From: karina van der linden <kvanderlinden@hfx.eastlink.ca>
To: jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Date: Friday, November 2, 2001 8:54 AM
Subject: Smokers to pay more as federal government raises tobacco taxes» Additional programs, costs increase federal spending by $6.9 billion» Critics say the battle isn’t over for improving newly passed Immigration Act
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Woke up early yesterday morning to news reports that St. John’s Church, which is the one my grandparents go to in Lunenburg, was burning down. Heavy Halloween prank. Went with Mohanad to Juliens to buy bread and coffee. Went to work early to prepare for the KDMC meeting. It seemed to go well and I think a fair bit of groundwork was accomplished. Spent the rest of the day slowly working through a long list of things to do. Forgot about Karina’s group show artist talk in the gallery at noon, and Emily and Cooper’s presentation in the Bell Auditorium at one. I would have liked to go to those. Stayed at work into the evening, because when Lucas came in for the evening shift he had brought an adapter to hook the old Quadra in my office up to the network in the KDMC. It was sort of exciting to watch. Came home and went into the studio to work on the members show painting. Spoke to David briefly in his studio. The space he shares with Kent is large and spacious. He was working on one of his duck decoy sculptures. Came home, had some stew that Mohanad had made, read the Coast, made a drawing and went to bed. This morning I am paying for our first order of oil to start the furnace up and get heat flowing through the building.
-Chris
From: karina van der linden <kvanderlinden@hfx.eastlink.ca>
To: jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Date: Sunday, November 4, 2001 9:58 AM
Subject: IRA’s decision to disarm spurred by Sept. 11 attacks, says Sinn Fein leader» Tobin invokes image of late father to inspire Canadians in aftermath of terror attacks» Russian police return to see victim, families in fatal crash case
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Had a hectic day at work on Friday. Everything is starting to pile up. Went to get oil in the morning and was almost run over by a car on my way to work. My front tire hit a drainage grate and flipped me off my bike and I landed directly in front of a car. Luckily it was still stopped at a red light, though the light was just about to turn. A close call. Robbie and Sarah came to help with the newsletter though the biggest problem is that I haven’t asked anyone to write anything in advance. It is always playing catch-up. Luckily the review I had asked Liz to write weeks ago came through, but it reads more like an introduction, so Sarah added some text to it based on Winnie’s essay. I am still working on other updates, and Robbie has the template and most of the images. Sarah and I stayed at the media centre late and then went to eat at the Argyle. It was nice to talk about art and work. We walked home. Saturday I was up really early, did some emailing, worked on the newsletter text, then went back to bed, slept in a bit. Jamie called at noon as I was heading out the door, trying to hook up with me to lend me his shop vac. I had to pick stuff up from Pierceys first and then missed my bus. Puttered around work and made a start on getting the membership stuff in order for this weeks mailout. Close to five we started sanding the floor in spots, then covered all the computer equipment, moved other stuff into the gallery and started work on the floors. Mohanad, Lucas and I were pulling and hammering down nails, scraping and sanding the floor but had to stop early as the noise was disrupting the bar. We put down 2 test strips of finish, one of Durathane and another a polyurethane. I prefer the Durathane. Will work on it more Sunday morning before stripping the wainscotting in the bar. Last night we watched the sixth sense, it is quite good. Sort of freaked me out, but then again I was high. Wasn’t the most relaxing thing I could have done. Tried to read for a bit afterwards but couldn’t get into it. Am trying to read some essays on the visual arts in the postmodern age.
-Chris
From: karina van der linden <kvanderlinden@hfx.eastlink.ca>
To: jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Date: Tuesday, November 6, 2001 7:31 AM
Subject: Mba. inquiry recommends $2.6 million for wrongfully convicted Thomas Sophonow» Report says Canada 3000 wants to lay off 1,400 Royal Aviation employees» Transport minister expects ‘big security bill’ following Sept. 11 attacks
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Had a busy weekend. Sanded and laid a coat of Durathane on half the floor in the KDMC. Helped strip paint from the wainscotting in the Club. Tried to get the writing finished for the newsletter. Yesterday put the KDMC back together, cleaned up and worked on newsletter and upcoming PR, organized mailing lists. Have lots of administrative stuff to do today, some prep for my class tonight and CC grant stuff. Am feeling worn out and bored and depressed.
