From: Karina and Chris <kvanderlinden@hfx.eastlink.ca>
To: jean chrétien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Date: Wednesday, May 2, 2001 1:05 AM
Subject: Parole Terminated For Pedophile Jail Guard Karl Toft, Now In Alberta Prison Rock Says Health Canada May Post U.S. Drug Warnings On Its Web Site National Health Care Commission To Keep An Open Mind To Reform: Romanow
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Just came back from a small dinner party at Sarah and Leah and Jeremy’s apartment. Spencer and Tashia were there as well – and hey, we hardly spoke about the Khyber at all, what a relief. We talked of digestion, mostly – at least, that’s where the conversations kept heading back to. Dreams, and the army, and picking olives in Greece amongst crazy people – we laughed and laughed, and everyone except me ate mozzaball soup, as it was made with chicken stock. We spoke of disasters and deaths and plane crashes, too – which doesn’t help before taking a plane anywhere. The convenience of flying somewhere quickly is compromised somewhat at the prospect of hurtling over the earth at great velocity in a heavy tin can.
Today at work Winnie was instructing Karina how she does the financial books. I worked on Craig’s contract and some sponsorship letters and talked on the phone. Judy called and has a vandalism project for us to do when we go to Saint John in June.
Have to go to bed, but want to check out the mysterious mmmbeer.com website, to see if the commercials were really just a marketing test. Karina has to check her mail, as well.
-Chris
From: Karina and Chris <kvanderlinden@hfx.eastlink.ca>
To: jean chrétien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Date: Wednesday, May 2, 2001 10:10 PM
Subject: Alliance MP Calls On Day To Resign Despite New Strategic Plan Rock Proposes Ban On Cloning But Concrete Action Is Months Away U.S. Seeking Extradition Of International Con Man Caught In B.C.
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Slowly getting packed and prepared for our trip to New York. We are leaving tomorrow. Tonight I packed up Andrea’s fish. I was hoping to just take it as a carry-on, but Karina was worried it would cause problems. It is interesting boxed up; the tail and two side fins stick out from the box. I’m still going to take it as carry-on. We should get some good pictures of me lugging the thing around New York to Andreas place. We are borrowing Sarah’s automatic camera so we can take a picture every hour on the hour. Our camera is still infested with hair product, or syrup or some sort of goop.
Andrea said that it is hot in New York; I am looking forward to that very much. It was another cruddy, cold, almost-raining but not quite day here. Sick of those.
Miserable at work today too. Winnie has been hammering out the numbers for the financial statements and I have been grumpy. Maybe I really need this break.
Have some email business to attend to. Hopefully I will be able to write everyday from NYC.
-Chris
From: frottage@canada.com
Print View
Show Headers Date: 04 May 2001 09:48:07 PDT
To: pm@pm.gc.ca
Subject: Canada Fears U.S. Missile Defence Plan Could Spawn New Arms Race, Says Manley Day Drops Judge Complaint, Meets With MPs To Try To Restore Caucus Peace Longtime Chretien Confidant Pelletier Stepping Down As Chief Of Staff
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Dear Mr. Chretien,
Sorry I didn’t get a chance to write yesterday. Busy first day in New York, lots of travelling, etc. Karina and I arrived in Newark on time, took a bus to Manhattan, then followed Andrea’s impeccable directions to her apartment in Brooklyn. Kelda was at the Bus Terminal to meet us but we didn’t see her. It all worked out; Kelda came back to Brooklyn, we met up with Rebecca and Susan and headed to Chelsea. We had a quick (expensive!) bite to eat at Empire Diner before meeting Andrea, and then headed to the Dia. Dan Graham’s permanent rooftop installation is one of my favourite pieces. Lucky us; there was a lecture that night so we got into the museum for free.
Andrea had been invited to an opening that night at a media gallery under the New Museum, it was a neat piece involving a live violinist contained in a box with a live video feed to another room – similar in some ways to Tim Dallett’s MFA Thesis exhibition. Again, because of the opening we got to see the Paul Macarthy exhibition upstairs for free. Wild stuff; his videos and performances really push buttons. I wouldn’t mind going back to spend more time with them, but we’ll see how things go.
We more or less just wandered around after that. Karina and I are involved in an interesting documentation project where we take a photo every hour, on the hour – thus eliminating any sort of aesthetic decisions regarding ‘tourist’ photographs.
Andrea hasn’t been feeling well lately, so she and Kelda were going to have a quiet morning (having coffee, buying a fan – it is hot here) while Karina and I headed back into Manhattan to check out galleries uptown. We bought sandals and checked out Pearl Paints, and right now we are in a huge warehouse of a space filled with computer terminals – $1 buys us 34 minutes of on-line time. So I am going to send a quick message to Winnie and Karina is going to check her email and then we are off .
