麻豆传媒映画

Art's done many things we dream about. He's traveled in Tibet for 5 years, photographing his subjects for his book 鈥淭he Tibetans鈥�. He's taken pictures of rock stars like Bruce Springsteen and Nick Cave. He's even been asked to draw images of The Rolling Stones during their TV performances in the 1960s. He's got all these experiences, and the man calls people like Lou Reed and Laurie Anderson friends. Art's house is rich, warm and inviting because he is.

Nowadays Art Perry teaches Critical and Cultural Studies at Emily Carr, and at night he enjoys being in his home:

"Almost everything in here is personal in some way, it鈥檚 not something that has been purchased because it looks good. There is a history of some sort. All the things on the walls, they鈥檙e signed. It鈥檚 that kind of history because I鈥檝e been lucky enough to meet so many people and I want to share it."

For those of us who live a less grand life, making trips to Restoration Hardware and That Swedish Place, there is still lots of possibility when it comes to making our houses our homes.

"You make your own histories鈥�little histories. Say you go together with your partner, or if you鈥檙e on your own, you get a real buzz from something-buy it, and then it becomes part of you. But the idea of going somewhere like IKEA and just buying stuff- it鈥檚 okay, but it鈥檚 much better to find something that really hits you and gets you hot and prickly. Hot and prickly is good!"

Art lives in a townhouse off Commercial Drive that he shares with his wife Carla, and their daughter Lulu. We visited in the evening (a first for the Pop-In!) Candles were lit, lights were sparkling, and in the course of our 2 hour visit, we drank tequila, beer and coffee. The living room is deep red (鈥淰enetian red鈥� Art says) and there are musical instruments and mementos from his family鈥檚 travels all around.

"A home should be somewhere that鈥檚 an enclave for your spirit -- not to get too cosmic on you -- but you want to come home and feel that this is where all the crap that you have in the day, all the people who are biting ankles, all the hassles of taking the number 10 bus -- which is another experience living here off the Drive -- go away. I鈥檓 an insomniac so I鈥檓 up most nights. So for me, what鈥檚 important is having a space that鈥檚 conducive to thinking. There are no sounds: there鈥檚 nothing around that can interfere so it鈥檚 a beautiful time. That鈥檚 why there are dark walls and dimmer switches on everything. You鈥檒l notice there鈥檚 lots of candles. It鈥檚 not because I鈥檓 a goth that鈥檚 heavily into Robert Smith. I have to have an environment where I can read and prepare lectures or notes. And I don鈥檛 like the computer. I like to write my notes long hand if I can. Also, it鈥檚 got to have music. It鈥檚 got the have sound, even if it鈥檚 just ambient."

Art tells me that his first ever show was Elvis Presley in 1956 in Ottawa. I admit to him that mine was New Kids on the Block in 1992. Despite my

embarrassing admission, he鈥檚 encouraging.

"Music is huge. There鈥檚 always music going, either being played or being listened to. I have always collected music and I鈥檝e spent my life going to concerts. Nick Cave-I鈥檝e photographed him a couple of times, but his music has always meant something to me-the visceral murder ballads and also the incredible love songs. They become almost like tattoos. You wear them. You鈥檙e with them."

He wants his guests to linger and share in the vibe he鈥檚 spent years cultivating.

"I want it to open up something that鈥檚 in them, but that they wouldn't share otherwise. A celebration! The longer the better- you don鈥檛 want to just eat and burp and talk about real estate or TV. That鈥檚 what I call my elevator experience, when I go downtown and I get into elevators and I hear people talking-it鈥檚 a foreign language. My kick as a teacher is to go back into the well, the things that I鈥檝e gotten something from, and to enthuse others with it! That鈥檚 where the connection is."