-Chris
From: karina van der linden <kvanderlinden@hfx.eastlink.ca>
To: jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Date: Monday, November 12, 2001 10:11 PM
Subject: Montreal Gazette reporter is safe after surviving ambush in Afghanistan» Ottawa man suspected of bin Laden link surrenders to the RCMP» Hope remains to save remnants of Canada 3000, trustee lawyer says
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Sorry I haven’t written lately. It has become very hectic around here. That, and I was really depressed last week. We went to Saint John this past weekend and having a bit of a rest sort of cheered me up. We went to visit my parents, and Judy, and attend an opening function at the Guild, a new arts organization Samuel has started. It was actually a fairly low-key weekend. Karina and I took the bus back today, which gave me an opportunity to catch up on my art magazine reading. Then I spent the late afternoon at the laundromat.
Karina and I made supper, had a nap and I have been sending email and gathering some more info for the Canada Council grant. And have recently heard that another plane has crashed in NYC. That city is not having any luck with flying lately.
It will be a busy week; the grant is due on Thursday, I teach tomorrow night and still have to figure out what I am teaching, the heat has to be turned on in the building and I am sure a dozen new items have popped into my agenda, so I may only be able to write to you sporadically. I am putting the computer drawings on hiatus until I figure out a better format for them. I’ll keep you posted.
-Chris
From: karina van der linden <kvanderlinden@hfx.eastlink.ca>
To: jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Date: Tuesday, November 13, 2001 11:41 PM
Subject: Justice minister preparing for possible changes to anti-terrorism bill» Canada creates national advisory committee on biological or nuclear attack» Ottawa man wanted in U.S. kept in custody; case sent to higher court
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Had strange dreams about an early morning hybrid iMac. It’s pretty bad when computers start invading our dreams. And not even just that the way that a computerized lifestyle invades a dream, but just the thing, the consumable. The style and look of the thing. And then when I got to work lo and behold there was a strange computer sitting by the KDMC door. A lonely Mac Quadra. Ted must have brought it by when nobody was around. Lucas said that it will work better than the Qudra I currently use. I actually spent the morning at the NSCAD slide library getting slides to show in my mixed media class. Then tried to work on the Canada Council grant in the afternoon, and catch up on messages and things from the weekend. Lots of people coming by, from Pat and Dan bringing work for the 50/50, to Stan from Cardinal to look at the leaky gutters, to a steady flow of folks for the media centre, to Susan and her entire photo class to see the shows. Managed to get out of work in time to get some paper supplies for class from Loomis before it closed, then walked down to the openings at the Anna. There was a princess competition in gallery 2, very surreal and strange and wonderful; costumes, music, strange art objects and performances, it was great. Was actually a bit late for class. Showed the slides and we did some photocopy stuff in the printshop, then more transfers and most of the class actually stayed late. Met Karina briefly up in photo, then went back to the Khyber to get the rest of my grant stuff, talked to Sarah and Craig about the progress, then we scrounged together enough change to take a cab home.