-Chris
__________________________________________________________
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From: frottage@canada.com
Print View
Show Headers Date: 06 May 2001 11:49:26 PDT
To: pm@pm.gc.ca
Cc: papamiah@hotmail.com
Subject: Sask. Environment Suggests More Water Tests, More Often For North Battleford Alta. Parkland So Dry It Is Like Walking On Cornflakes, But It’s Not Drought Inuit Elders Say Climate Change Is Altering Old Rules Of The Arctic
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Dear Mr. Chretien,
I hate this damn Canada.Com email – I have told you that before, but is it ever screwy. I just finished drafting a letter to you and hit the tab key by mistake, and lost the letter. So this one will be a point form summary, as I am running out of time on my Easyeverything account:
Couldn’t write yesterday due to footwear crisis: luckily Andrea lent Karina a new pair to walk around in, but we had no luck in finding a good pair of replacement shoes or sandals in our budget,
Didn’t see any galleries: by the time we made it to lower Broadway Phil Grauer’s new Canada Gallery was closed. We can go to the ICP, International Center for Photography, today, which is good because most galleries are closed on Sunday,
Went to a cool club in Lower East Village last night to meet Kelda, who didn’t show, but saw a cool band called Chocolate Genius – frontman Marc Anthony Thompson is funny, witty, a great singer and performer – his impromptu song about Holland was hilarious. Karina even enjoyed herself, after getting over her initial anxiety of being in a strange new place.
Grace is suffering from allergies (there is pollen everywhere, piling up on sidewalks), Andrea is getting over a fever and lost voice, and Karina is developing sore throat from air-conditioned subway air.
Plan to see a film or two at Williamsburg Film Festival tonight, then maybe drinks with Andrea – she is off work at four this afternoon.
Photos every hour on the hour is still working out, want to get one of this giant warehouse full of computer terminals – Easyeverything is on 42nd Street.
Time almost up – will write tomorrow
-Chris
From: frottage@canada.com
Print View
Show Headers Date: 07 May 2001 19:15:41 PDT
To: pm@pm.gc.ca
Cc: kpremdas@hotmail.com, edeary@hotmail.com, kearovitch@yahoo.com, edeary@hotmail.com
Subject: Sask. Environment suggests more water tests, more often for North Battleford Big farms a big threat to water quality, says government scientist B.C. premier tours province’s northwest while Liberal leader opens marathon
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Dear Mr. Chretien,
The weather has cooled off a bit here, but not by much. Had a busy couple days, despite most galleries being closed. After I wrote yesterday Karina and I went to the ICP, one of the few galleries open on Sunday. Shows by Kiki Smith and Hans Bellmer. Smith should probably stick to sculpture, and Bellmer’s stuff is downright weird and disturbing, but it was intended to be. So they say. A lot of his photos reminded me of the shots Karina took of the doll torsos. Karina’s are better, but she is benefitting from sixty-odd years of developments in colour photography technology. Odd-shaped gallery, too.
Met Andrea and we travelled to Williamsberg, had snacks at the ‘L’ Cafe and did some thrift shopping. Went home for some supper, smoked a wee joint (which was a nice treat) and went to a movie at the BAG (Brooklyn Academy of Music) theatre, which is an amazing space (amazingly funded, too, from reading the program). We watched Memento, my new favorite movie – unexpected, dizzying, edge-of-your seat amazing movie. I must see it again.
Today we continued our quest to find Karina a good pair of shoes, to no avail. Walked across the Brooklyn Bridge. Wandered through the East Village again. This time Karina bought the bright red wig. Went home only to get sweaters; after checking email, we are going to go up the Empire State building, then probably head home again. We need to plan our day strategically tomorrow; it is our last day in Manhattan, so will have to decide what galleries are Must-Sees.
Am looking forward to flying home and diving into work and art again. Have plans to expand dramatically the ‘Photo On The Hour’ documentation project. I have had dreams about it – mostly because I worry the camera doesn’t work and all the photos we have taken so far will not turn out. I am mentally keeping my fingers crossed.
-Chris
From: frottage@canada.com
Print View
Show Headers Date: 08 May 2001 17:29:56 PDT
To: pm@pm.gc.ca
Subject: Alliance MPs tempt political fate with more criticism of Day Playgrounds empty as Lethbridge cops investigate possible child abduction Former PM Turner decries lack of MPs’ independence as his portrait unveiled
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Dear Mr. Chretien,
Today was whirlwind gallery visit day. Spent most of it in Chelsea, after stopping first at the ICP to get the Hans Bellmer catalogue – which we couldn’t get as they had sold out. Some good shows in Chelsea: namely, a group show at White Cube, Tony Oursler at Metro Pictures and James Rosenquist at Gagosian. We met up with Andrea for a coffee/lemonade/bagel with shmear before she had to work – she had hoped to get off work tonight, but her restaurant is under-staffed. We stopped at a Krispie Kreme so Karina could use the bathroom; the bagel place didn’t have one. It is next to impossible to use a restaurant’s washroom without buying something first. Then Karina and I went back uptown to catch the Pop Art show at the Gagosian Uptown. Excellent work there by the big boys; Johns, Rauschenberg, Oldenberg, etc.
Tired, we ended up at Union Square and got into a tiff about shoes and money. Our cash flow is running low – it goes fast in this town! We hit eighth street again and Karina finally found a comfy pair of shoes. Hurrah!
We’re thinking of going to a movie – they cost $9.50! Outrageous. No cheap nights in Manhattan. Maybe we’ll check out the East Village. I wouldn’t mind finding a small Thai restaurant somewhere. We will probably meet Andrea after work for drinks. We have to catch a bus to the airport early tomorrow morning. I have a Khyber meeting tomorrow night and stuff due for the newsletter – I will be jumping head-first into work tomorrow afternoon.
