from chris lloyd <dearpm@gmail.com>
to pm@pm.gc.ca
cc Sophie De Weweire <info@netwerk-art.be>
date Wed, Oct 7, 2009 at 5:31 PM
subject Nima Mazhari ira en prison, tranche la Cour d’appel; Take a virtual tour of 11 Canadian cities,
Dear Stephen,
We won both hockey games last night, but technically defaulted on both, as we were missing 3 players. We “won” the second match in a shootout; I stopped one shot, the other two missed the net. It was fun. Playoffs are technically scheduled for next week at Parc Jarry, with lights!
The internet and phone crapped out at home, so I am writing briefly from work. The install is going well, just ironing out technical glitches, deciding which projectors to use for which videos, etc. It will be a good show, and I have been personally interested in meeting Tehching Hsieh and working with him; his one-year performances are of the vein of performance that I particularly enjoy. I even tried to have hime come to the Khyber but then fell in love and moved to Montéal and the event never happened.
In any case, I’m off to buy some cables and adaptors, then to look at a washer-dryer that Claudine found on Craigslist.
-chris
from chris lloyd <dearpm@gmail.com>
to pm@pm.gc.ca
cc Sophie De Weweire <info@netwerk-art.be>
date Tue, Oct 13, 2009 at 12:07 AM
subject La grippe A (H1N1) a surtout frappé les femmes; Conservatives still shy of majority: poll
Dear Stephen,
Happy (Canadian) Thanksgiving. Worked on apartment renovations all weekend. Actually was woken up at 6am Saturday morning because the new security guard didn’t have the exterior key to the new DHC gallery building. After I made some calls to the emergency concierge he was let in, but it turns out he was needed for the old gallery space for the demolition crew, who set off the alarms after they came in through the window. So I ended up making a couple trips downtown in the car.
Saturday we painted the salon, made minor plaster repairs, changed electrical sockets and plates, re-arranged, and made shelves. Then we went for supper with Clo’s parents at Leméac, which was good but overpriced. Sunday we painted the salon second and third coats, went shopping at Canadian Tire and Home Depot for odds and ends, built more shelves, filled holes and cracks with caulking. We went for a late supper at Le Roi de Smoked Meat because we couldn’t find anything else open in the neighbourhood after 10:30.
Today we cleaned, arranged, finished painting a few shelves and revised bits of furniture, the front door, I built a massive shelving unit overtop the entry stairs, added a shelf and closet pole to the bedroom for my clothes, spray-painted black the entrance lights (they were a hideous shiny gold colour) as well as my rusty silver clock (they now match the chandelier Clo painted a few weeks ago; I installed that yesterday).
I’ve been hoping to find the time to work on drawings for Robert’s book of poetry The divine book of bovinities, but I just haven’t made the time. Also I don’t know where any of my drawing supplies are anymore. The double room is full of boxes of books, suitcases and pieces of furniture. The room is packed. But we are slowly settling into the rest of the apartment.
The upcoming week will be busy. We have 2 more days to finish the installation at DHC, then there is the Mile End studio tour on Friday-Sunday; Saturday we head out of town for the night at a cabin with Sarah and friends to celebrate her thirtieth birthday, and Sunday in Dorian’s baptism.
Have you done any home renovations lately?
-chris
from chris lloyd <dearpm@gmail.com>
to pm@pm.gc.ca
cc Sophie De Weweire <info@netwerk-art.be>
date Fri, Oct 16, 2009 at 11:07 PM
subject L’heure du deuil pour l’entourage de Natasha Cournoyer; H1N1 vaccines for pregnant woment not yet ready
Dear Stephen,
I’m exhausted after the recent days activities. As expected, Tuesday and Wednesday were full-on days of final preparations of the exhibition, but what I was not counting on was another furniture debacle à la Marclay. First there was just a minor crisis of couch placement, but when we felt that was resolved Phoebe came for a visit, took one look at the couches and instantly hated them, so suddenly there wa sa scramble to replace them. She offered one of her own, so then there wa sa team sent to dismantle it and bring it over, set it up, and everyone agreed they didn’t work, so finally a solution was achieved of table and chairs, no couches whatsoever. Then Phoebe’s couch went back.
So Wednesday Stacy and I ended up painting in the gallery until about 10:30, then ate late at a Trois Brasseurs on Ste-Catherine. Thursday even managed to be a full day, with most of us working before and after the mid-morning press visit. Iliana and I were installing the first of three vinyl lettering layouts in the front window at 5pm; the printers were terribly late. I went home to get changed, grabbed McDonald’s on the way, my second visit to the despised fast-food chain in as many weeks. Went back downtown for the opening but didn’t stay long as François was launching his third book, Cette maison n’est pas la mienne, at La porte de tête. An image Caroline made is on the cover, and she was presenting a suite of drawings/paintings at the bookstore as well. In fact Claudine helped her with the framing Tuesday night while François and I were busy watching our road hockey championship dreams erode; we lost all our games that night. I made some good saves, even some really good ones, but my lack of any real training left me susceptible to too many rebounds. Also the fact that the Blues had brand new, professional-level players added to our weakness. Honestly, even the Blues goalie didn’t know the names of the new guys. Anyway, despite the defeats it was still fun. We had pizza chez Caroline and François later, after the framing was finished.