-Chris
From: karina van der linden <kvanderlinden@hfx.eastlink.ca>
To: jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Date: Sunday, November 18, 2001 1:44 AM
Subject: Tear gas, water, bean bags keep protesters at bay at G-20 standoff» G-20 agrees on plan to fight terror financing; police douse protesters» Parti Quebecois wouldn’t abandon sovereignty just to get re-elected
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
I apologize for not having written the past few days. The Canada Council Grant was due on Thursday, and I was up at it for three days straight. That many hours in front of a computer is bad news. Early Thursday morning I was so sleep-deprived that I was hallucinating in front of the computer screen. It was quite a marathon; luckily Sarah came by a few time to help put together some of the support material, and Winnie’s help with the budget was invaluable. Lucas transferred a video, Sarah and Briony proof-read and Karina and I put the final touches to it late late on Thursday, then we dumped the postmarked envelope in a postal box. Have spent the past couple days just trying to recover. And thinking about how much better it could have been. And also how I dislike the idea of jumping through hoops to please Council, and how I fundamentally disagree with their cozy relationship to CAR/FAC. Friday is a foggy blur; I went to work but did nothing, a telephone interview and shuffled some papers around. Today we slept in, then went to Mary’s Place for breakfast. They have expanded the ‘all day breakfast’ menu to include a vegetarian omelet, which was quite yummy. Went to work and tried to unearth my office from the scads of paper. Now we just have to get the gallery ready for Mugshots and the Sunday Thrift Sale, and then it is on to the Members’ Show. My brother Aaron and a couple of his friends stopped by this afternoon. They were at the football game down at Saint Mary’s. Was going to meet up with him later tonight but it didn’t happen; he went to see Jimmy Swift Band at the Attic and Karina and I went to the Khyber to see Mitch and the Motorhomes. Shot some videotape. Talked to Swintak and Greg. Tonia was upstairs documenting her dollhouses, and Winnie was bringing thrift sale stuff down. The urinals in the boys washroom developed a leak. Mopped up and set the pipes in place, but they need to be repaired. We took the bus home with Tashia. Now Karina is watering the plants, but it is late and I need to get to bed. Tomorrow morning I am helping Tonia and Rob move the dollhouses and getting easels for Mugshots.
-Chris
From: chris lloyd <clloyd@khyberarts.ns.ca>
To: jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Date: Monday, November 19, 2001 11:07 PM
Subject: Canada may rethink ground troops if heavy fighting erupts in Afghanistan» Nelson Mandela becomes honorary Canadian for apartheid fight» Ottawa to table anti-terror bill on airline security this week, sources say
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Woke up early, had a shower and breakfast and caught a bus downtown. Peter was there shortly after I was and we got right down to business. Strange enough, all the previous data entries we had made for the month of May had disappeared. Luckily he had a back-up. I think it is from the flare-up that we experienced with the PC at the beginning of the fall.
I was having a pretty decent afternoon until a bunch of people came in to use the computers, then I received a telephone reminder to send photos to Montréal via email for this doctors magazine, and then everything fell apart. The Kids showed up for class, Lucas was late with car trouble and all my email accounts on the Macs vanished into thin air. I had to run out the door and just caught the bank before it closed, and deposited the rest of the money into Caroline’s account to get the ’98 catalogues printed.
Had a coffee break before the openings at Anna. Met up with Karina; she was up until 5 this morning working on Photoshop projects. The openings were a disappointment; overall, the work in all three galleries was dull. The ceramics work in Gallery 1 was OK, but so derivative of Monika’s work in plaster and cement from a few years back.
Went back to the media centre to scan Erick’s slides to send to Caroline. We hung out in the Club for a while talking to Spencer and Sarah. A very small after-gallery crowd at the Club. Maybe a result of poor shows?
Took a bus home, have been alternating between computer work and prep for my Con Ed class tomorrow. Made some supper; just noodles and cheese. The pantry is getting low.
Andrea sent me a letter from NY; it contained photos from her last couple visits here and a printed matter book she has made. She is making art again and involved in a bizarre love triangle, so it sounds like her life is back to normal.
-Chris
From: karina van der linden <kvanderlinden@hfx.eastlink.ca>
To: jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Date: Thursday, November 22, 2001 10:33 PM
Subject: New anti-terror bill criticized as hard on rights, light on detail» Landry moves into new official premier’s residence, says costs are reasonable» Chretien rallies troops on standby to go to Afghanistan at Edmonton Garrison
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Another long one. But almost all the books are caught up. I have a couple smaller accounts to update tomorrow morning but they should go quickly.
Spent the afternoon helping Rob clean up the gallery in preparation for his graf art and sound experiment show tonight. I would have liked to stay for it, but am too whipped. Needed to get into the studio tonight and get some work done on the 50/50 painting.