Still haven’t found any fish-detritus, or fish-related item for the Saint John show.
-Chris
__________________________________________________________
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From: Karina and Chris <kvanderlinden@hfx.eastlink.ca>
To: jean chrétien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Date: Wednesday, May 9, 2001 10:45 PM
Subject: Alliance MPs prepare to make a decision about their future in caucus Six burned in battery explosion on central Alberta industrial site Arab group to sue Day over speech that blames Palestine for Mideast crisis
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Well, we’re home. Long travel day. Left Andrea’s at 7:30am. Subway was packed. Missed the 8:20 airport bus, but the 8:40 got us there in plenty of time. Flight was OK. Halifax looked really, really small and tiny from the air. We took the airport bus downtown, then a transit bus home. We still have some money, hurray! Had a nap in the afternoon, which inspired really weird dreams. My body was resting but my mind was still racing at a NY pace. Dreamed of administering a dodgy drug cocktail to someone under a bridge. Odd.
Had a Khyber Future committee meeting with Dan, Annie, Winnie, Mat and Craig. Right back in the thick of things. Am going to bed early to get well-rested for the zillion things I must do over the next few weeks.
-chris
From: Karina and Chris <kvanderlinden@hfx.eastlink.ca>
To: jean chrétien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Cc: Krishna Premdas <kpremdas@hotmail.com>
Date: Friday, May 11, 2001 11:11 AM
Subject: Probe of PM ‘informational rape’ Ottawa liable for sex abuse of non-resident at native school Starbucks killer gets 15 years
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Well, I have gone and offered to host and chair the next CAP meeting at the Khyber for next month. This happened at the meeting yesterday at the NS Archives. This should be interesting – I have no idea how to chair a meeting. It is such a strange grouping of people: from a Dalhousie medical services site to an old folks home, a troubled youth site and the archives, and then us – the Khyber, centre for contemporary arts which no-one bothers to even try to understand anymore.
Anyway, things are moving ahead with the media centre, we are planning to get equipment on Monday or Tuesday. Hopefully the Cable guy can get us hooked up before the end of the month. I started clearing some space in the basement for transfer of gallery tools and supplies to the basement, to make room for the media centre in the office. Did that until about nine o’clock last night, then watched the last bit of a performance by a young guy in the Club last night. It was a bit naive and contrived, but kudos to the kid for doing something and putting it on.
Cleaned up my home office a bit last night, trying to organize backlogged papers and such. Judy is supposed to come this weekend though she called today and her ride has fallen through (actually, the ride has filled up, and there are now too many in one vehicle). She is pissed off, as she was really looking forward to getting out of Saint John and visiting with us a bit.
Have a lot to do at the office today. Am meeting with the building managers to discuss renovation plans. My computer at work has a blown video card or battery, and it won’t be fixed until Monday, which means Winnie and I have to share hers. I am working on written stuff for the newsletter today, but will concentrate on phone calls and moving stuff as well.
Karina and I really need to get groceries today. We have no food in the fridge and I am tired of eating peanut butter sandwiches.
-Chris
From: Karina and Chris <kvanderlinden@hfx.eastlink.ca>
To: jean chrétien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Date: Friday, May 11, 2001 8:57 PM
Subject: Up to six Canadian Alliance MPs set to leave caucus Tuesday, sources say Day trims sails on Middle East, now sees merit in positions of both sides of Doomed tour boat unsafe despite 28 years of federal inspections: TSB
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Am waiting for Karina to come home with a new Trivial Pursuit game. I was a bit late coming home from work, and I had originally thought that we would get groceries together, but my tardiness must have inspired Plan B. Karina has wanted a new, up-to-date Trivial Pursuit game for some time now. She doesn’t like to play the older versions because the Arts and Entertainment section is always about movie and TV from the fifties and sixties. I would like to see a specific art-focused game – it would probably be the only version I’d be good at.
Still only half-way through clearing out the office to make way for the KDMC. Met with building management today to go over the proposed renovations. Just need to put together some budgets and then the real fun begins.
Talked with Craig about the club tonight. He wants to hire an accountant. Most likely a good idea, if it is affordable enough. Will keep the books clean and in the open.
Have a shit-load of stuff to do this weekend. Computer at work is still shot, even with the new battery which Winnie had replaced today. Now there are major extension conflicts. I was getting a fading and flashing bomb I have never seen before.
Must go eat first – am developing a headache, and I think it is from lack of food. I hope Karina picks groceries up on her way home with the Trivial Pursuit game.
-Chris
From: Karina and Chris <kvanderlinden@hfx.eastlink.ca>
To: jean chrétien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Date: Sunday, May 13, 2001 10:46 PM
Subject: Fear, uncertainty, anger as Alberta community prays for soul of Jessica, 5 Alliance caucus prepares for potentially explosive week on Parliament Hill B.C. premier makes whirlwind tour of Vancouver Island days before election
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Karina and I vivited Rebecca at Julien’s Bakery this afternoon. Had coffee and a bagel and smear; Karina had a croissant and cake. Breakfast of Champions.
Biked down to NSCAD to drop off my painting for the auction. I wish I had put more time into it. There is a lot of really good work down there. Good organisation, too. They have already sold out of tickets; 300 of them. Makes me feel inadequate about the Gala fundraiser.