Thursday after François’ launch Clo and I went to the Esse 25th anniversay launch and party at Le divan Orange. We stayed for Mathieu Beausejour’s post-indstrial, post-punk DJ set, which was a little hard on the senses, and hung out with the DHC preposés, but the techs all went to Galerie Clark for an opening, so I didn’t see the rest of the gang.
Today I didn’t work, but went in to the studio early to clean up, organize and prepare for the APO: Ateliers Portes Ouvertes 2. Also painted a wall to better display one of the long frottage paintings. Speaking of frottage paintings were you aware that Gerry Ferguson passed away suddenly last week? He was a major influence on at least a few generations of NSCAD students as well as international contemporary artists from all over. Today there were not too many visitors but Sébastien told me that last year there were over 3000 in total for the weekend and that most come on Saturday. As soon as the day finishes tomorrow we are hitting the road for Saint-Côme, about 1.5 hours away, to join Sarah for her birthday, which I just called her to try to get out of, but didn’t have the heart to do so. I just feel too exhausted and we still have Dorion’s baptism on Sunday in Île Perrot.
And now our downstairs neighbours appear to be having some sort of party with loud music. Whic wouldn’t be a problem if we had gone out to see a movie as Clo had originally planned, but I am too tired and lame and so we just stayed home. Speaking of music I saw your rendition of A little help from my friends that you performed at a gala last week, which was not all bad. Are you trying to mask your negative statements from last year about arts galas being for the elite?
-chris
from chris lloyd <dearpm@gmail.com>
to pm@pm.gc.ca
cc Sophie De Weweire <info@netwerk-art.be>
date Mon, Oct 19, 2009 at 8:05 AM
subject Me Nicolo affirm avoir été piégé; Tories proposing mandatory jail time for white-collar fraudsters
Dear Stephen,
Our marathon weekend terminated last evening. Saturday there was a steady stream of visitors to the APO, and my voice was almost hoarse from all the talking. We hit the road to St. Côme but of course got lost along the way as we decided to avoid the backwards-seeming detour around the 25-North and took the 40 to Joliette instead. There was some crusty bickering in the car indeed. Arrived at the cottage around 8:30 and watched the Habs lose another game while eating lasagna and chili. Watched Anna and Fred’s friend Shane Murphy on that goofy TV show Belle et Bum. Played Texas Hold ’em with Rob, Sarah, Sarah, Clo, Jesse and André until somewhat late. I actually won some major “all in” hands – by fluke and dumb luck, of course – but then we all lost to Jesse on the final hand, which was winner-take-all right from the draw. Slept in squeaky bunk beds.
Sunday morning was crisp and bright, with mist rising off the lake into a clear blue sky. Clo and I made some sound recordings of pebbles and twigs cracking thin layers of ice. After a bagel and coffee we were on the road again, this time to Île Perrot. This time the cosed highway was the entry ramp to the 20 from St-Anne-de-Belleville. Still we arrived in time, to a houseful of cousins, uncles, aunts, even grandma Hélène was there. Then off to the same church where Nataniel was baptised, same minister, just the weather and the time of year a little different. After the ceremony there was the celebration back at Jo and Philippe’s, with food, sparkling wine, and gifts. We left early; just too worn out from all the activity. The pregnancy can come in handy in situations like this, even if I was the more tired.
And then of course didn’t we hit the snarling traffic as we came up from the 720 into downtown: the Alouettes game had just finished and there were traffic cops re-routing cars into tiny funnel-like shapes. It didn’t make it any easier that Mimi was in the car with us; we were dropping her off. Finally we made it home, I made some soup and salad, we relaxed, and then watched a depressing movie called Lost Song.
I was just chatting with Melissa. She says “I disagree with Canada’s interference with the EPA’s new strict rules requiring any freight traffic on the great lakes having to clean up its act. Instead of lower diesel emissions, Canada is suggesting “scrubbers” for the smoke stacks. However these scrubbers haven’t been invented yet, apparently, or may be in the development stages. Water is VERY important!”
And what is going on with this cheque-logo scandal? Sounds like you’ve really gotten yourself into some hot water by signing government cheques with the Conservative Party logo on them. Not to mention news of giving jobs to party insiders. These sorts of scandals can have legs. Anyway, I’m off to get ready for work.
-chris
from chris lloyd <dearpm@gmail.com>
to pm@pm.gc.ca
cc Sophie De Weweire <info@netwerk-art.be>
date Wed, Oct 21, 2009 at 7:59 AM
subject Feu vert au Grand Prix; Afghan election officials fired ahead of run-off
Dear Stephen,
Have you heard? The Montreal Canadians finally won a hockey game last night, their first on home ice this season. It took 35 shots, including 7 in overtime, before Gomez and Gionta scored in the shootout. I didn’t watch or even listent o the game on the radio, however. I was setting up the guest bedroom for my parents. We will use the baby room as a guest room until the baby needs it, which won’t be for a few months yet.