When I got to work this morning the alarm had gone off, and the front door was unlocked. Weird. Later this afternoon I tried to bleed one of the hallway radiators and blasted myself with oily grimy water. At least the pressure is working. Luckily it wasn’t hot, though that is a problem for the Refugee Clinic. Have been nagging the city to come and fix them and get the heat flowing.
-Chris
From: karina van der linden <kvanderlinden@hfx.eastlink.ca>
To: jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Date: Friday, November 23, 2001 11:40 PM
Subject: Couple given 12 years for death of three-year-old boy who was starved, beaten» Last shift at Prince mine brings end to era of coal mining in Atlantic Canada» NDP delegates at national convention urged not to scrap party name
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
I had intended to go to the studio tonight, but didn’t get home until almost ten, and then had to check email, and since I am not getting my work email at work, there was a bunch to go through. So I am still on the computer and it is almost midnight and I don’t want to be sluggish tomorrow, so I’ll try to finish the portrait for the members show tomorrow night. Or Sunday night, seeing as the Rheostatics are playing at the Marquee tomorrow night and I missed them the last time they were in Halifax.
We have been getting more work for the members show, but not as much as I would like. Hopefully tomorrow will be a big day for drop offs. I also hope that lots of people come to the openings and buy some of the work.
I guess the art show last night went really well, I wish I had gone. American Thanksgiving. The vultures. And today was Buy Nothing Day, but at about quarter to five I caved and bought vegetarian chili, a bagel and a piece of carrot cake from Mokka. And a coffee from the Club. I am trying to live up to Craig’s advertisement of the “Downtown is your food court” by bringing brown bag lunches to the bar to eat, since we have no food service. I’ll be surprised if it catches on, but you never know.
Scanned Erick’s slides for Caroline, now have to transcribe his notes to their slides, and send it all to Caroline, and remind Craig to get the essay done, and I need to write an introduction. Ana has been in touch with me about her exhibition, she has questions and I need to find the answers.
-Chris
From: karina van der linden <kvanderlinden@hfx.eastlink.ca>
To: jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Date: Sunday, November 25, 2001 12:48 AM
Subject: Federal NDP rejects shift to far left; plans to forge ahead with renewal» Canadian Alliance Leader Stockwell Day to wait for budget to announce plans» Couple given 12 years for death of three-year-old boy who was starved, beaten
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Am about 3/4 finished the painting. Worked on it for a few hours tonight. Listened to an old Rheostatics cassette rather than see them live in the hot and smelly Marquee. Managed to get paint all over my pants. Just lovely.
Had walked to Canadian Tire and back earlier in the evening. Brian Porter had driven me home from work, and he picked up the horse painting I have long since abandoned. Allen will be happy. My feet hurt.
More work came in for the 50/50 show, but not as much as I had expected. A lot of the work is quite big, however, so the gallery will be quite full. Am afraid that I will run out of bulldog clips when we hang the show tomorrow. It is a good thing the NS government is preventing me from possibly buying bulldog clips tomorrow if I actually do need them. Bunch of wankers. Speaking of wankers, when the hell are you going to get some backbone and pull out of this crazy ‘war on terrorism’? Like the US war on drugs, it is a battle that cannot be won – at least not in the conventional, cowboy style.
Lucy and Jacob’s cousin Kia helped out at work today. Lucy updated the message board and Kia tiled a large KDMC poster. Jacob is designing new Khyber letterhead, and it looks really sharp so far.
I have to go back to work really early tomorrow morning, as I forgot to put a ladder in the gallery for the group shooting a film. They are starting at 7 in the morning, the crazy filmmakers. That means I have to be there at 7. It will be a looong day.