Came home and worked on the Khyber newsletter. I have changed my ‘Letter from the Director’ three times. I can’t get my ideas down clearly.
Called my mom and wished her a happy mothers day. We talked about my grandmother; she seems to be suffering from early Alzheimers. She is really losing her short term memory.
Watched The Simpsons. Hilarious, as usual. My only TV Joy.
Going to bed early. Am meeting Ray at Pierceys tomorrow morning. Am getting a piece of wood to build a set of shelves in the blocked-in window bay in the office. Will do that tomorrow morning, as well as prepare the agenda for the board meeting tomorrow night. The opening for the NSCAD fundraiser is tomorrow evening as well.
-Chris
From: Karina and Chris <kvanderlinden@hfx.eastlink.ca>
To: jean chrétien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Date: Tuesday, May 15, 2001 12:17 AM
Subject: Three or four Alliance MPs expected to start domino effect in caucus Police confirm little Jessica Koopman was killed, says grandfather Klein says Alta will consider pedophile registry in the wake of death of girl
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
A long day today. Met Ray at Piercey’s at eight o’clock. Bought wood for new shelving unit for the office. Built shelves this morning. Cleaned and organized the office in the afternoon. It looks big and spacious now. Had a late breakfast with Karina at the Med. Talked about Clement Greenberg and Avant Garde and Kitch. Typed up agendas. Dan came by to type minutes from the last meeting. It rained cats and dogs all day. It is supposed to rain for days to come. It is raining right now. Had the executive meeting in the Club. Sara and Dan couldn’t make it. There was a lot of material to go over. There is so much left to do. We are getting the computers delivered tomorrow. There is so much to do.
I have been hearing nothing but bad news on the radio lately. Not just kids being murdered and traffic accidents. Bad stuff about missile defense systems, planet-gorging energy consumption and a resurgence of nuclear power stations. Elizabeth May is on day eighteen of a hunger strike just to get people moved off Frederick Street in Sydney, Cape Breton. I am so discouraged by our spineless and weak federal government. Following is a list of suggestions:
1. Economics isn’t everything
2. Nuclear Power is neither safe, efficient or cheap
3. Overconsumption is killing the planet
4. The Sydney Tar Ponds should be cleaned up ASAP
5. George Bush is a knob
6. University should be free
-Chris
From: Karina and Chris <kvanderlinden@hfx.eastlink.ca>
To: jean chrétien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Date: Tuesday, May 15, 2001 11:26 PM
Subject: Day says he’s staying after eight Alliance MPs call for his resignation Western Alliance supporters have mixed reaction to MP defections Heartbroken family awaits funeral for slain Jessica Koopmans
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
I’m listening to the new G. Love and Special Sauce CD at the moment. Karina bought it last week. It is great. We all listened to G. Love back in the old apartment days on Germain Street back in Saint John. Those were the daze. Have I mentioned to you that Bob was making a graphic novel / comic book based on that summer?
I haven’t seen him or it in a while; I should contact him and see how progress is coming.
Walked to the Khyber in the rain this morning to meet Barry from Omnitech who was dropping off our, computer equipment. Winnie unpacked and plugged everything in, but we are waiting for Neal to install and network the computers. I have to set up a KDMC meeting, and soon. The new computers intimidate me greatly. I still don’t understand mine fully, and I spend practically all my home hours on it.
Updated the membership and prepared labels and envelopes for the mailout tomorrow. Karina helped after her class was finished. She is in Garry’s Art Now class. They visited the Painting Zero Degree show which recently opened at Saint Mary’s. I will try to visit the show when the curator comes down for a lecture, which is sometime in June.
The catalogues were copied today, Winnie dropped them off at the Office just past six. They were all folded, which is great, except that on closer inspection I noticed that most appear to be folded wrong. Luckily Karina and Samantha have already agreed to come tomorrow to help Fold n’ Stuff.
We have been waiting for over a month for our alarm system providers to come and complete our room alarm. Right now the office, Ballroom Gallery and a studio are all on the same alarm. We need to cut the studio out until the KDMC moves into it in September. The problem is that Winnie and I have both forgotten the code, and the tech never shows. He was supposed to come tonight, but never did; Norm couldn’t reach him. I was nervous to leave the computers in our office without the alarm, but I’m sure they will be fine. The doors are quite solid. (Fingers crossed, knocks on wood).
Karina and I took a bus directly to the Superstore from the Khyber. We hadn’t bought groceries in a loooong time. I ended up standing in front of the wall of frozen fish sticks, trying to come up with a workable idea for the fish sculpture for the Saint John show. No luck.
Received a rejection from Eastern Edge in the mail today. They had over sixty applications – the selection process must have been a nightmare. We are about to undergo one ourselves, but we have just under thirty submissions, which is much more manageable. I hope.
Have to go to bed. Meeting the alarm tech at the Khyber tomorrow at nine o’clock. Another early, long day.
