EFFECT OF POOR MAINTENANCE STUDIO EQUIPMENT AND THE PRACTICE OF ART

EFFECT OF POOR MAINTENANCE STUDIO EQUIPMENT AND THE PRACTICE OF ART

ABSTRACT

This research project, studies the effect of poor maintenance of art studio tools, equipment and machinery on the teaching and learning of art in tertiary institution, with special focus on I. M. T. ceramic studio.
The purpose of the study is to identify the various ways in which poor maintenance of studio equipment affects students training in art and how students can engage in self help activities to reactivate machineries, other equipment and tools for effective studio practice.
The scope of the project covers the study of dis–functional electric potters wheels understanding and identifying the problematic aspects of the equipment and how to repair and reactivate them.
The significance of this project is the opportunity it affords, the art student to have a technical knowledge of some of the equipment and machines used in production of art works particularly in his or her area of specialization with such knowledge, the student artist prepared him or herself to meet with the challenge of studio practice anywhere, anytime.
The researchers, takes look at different contribution of authors, which are related to this topic.
Finally the researchers expose the effect of poor maintenance on tools and equipment and recommended ways how those in authority and Government could make provision in their budget for maintenance of faulty tools and equipments, before they are grounded. It is said that “a stitch in time saves nine”.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY 
The issue of poor maintenance culture as it affects tools and equipment used in art production in tertiary institutions in Nigeria cannot be over emphasized. It is a poor attitudinal behaviour which has eaten deep into the social fabric of the Nigerian people. It manifests in different aspects of the industrial life of the people.
Most institutions of higher learning where Art is taught lack adequate infrastructure facilities and equipment for effective teaching and learning of art. Some of the institution that could boast of some facilities and equipment, have them in their dilapidated conditions were as a result of carelessness handling by student artists poor maintenance culture and total negligence on the part of departmental studio managers.
This attitude to Art studio materials, equipment and machineries is in line with the general attitude prevailing within the nation.
A visit to various ministries such as works and Housing: Agriculture citic will reveal sorry site of abandoned tractors, vehicles and other heavy equipment and machineries which otherwise would have been put to effective use in the pursuit of the objectives and goals of such ministries.
It is not surprising therefore that professor Adesing Oladapo Aderisigbe of Obafemi Awolowo University Ile Ife would lament over inadequate funding in the faculty of Agriculture which has resulted in the abandonment of many of the facilities and equipment of the faculty for decades. (Kehinde Adio, 2005).
The abandonment must have been as a result of their functional state which in most cases must have been as a result of poor maintenance.
Writing on the collapsed Nukkei bridge in, Jalingo Taraba state, David Molomo (2005) quoted Alhaji Abubarka (Deputy Governor) is attributing the collapse of the bridge to poor structure and maintenance.
Within the premises of the campus 2 of the Institute Of Management and Technology Enugu would be found a good number of water tankers, pail loader, and other vehicles which have been abandoned in a state of despair. At the industrial center would also be found, equipment for various productions which have not been assembled or have been allowed to rust.
According to the Head of work and services department the institute lacks the necessary fund to put these vehicles and equipment back to life – hence their abandonment.
From the foregoing it is discovered that lack of fund is one of the major factors responsible for the poor maintenance culture that is prevailing within the Nigeria system.

EFFECT OF POOR MAINTENANCE STUDIO EQUIPMENT AND THE PRACTICE OF ART