-Chris
From: karina van der linden <kvanderlinden@hfx.eastlink.ca>
To: jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Date: Monday, November 26, 2001 7:48 AM
Subject: Calgary Stampeders win Grey Cup football championship 27-19 over Winnipeg» Total cost of Walkerton water tragedy pegged at $155 million, study finds» McDonough easily fends off NDP leadership challenger at Winnipeg convention
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Walked down to the Khyber before seven o’clock in the morning yesterday. It was neat to walk East and watch the sun come up. Actually, it would be more like South, or maybe South East, whatever. I didn’t expect the film crew to really be there at seven, but they were, so I got them the ladder they needed and then puttered around for a bit, set up the lights in the Skylight Gallery and then went for a long breakfast at the Med. Read the catalogue for the “Architecture and the Subversion of Space” show that James gave me last night. Back to the Khyber and stayed for the rest of the day and into the evening, hanging the 50/50 show and helping Hawk upstairs. The building was a buzz with activity, what with all the film crew and lights and equipment, and the makeup room plopped into the middle of the gallery. They couldn’t get the skylight open to get on the roof and block it from the light, but it was probably for the best; people on the roof would make me nervous. Briony and Scott and Winnie and Jacob and Kia came to help; Jacob and Kia stayed with me until I left at eight. It is not completely hung, but there are a few people coming in today to help. Jacob and I split a cab home. The Simpsons was on early, two classics back-to-back. Then I went to the studio and amazingly enough, managed to finish that painting. Was even home just before midnight. I am going to cab it to work this morning, as it is too risky to take on the bus. Have more Accounting training this morning, then Khyber Kids, then the 50/50 opens.
-Chris
From: karina van der linden <kvanderlinden@hfx.eastlink.ca>
To: jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Date: Monday, November 26, 2001 11:33 PM
Subject: Federal budget to be delivered Dec. 10, finance minister says» Air Canada issues final Q3 results, net loss rises to nearly $600 million» Landry uses familiar soft-sell approach to sovereignty during Toronto visit
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Had a good accounting session with Peter today. I have learned a lot in a week and a half. Had taken a cab to work so I could bring my wet painting from the studio. The cabbie asked about the Khyber name, and said that if I was to visit there to bring a rifle.
Syme came in the early afternoon and helped install the rest of the show and made labels, then Sarah came and helped out and cleaned up the gallery while I was with the Khyber Kids. They were fairly productive today and shot half of the scenes from one of the three videos they are making. They stayed fairly close to their script and are thinking ahead to the changes they can make in post-production.
My nerves were just about shot after the class. I’m feeling closer to burnout than ever before. It is just not letting up.
On the positive side, Winnie was offered the job at AKA in Saskatoon, which means all her plans for the move to TO have to change, but that will be a good experience for her. Maybe I’ll see her at the next DOP conference, which AKA is supposed to host next year.
The openings went well, lots of good comments on the gallery and the hanging, but I can’t tell anymore.
And now they’ve cloned human tissue, so the world just got a bit freakier.
-chris
From: karina van der linden <kvanderlinden@hfx.eastlink.ca>
To: jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Date: Tuesday, November 27, 2001 11:05 PM
Subject: Gay and lesbian spouses launch cross-Canada class action for pension benefits» Liberals reject any further changes in terror bill, set stage for final vote in Commons» Montreal-based reporter held “in chains” in Afghanistan: newspaper
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
My plans to be up early and at work on the accounting were dashed by sleeping in. I had also hoped to stop by the North End Clinic for a follow-up session to remove a couple warts from my hand, but i had to do that before eleven. I didn’t catch a bus until almost eleven.
It was a bit of a zany day today, trying to get everything back together after the openings last night, and dealing with a fairly steady stream of people through the gallery. Talked to Jane from the Coast about doing a review, or at least some sort of mention of the shows, as I think they are being ignored by the local media, even though they are a good cross-section of the workings of the contemporary arts community. She wants to put reproductions of Craig’s drawings in the paper. Edgy.
Met with the schoolteachers from Timberlea about the class trip next week; they are excited about it and want to move ahead with it. I have to see if Andréa wants to do some quick instructional sessions with the kids, they may be able to pay her, which would be good. We should have new Khyber Kids brochures made up by then as well.
Rebecca came in to help with the office today and I ad her sort our slide library. Karen came in to help as well and I had her update the membership. It was great to have some help in the office.