-Chris
From: Karina and Chris <kvanderlinden@hfx.eastlink.ca>
To: jean chrétien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Date: Thursday, May 17, 2001 1:24 AM
Subject: Dissident Alliance MPs suspended from caucus, but no expulsions Liberals see Alliance troubles as spectator sport, but worry about future Liberals score huge election win in British Columbia as voters reject NDP
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Another successful mailout on time. Right down to the wire, as usual. Had an interesting incident at Staples this morning. After meeting the Alliance security tech, who needed all of five minutes to get our alarm system up and running, I walked to Staples to make some photocopies. I ended up making too many, and didn’t have enough money to pay, so had to walk back to work to get more money, then back to Staples – what a waste of time. Busy all day, good news as well; we have been awarded another jobs grant. That brings the total to four, so far. Ended up staying at the Club until past nine. People I needed to talk to kept coming in. Talked to Randy about the KDMC. Booked a show with a graffiti artist. Andrea confirmed she will take the Khyber Kids co-ordinator position. Made some good fundraising plans with Victoria. She is going to organize another Pinata Party. It will be very messy, and may not make a lot of money, but it will be a lot of fun. Initialized a plan for a video screening with Becka.
Biked home after Karina called and watched a movie with Courtney and Rebecca. Courtney made homemade salsa and then tried to make nachos by putting corn chips in the microwave. They got really soggy, so we transferred them to the oven. Still soggy, but he had put the sour cream in with the cheese and everything else. Andrew came over halfway through the movie. He was pissed drunk. His friend had proposed marriage to his girlfriend and was celebrating by buying all his friends beers. The movie we watched was The Man Who Knew Too Much.
Am going to bed now so I can get up early to work on email stuff before going to work.
-chris
From: Karina and Chris <kvanderlinden@hfx.eastlink.ca>
To: jean chrétien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Date: Friday, May 18, 2001 10:45 PM
Subject: Mother of slain Alta girl says goodbye during graveside service Missing three-year-old girl found dead by searchers in northern Manitoba Day gets temporary reprieve from turmoil; pressure taken off dissidents
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Talked with Judy on the phone this morning and tonight when I got home. She wants me to write a letter of reference for her. I find that a bit surprising. I guess I don’t put enough stock in my own position. She is a bit bummed out that Saint John re-elected Shirley yet again, but that’s politics the Saint John way. Change is hard to induce.
The Eastlink installers came by this afternoon but took too long assessing where the cable would go to actually install it, so they will come back on Tuesday. I keep forgetting that it is supposed to be a long weekend this weekend. I am to paint at Jay and Suzanne’s house this weekend.
Yesterday was a long day; sorry I didn’t write. When I did get home from work (forty-five minutes after I had promised Karina I would be home) we watched a movie, Dead Man. Karina had made cupcakes but wouldn’t let me eat any as I had broken my promise about coming home early. I can’t seem to help it; work could just go on and on and on, and sometimes I find myself getting more done later in the evening than during the day. There are always so many distractions during the day.
Right now Karina, Rebecca and her sister Sarah are watching Anne of Green Gables. They rented it. Every now and then they squeal with laughter or say the lines aloud. It was obviously more influential for them than it was for me.
I have wanted to spray paint images of windmills around the city in locations where the big architecture causes drafty wind tunnels. I just have to make the time for it; I have been planning it for two years now. Also, Heather called me today from MSVU and wants to use a portrait from my series of paintings of you in a group show next month. I have to check with the dates for the show in Saint John, as the only one I have at home is going to be part of the Deep See exhibition. Anyway, I have lots more work to do tonight.
Joel Plaskett’s CD release party is tomorrow night at the Marquee. It should be a really good show; I have been listening to them rehearse for a couple days straight now.
-Chris
From: Karina and Chris <kvanderlinden@hfx.eastlink.ca>
To: jean chrétien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Date: Sunday, May 20, 2001 1:41 AM
Subject: Day supporters and critics both say a corner was turned with defections Stockwell Day meets with Bob Mills after Red Deer MP supports leader Saturday’s winning numbers
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
I called Jay this morning to come get me so we could get the ladder but he was on his way to a golf course. I could have gone over to their house and done some prep but I was so not in the mood. I actually went back to bed for awhile.
Karina and I decided to go to a matinee. As it was raining we took a cab to the Oxford to see Pollack. It disturbed Karina greatly. At first she claimed it was boring, but she really reacted to it strongly. A movie about a glorified artist who was really a prick and an asshole is nothing new (i.e. Surviving Picasso), but it is becoming old and tired and does a disservice to the broader picture of art. Everyone already thinks that artists have to be ‘tortured geniuses’ to be artists, what baloney. I actually didn’t mind the movie so much, but I see her point. She had to live with me at my worst, and fears it could happen again. But it has been a full year since I have quit smoking and four months since I have touched alcohol. Now I’m just a workaholic. Sometimes that is almost as bad.
We grabbed some sushi on the way home, and some groceries and a new garbage can. Went to the Joel Plaskett Emergency CD launch at the Marquee. Good show. Ran into Christine and Bethany. Everyone got drunk, Karina on her usual jaggermeister. Not drinking makes everything seem constant. Sort of like boredom.
