by Reggie Meredith Fitiao, MFA
It isn’t often that you hear someone getting emotional about a building. After all, it doesn’t have a heart or soul, and it’s a man-made object. Plus, most people think of a building as being “just a building”.
But take it from me, I am not talking about just any building. I am referring to the ASCC Art Building. The B Building. The one that used to be on the East side of the Campus behind the Cafeteria? Yes, that building.
As someone who stood in and around this building for thirty-two years, teaching the Arts to maybe a few thousand of our young people who enrolled in a Fine Arts course, I felt it was only appropriate to say something about this historic building, hoping to convince you of its significance and embrace it as a place of nostalgia, because it served us well.
Although I am not sure who designed the Art Building, I do know it was built around the late 1970’s. Made of concrete, wood, glass, and steel, it was a solid architectural place. With a modern layout suited to teach the Visual Arts, this building had a spacious feel to it with its open concept, barrel vaulted wood beams and divisions to conduct classes for Ceramics, Photography, Design, Painting, Drawing, and Art History. It was huge and had influential features of Egyptian architecture, like colonnades, engaged columns, a portico and clerestory windows. It was magnificent.
But the greatest thing about this building is that it was a place for gathering. When its double doors were open, this building became the nucleus of artistic activity. This is where some of the most brilliant ideas were formed. In this place, there were wonderful creations made. People came here to learn about the Arts; photographs were printed in the darkroom while pottery was being formed on a wheel. There were discussions about our ancestors and what motifs were used for our siapo and our skin. There was a wide range of activity in the Arts held in this building along with Open House events to bring our parents, family and friends in to see what we’d made with our hands.
Program directors like Pulefaasisina Palauni Tuiasosopo and Namaluulu Paul Pouesi, and Bob & Rosemary Lewis, with masters of tatau such as Su’a Lesa Moli and Su’a Uilisone Fitiao, siapo makers Marylyn Pritchard Walker & Lagi Lealaitafea, master woodcarver Sven Ortquist, TAOA weavers, elei expert Tupu Tuiasosopo, renowned painters Sheila Lamb, Roberto Salas, and Kate Palese, opera extraordinaire Leslie McEwen, drama professionals Kathleen Kolhoff PhD., Sybil Johnson PhD, Bolshoi ballerina Carmela Gallace and dance champion Tony Meredith all came to the Art Building at some point and in different degrees to share their expertise with others. Speaking of the wider diaspora, filmmakers from Pacific Islanders in Communications, the National Park of American Samoa, SIT (student international travelers) and Robert C. Seamans ship programs were also in this place.
We thought in this building, wove baskets in this building, made siapo here, learned diction and vocal control in this building, had to tackle art exams in this building, mustered courage to express ourselves in this building, and for goodness sake, all the costumes for the animals, from the giraffe, hyenas, birds, elephant, cheetah, to Rafiki, Nala, Mufasa and Simba for our Lion King production was made in this building! Please, let’s not forget all the backdrops for Iesu le Mesia, Once on this Island, Fiddler on the Roof, Nutcracker, AIDA, The King & I, Guys n Dolls, In the Heights, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Rumbo!
Here at the B Building, there was conversation, laughter, vocal rehearsals, band practice, club practice, and University of Hawaii Cohort classes. There were paint brushes and canvas on easels, charcoal drawings on the floor and pictures on the walls. Even the Art Building walls were spaces for practicing trompe’l’oeil.
It was a “never a dull moment” type of place. This building helped to sculpt career paths for many who now hold successful positions here in American Samoa and abroad. Everyone wanted to be at the Art Building, not because they majored in Art; but because it had this feeling of being right. It made one feel like they belonged, no matter what age, height, gender, creed, religion, color, race, language, or size. This building saw no prejudice or discrimination but rather was a magnet for wonderful activity.
This building embraced us and cared for our things while we were there and while we were away. It was like a second home. And the countless memories we all have from being there live on. They will have to. Because now, this Art Building is completely demolished. Gone.
It became frail over the years, even with its countless repairs after the effects of Cyclones Val and Heta, not to mention the infiltration of termites. When it was considered unsafe to teach in, I knew there would come a day. That day came too quickly for me even after I decided to retire from a full-time teaching status. I cried when I saw bulldozers clearing the space and tried to console myself with a superficial post on social media.
But in retrospect I had to write this, to salute this building. Here’s to you ASCC Art Building, a rich deep warm heartfelt thank you from the bottom of my heart for your years of service. Thank you for housing our every moment of artistic endeavor and program. I am ever grateful that the strength and sturdiness of your columns and roof allowed us all to thrive as individuals, as a department of the college, and as a community, developing our creativity and empathy in so many ways. To God be the glory. Faafetai tele lava.
Although the ASCC Art Building is physically gone now, our drive to continue developing aspiring creative people is still here, and our legacy is vibrant and strong. I ask, “What’s next?”
It isn’t certain that the Art Building will be replaced by a new one. My profound hope is to ask for a new space, for our next generations to experience the richness of the Arts like we have. We have incredible talent here, and it needs to be nurtured and guided because the Arts are the backbone to creativity.
Supporting the Arts is vital now more than ever before.
We must be prayerful and positive. In support for our beloved Community College, let’s consider a prodigious Arts Center. Afterall, the Arts made a difference then, it can make a difference now and it will make a difference in the future.