And I had good news from Pat at NSAC today; she phoned to ask if we were planning to apply to the sustaining grants program, which we aren’t, and she told me that letters had been sent out today confirming that we got the two grants that we applied for, hooray! I am still batting 1000 and am now 4/4 on my NSAC grants so far this year. That news pulled me from my current doldrums and put me in a chatty, almost hyper mood. Lucas was back today, and he brought Montréal bagels, which constituted most of my meals for the day. I should go eat some vegetables right now.
And then I had Mixed Media class tonight, which seemed to go well, it is hard to believe that there are only two classes left, we will spend those working on the box projects.
I met up with Karina after class at the Club and we took a bus home together. She is upset at her schoolwork this semester and feels that her time and energy into the Women’s Collective has been a waste, but they have put together some great lectures and events for their show next week and hopefully she will see that value in that.
-Chris
From: karina van der linden <kvanderlinden@hfx.eastlink.ca>
To: jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Date: Thursday, November 29, 2001 12:05 AM
Subject: Proposed new military security zones could seal off summit sites: Ottawa» Canadian warships now escorting U.S. carriers in Arabian Sea, Eggleton says» Ottawa doing what it can to free Montreal reporter in Afghanistan says Manley
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Still having trouble getting up early enough in the morning to get any more accounting done. Was really hungry when I woke up this morning, too. I think I have missed a few meals somewhere along the way. This morning though I had oatmeal with cinamon and apple chunks, and it was quite yummy with the Montréal bagels.
After work I walked down to school with Karina and we caught a cab to the studio as she had made plans to meet Rebecca there to re-do her photo shoot, as the film didn’t wind properly the last time. I held the flex-fill. Afterwards we made supper amongst our roommates, all of whom were home at once for some strange reason, and Andrew was over as well. Then Sarah came over and they were all watching Breathless, but Karina and I had already made plans to go to the Oxford to see Waking Life. It was a visually rich and absorbing film to watch, the variety of animation styles and the liberties they took to describe the story was really quite interesting. Very much Slacker-esque, and even though I usually quite enjoy philosophically-inclined movies, I found the dialogue snippets a little too textbook and lecture derivative. Maybe it was just my mood.
After the movie we walked in the frigid wind down to the Khyber so I could get a cheque for Save On Fuel so I could buy heating oil tomorrow. Just remembered now that I have left my bike at work and will have to walk to Save On Fuel, which will take me like a half-hour. What a waste of time.
Saw a fight on the street just as we were catching a bus home. Stupid angry young men beating each other up. Or maybe just blowing off stream.
-Chris
From: karina van der linden <kvanderlinden@hfx.eastlink.ca>
To: jean chretien <pm@pm.gc.ca>
Date: Friday, November 30, 2001 11:15 PM
Subject: Privacy commissioner condemns air-passenger information bill» B.C. committee recommends 16-part referendum question on aboriginal treaties» Canadian with alleged terror links gets bail; judge decides he’s no threat
Dear Mr. Chrétien,
Last night was Winnie’s going away party at the Club. Karina and I bought her some books and odds ‘n ends at Venus Envy. Karina had photographed Winnie at her apartment. Yesterday morning I walked to Save On Fuel to order heating oil, and was going to pick up Winnie’s “Golden Spindle” plaque, but didn’t have any cash on me. I tried to cash my paycheck at a Money Mart, but they wouldn’t accept it because I was a signer. So I tried to catch a bus downtown, just missed one, and walked. Was tired by the time I started work. Have been tired and feeling lethargic lately; maybe I am coming down with a cold, or am just mal-nourished. Have been feeling exceptionally bored as of late.
Today was more of the same. I did walk up to Wade Co. Ltd, and picked up a huge blueprint poster for the media centre. It looks really good.
Came home tonight and Rebecca and Mohanad had cleaned up the apartment; which had been a tremendous mess lately, as they had painted her room, and there has been tons of crap piled up everywhere. It actually feels a bit spacious.
Karina and I bought some groceries tonight, and made supper, and vegged out in front of TV. Am trying to think of Xmas gifts to get for people, something I can make in multiples would be good. Maybe a book, or a calendar.
Am going to go read Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone. I have no intention of seeing the movie, regardless how good the book may be.
-Chris
DEAR PM 