-Chris
From: Karina and Chris <kvanderlinden@hfx.eastlink.ca>
To: jean chrétien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Date: Sunday, May 20, 2001 10:08 PM
Subject: Man charged with first-degree murder in death of slain Lethbridge girl tiny NDP must pick spots to battle huge B.C. Liberal majority, say observers silence, tears, mark first anniversary of Walkerton water tragedy
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Finally got some work done at Jay and Suzanne’s today. Didn’t start until about one-thirty, though. Jay called and didn’t want me to start until after noon. Then he had to go to Dartmouth to get the van so I could bring the ladder from the Khyber. I scraped and filled areas of the hall ceiling where paint had peeled off. There wasn’t enough primer to do anything more.
Winnie called this morning because the alarm had gone off in the office. The techs had disconnected Lorena’s door but not the motion sensor in her studio. The alarm is actually in her room, it must have scared the bejeezus out of her. It bugs me that we notified the alarm company to call me first yet they still called Winnie.
I am having a bit of a crisis in my head; I don’t think I can do this job. Maybe I shouldn’t apply, and hope someone else does. How are we going to get someone more qualified at $13 grand a year? I feel dislocated from the Khyber community, the arts community, any sort of community.
We were supposed to go to Sally’s house tonight for a barbeque for Craig and Liz, sort of a Khyber staff party. Karina didn’t want to go; I think last night used up her social outings quota for the week. I didn’t want to get in a tiff about going alone, and was feeling a little low anyway, so we stayed home. Watched the Simpsons season finale; it sucked. They always try to do these dumb themed shows as the finales, and they always bomb.
Will work on the letter of reference for Judy, maybe watch a bit of X-Files, and prepare a draft for an agenda for tomorrow KDMC meeting. Have a board development meeting tomorrow morning at nine with Sarah, Briony and Spencer. Just heard today that Spencer got the job at the Mount; I knew it when Ingrid called me last week for a reference. Spencer and Sarah were competing for the job, I hope it doesn’t affect their friendship.
-Chris
From: Karina and Chris <kvanderlinden@hfx.eastlink.ca>
To: jean chrétien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Date: Monday, May 21, 2001 9:12 PM
Subject: Mother to attend as man accused of killing Alberta girl goes to court Tuesday Ontario consumers kept in dark on electricity rebate, watchdog says Bank mergers one growth option as new financial services law looms
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Had an early breakfast meeting at Sarah’s house. Spencer had been to a party last night and never showed, but Briony did. We talked about board development, the need for cultural organizations to band together to lobby more effectively, and fund-raising. Always with the fund-raising. Did I tell you that someone burned Sarah’s mom’s cabin down last week? They are both quite upset about it. That was the cabin we all spent time at for Andrew’s show.
Had a late afternoon meeting at the Khyber about the KDMC. I am worried by it all, the computers and the networking and the job grants and the software and just how the damn centre is going to operate. I still can’t get more than half the Steering Committee to show up for a KDMC meeting. It feels overwhelming and gives me a constant headache, I find it hard to get excited about it, I spend too much energy worrying about it. Maybe I drank too much coffee today.
Came home and had supper with Karina in front of a really lame movie, The Love Letter. Ellen Degeneres was the only bright spot in the whole movie and she wasn’t on screen nearly enough. In the previews it seems like she’s the main character. What a gyp.
Talked to Trevor and Tamara tonight. They had spent the weekend in Lunenberg with Nanny and Poppy. Trevor and Tamara gave them their computer, so by the end of the week my grandparents will have joined the technological revolution. Trevor spent most of the time trying to teach Poppy how to play computer golf. Vive la revolution.
A few more emails to send, then I think I’ll go to bed early. Maybe continue reading a low-tech overview of art, a book called But is it art? by Cynthia Friedman. It is concise, a little over-simplified but not in a bad way. The Eastlink techs are coming early tomorrow morning to hook up the Internet in the office.
-Chris
From: Karina and Chris <kvanderlinden@hfx.eastlink.ca>
To: jean chrétien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Date: Tuesday, May 22, 2001 11:54 PM
Subject: Crucial offshore boundary between Nfld. and Nova Scotia invalid, panel rules Supreme Court weighs fate of two men facing possible torture if deported new chief of defence promises to stay the course; critics want major overhaul
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Another long day. Which is a dumb thing to say; each day lasts the same amount of time.
Had a weird dream about the vacant NFB ‘shell’ building. A party was happening there. It was more like a cave than the hollow shell of a building it really is. Lots of crevices and nooks and crannies. I must remember to call the owner and see if it would be possible to put on an event of some sort there.
Internet is now hooked up in the office. It didn’t take nearly as long as expected.
Had a really late bar committee meeting as we hammered out details of Craig’s contract.
Seth and the Spokks played tonight in the Club.
Came home and made supper at eleven, watched the end of Pink Flamingos. Courtney had rented it. I’m surprised Andrew and Rebecca watched as much of it as they did. Disgusting. Rebecca wants to do the paint sea on site with me in Lunenberg this July. I must remember to call and register. Must also remember to pick up student loan interest relief forms.
Found a dead mouse in the basement. the bad smell led me to it.
I have a headache and my breath stinks.
-Chris
From: Karina and Chris <kvanderlinden@hfx.eastlink.ca>
To: jean chrétien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Date: Thursday, May 24, 2001 1:46 AM
Subject: Residents in Sydney, N.S., look for cash to move from toxic neighbourhood Tories the only opposition party capable of forming a government says Mulroney Inuit welcome treaty to curb toxic pollution now contaminating their food
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Just came back from Bearley’s. Karina and I signed up to sing our old standard, Love Shack, but somebody else beat us to it. Bethany and Christine sang Islands in the Stream with some drunk guy. They were all quite drunk, actually. Karaoke is great fun. I should try to go more often, though it is quite smoky in there.
