitative value of that number might have indicated, more than any qualitative words I might write here, the importance of land to Todd’s work and her talk, presented at Green College on February 16 and entitled ‘Confront Colonialism and Racism in the Post-Pandemic City: Lessons for Educators’.