Had meetings today and tonight, worked all day, the sun was lovely I managed to spend some time outside, on my way to the bank and such. It’s late right now and I really just want to go to bed. The sustained ache in the back of my head and neck is urging me to bed. Rest, I am up early again tomorrow as there is lots I want to accomplish.
Maybe I’ll drop a line from work, now that we are online there.
-Chris
From: Karina and Chris <kvanderlinden@hfx.eastlink.ca>
To: jean chrétien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Date: Thursday, May 24, 2001 11:01 PM
Subject: Lack of housing in aboriginal communities threatens their survival: Coon Come Decimated B.C. NDP cabinet meets to ‘autopsy the corpse’ Landry says Quebec economy will grow faster, eventually catch up to Ontario’s
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Sunny today, but apparantly the temperature is still cool and chilly, especially in the shade. Wouldn’t really know it by being inside most of the day. Made some supper this morning to take to work for lunch. Listened to an interview on Information Morning with Suzanne, Toby and Kathy from Saint John. They were discussing a group show that they were involved with in Mexico. I much prefer Ralph as an interviewer than Shelagh.
Heather called me at work today regarding the portrait that they want for the MSVU portrait show. I have to write a short paragraph explaining the work. First I have to get my head out of work mode, which is increasingly difficult as there are numerous events coming up, like the yard sale and Satan Macnuggit on Saturday, then the Outspoken series next week, then the Canada Council presentation and then the AGM, plus all the meetings in between. Met with Sarah briefly today to talk about board duties and fundraising, that is a whole other ball of wax. Carmine came by today to document the exhibitions, and Barbara came by to get a key so she and Donna can install on Sunday. I have a feeling I will be at the Khyber all weekend, cleaning up from the yard sale and preparing for the openings on Monday.
Karina is now taking part in a group show at a photography gallery in Liverpool. She is stressing about building frames. I don’t see what she is worried about; she is competent with tools. She hasn’t had much practice in the past year, though.
Her parents lent her some money to take a special processes workshop class this Saturday. Her parents are also planning to be in Halifax for her show at the eyelevel. It will be nice to see them again; the last time I saw them was when I went to Calgary for Christmas holidays in 1997.
Mat sent me the job posting today. I am so sick of the job that I still entertain the idea of not applying, but I most likely will. It just eats up so much time, I wonder if I will be able to devote a reasonable amount of time to ‘art’.
-Chris
From: Karina and Chris <kvanderlinden@hfx.eastlink.ca>
To: jean chrétien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Date: Sunday, May 27, 2001 11:03 AM
Subject: Alliance council looks to Tories; plays down damaging suspension and poll thousands of Montrealers brave chills to get naked in the streets at dawn Saturday’s winning numbers
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Had weird dreams last night about the SUV that Trevor, Tamara and her brother Talub and friend Rifah are driving around in this weekend. A mixture of envy and disgust.
Slept in a bit, received a call from Mathew who needs to get into the Khyber, so I am heading down shortly. Found a good image of the windmill I can use for my stencil; a flyer promoting an ‘energy revolution’ came in the mail yesterday. I may work on that a bit today.
Sunny again, for the fifth day in a row. Maybe six.
-Chris
From: Karina and Chris <kvanderlinden@hfx.eastlink.ca>
To: jean chrétien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Date: Sunday, May 27, 2001 11:33 PM
Subject: Alliance council looks to Tories; plays down damaging suspension and poll foes say Alliance leader’s stubborn grip on power will narrow party’s appealleadership not priority as B.C. NDP struggles to rebuild from election defeat
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Dismantled and boxed up Brandon’s work today. Mat worked on the frame for the Frame Gallery. He was deepening the inset for the eventual Plexiglass. Fo his exhibition he is installing a piece of Masonite painted with black chalkboard paint. He will drill holes at differently angles and put lights behind it, so a ‘twinkling’ effect will take place as the viewer walks in front of and by the piece. Quite a nice idea, in theory – hopefully it will work out.
Was thinking today about how I really fumbled the ball on the Satan MacNuggit video show. I should have really tried to push it more with the younger punk crowd. It should have been booked for the gallery as well – the fact that no one under 19 are allowed into the Club really cut down on the crowd. I should have issued a separate press release, at least. I feel bad – the videos were great, and should have been seen by more people. We all need to see how much our democracy and freedom of choice and expression are being eroded by government policies which are birthed from Corporate vision. The brutality of the police from the anti-poverty demonstration in Toronto last year and in Quebec – it is disgusting. And APEC – we can’t forget APEC. It is funny (not really), that the young chap who pied you got jail time, yet nothing has happened to the police or those that instructed police to assault the APEC protesters.
Still didn’t get around to getting any work done on the windmill stencils. That has to happen soon – I want them up for the American tourists, a subliminal kick to their perpetual ‘energy crisis’.
Watched a double-dose of the Simpsons tonight, then some videos we picked up at the show last night. I want to start a video collection of art videos and video zines. Sooooo much better than Prime Time Crap.
-Chris
From: Karina and Chris <kvanderlinden@hfx.eastlink.ca>
To: jean chrétien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Date: Monday, May 28, 2001 11:21 PM
Subject: Ottawa probes reports Canadian held in Saudi jail being tortured: Manley Nfld pledges to clean up water after issuing damning but dated report McGray waives right to preliminary hearing in 16-year-old murder case
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Had strange dreams last night about being inside an incredibly tall building. The view to the mountains and hills across a large body of water was staggering. A large ferryboat in the harbour was doing donuts, rocking violently to and fro. There was other stuff which is foggy now.
Put my “Portrait of Jean Chrétien” on the bus to Saint John today. Also picked up the first few photos from our New York trip. They are so bad they are good – they work in exactly the manner I had hoped that they would. Bad tourist photos, blurry and poorly lit – the flash illuminating only the nearest subjects.
Went to work hoping to complete the letter to Cardinal Management and Craig’s contract, but accomplished neither. Alyssa was in to work today; I had forgotten that she is working full time on Khyber Kids preparations now. I am a bad boss, I fear. There was also a lot of preparation for the openings tonight.
A small but appreciative crowd tonight. The weather had turned to pits, raining and drizzling, then pouring rain, but people still showed up. And stayed long; Karina and I finally caught a bus and were home by eleven.
I have to prepare for a long day of work tomorrow, develop a schedule to keep Alyssa busy, and prepare for the Open Forum discussion Wednesday night. And I want to make some art so bad it is making my head itch. I want to make videos and stencils and screenprinted T-Shirts. And books; lots of little books. Have not developed any content for said books; maybe I’ll ‘borrow’ from the Bloomfield Press. Maybe not.
Did you get my fax about the energy revolution?
-Chris
From: Karina and Chris <kvanderlinden@hfx.eastlink.ca>
To: jean chrétien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Date: Tuesday, May 29, 2001 11:19 PM
Subject: McGray pleads guilty to N.S. hitchhiker’s death, ends 16-year-old mystery Alliance pushing merger with Tories, but Joe Clark growing cooler report proposes 20 per cent pay hike for MPs, senators; even more for PM
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Feeling the penny pinching today. Withdrew some cash from the account and realized that I just have enough to cover rent this month. Goes fast, money does. Looks like we definitely won’t be going to Saint John this weekend. I may still be getting a bit of cash for showing a Portrait at MSVU; those CARFAC fees can really come in handy.
We are having difficulty attracting sponsors for the Khyber Kids brochure. I don’t think $125 is too much for an ad space in a brochure being delivered to thousands of homes, but maybe it is. I hate advertising, really. Nasty business. So mercenary. Hopefully something will come through tomorrow; we really have to get them printed ASAP. Say, would you like to place an ad? A bit of good PR never hurts, does it? I’ll need to know by the end of tomorrow.
Heather gave Karina and I tickets to the Jest in Time show, Trip, at the Du Maurier Theatre tonight. Great physical comedy. It was amazing what the four of them did all in one set. Very fluid. Nice mix of live and pre-recorded action. I wonder how much Du Maurier pays Neptune to have their name as one of the performing venues. I wonder if their was something in that smoke machine….
Oh, and great news for the gallery today; we received all three of the NSAC grants that we applied for back in March. Hooray! So it was a good thing that Helen decided to stay in Halifax – she was a snail’s breath away from moving to Quebec City to teach English. She can work on the mural in the downstairs hall this summer while we prepare for the opening workshops to coincide with the opening of the KDMC. It is turning into a busy summer!
-Chris
From: Karina and Chris <kvanderlinden@hfx.eastlink.ca>
To: jean chrétien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Date: Thursday, May 31, 2001 12:11 AM
Subject: Clark plans to go it alone in Alberta, a hamlet falls to the flames Ottawa says Sampson was not tortured, family remains dubious
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Long, busy but active and fairly productive day today. Great mouse story. After the two we saw last night hopping out of our garbage can, the same thing happened to Alyssa this morning, only she took the can across the street to let the mouse go. It ended up running into me on my way up the hill coming from Cafe Mokka with coffee and tea. Then it ran into a bike tire and a parked car. Mice are such skittery creatures.
Managed to land NSCAD Continuing Education as an advertiser in the Khyber Kids newsletter. May have Mills as well; I will find out, hopefully, tomorrow. We have to go to press on this ASAP. I take it from your lack of response you are not interested? That’s OK.
The Outspoken Series was OK tonight, not as much audience participation as we had hoped but I think the discussion opened the eyes of many young artists, many of whom knew little of CARFAC or the long and often tumultuous history of artist-run centres in Canada. I feel a small surge or groundswell of potential activity stemming from meetings like this. Involvement is the key, the essential component of successful community-based centres. Ray and Sarah were here tonight, they actually finalized a house today, and they are going to be on Young Street, not in Dartmouth. They are renting for now. But darn it, David has already asked Sarah to the eyelevel board and she agreed. She will still help us with specific projects, if we ask her nicely.
I’m exhausted, and have a long day tomorrow, have to finish sorting and preparing for the selection committee tomorrow night. And finish the Khyber Kids brochure, ackkkk.
-Chris
DEAR PM 