I thought things would cool down a bit at work since the opening of the exhibition Surviving Time last week, but I was mistaken. Tehching Hsieh’s talk is tomorrow night in the new space, which is far from finished. Yesterday I took a turn at hammer-drilling tapcons into the plywood subfloor that the original floor layers had neglected to come back to finish. The vinyl for the lobby will get laid today and tomorrow our whole team will have to lay carpet tiles in the whole gallery. Also tomorrow—again, the day of the talk—we will be setting up the projector and all the cables and equipment, running them through the tech walls, and setting up chairs. Today I have to rig up a system of temporary track lights, the team has to transform a construction zone into something resembling a gallery—something without dust, for example.
I have found a little time to stay current with Third Space activities. John Murchie finally sent his text for Sky Vessels, which is a great littel casual text, and most of our grants are in final report stage or signed off, and the schedule for the Passages + Prototypes series is almost nailed down—I even spoke with Edith in Germany yesterday, and Goody-B in Maine on Monday—the board is active and communicating well, the office is moved into but needs equipment, but things are happening.
Robert wrote back and he actually likes the sketches I proposed for the Diving book of bovinities, so there will be more work in the near future on those. Once my new studio is set up.
Gotta go. The madness continues.
-chris
from chris lloyd <dearpm@gmail.com>
to pm@pm.gc.ca
cc Sophie De Weweire <info@netwerk-art.be>
date Fri, Oct 23, 2009 at 1:16 AM
subject Des députés s’étonnent que Harper dise ne pas suivre l’actualité; GG avoids re-igniting ‘head-of-state’ dispute
Dear Stephen,
Just came back from a long evening and longer day at work. After the artist-talk a group of us went to eat at a place called Beijing in Chinatown. We worked like gangbusters all day to get the carpet laid, the space cleaned up, extra lighting and A/V gear set up; it was really down to the wire. I was applying duct tape to the gap in the new vinyl and the old floor in the front entrance while guests began to line up. It was a great turnout; about 150 people, maybe more. The talk went well; Teching Hsieh is a very down-to-earht, pleasant and funny guy. I didn’t get a chance to speak to him too much over supper, but he did sign a copy of his book for us, Out of time, which we got for a special price of $40. I saw Jacob Zimmer there, as well as Stephen Horne. Now I am exhausted but have the day off tomorrow to prepare for the visit from my parents. They will arrive around 5pm and stay until Tuesday.
And hey, the Habs won again, this time decisively versus the NY Islanders. Has their luck changed?
Last night I received a phone call from a Conservative Party supporter trying to get me to donate $200 (I would get $175 back in tax credits) to prepare for the possible fall election. I politely declined, but she was very insistent, so finally I left her with the promise that I would donate $200 when and election is called (which I won’t), so the party can plan to budget accordingly. I guess this is just my small way to mess with your slick ad campaigns.
-chris
from chris lloyd <dearpm@gmail.com>
to pm@pm.gc.ca
cc Sophie De Weweire <info@netwerk-art.be>
date Sat, Oct 24, 2009 at 11:02 PM
subject Le vote par anticipation se déroule demain; Canada to release one of 76 Tamils
Dear Stephen,
My parents arrived a bit earlier than expected yesterday, around 4:30. Clo and I both had the day off, we were each running respective errands. Had time to do some quick grocery shopping at the market and I baked a chicken for supper. This morning after a nice breakfast we took everything out of the kitchen and started taking the doors off the cabinets. We stripped the paint off the hinges using lemon juice and baking soda mixed with a little water, simmering on the stove. Worked wonders. The girls went for a walk in the afternoon but my dad and I stayed in and painted up a storm. Everything in the kitchen now has at least one coat of paint, inside the cupboards and out. We went out to the Petit Alep for supper, which is now just around the corner from us. In bed early; we’re planning a big IKEA trip for first thing in the morning. Might even eat breakfast there. I know I’ve said I would never shop there again but there are some things they have that are almost irresistible, especially after a move and when one’s budget doesn’t allow massive spending on custom furniture, nor the time and materials to build everything ourselves. Besides, I’m sure my parents will appreciate the experience.
The Habs have squeaked out another victory, while Toronto continues its record-breaking losing streak. I hear you would like to see another NHL team back in Canada, in either Québec City, Hamilton or Winnipeg. If it were up to you, which city would it be?
-chris
from chris lloyd <dearpm@gmail.com>
to pm@pm.gc.ca
cc Sophie De Weweire <info@netwerk-art.be>
date Sat, Oct 31, 2009 at 10:36 AM
subject Fantômes et sorcières défileront ce soir; Young Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan
Dear Stephen,
Sorry, a week has gone by with no letter from me. It was a crazy week. Everyone at work is feeling exhausted and to tell the truth, a little de-moralized. We’ve been working so hard to try to get the 468 satellite space back to “normal” and there is always one more little thing to do. Plus the construction is dragging out at the new satellite space at 465, with the crisis this week being the wall and floor tilists, who showed up a day late and thus didn’t get finished in time for the Thursday night film presentation. The film was about Marina Abramovic’s seven performance pieces she did at the Guggenheim back in 2005, called Seven Easy Pieces. They were all performances by her peers; but who really wants to see her re-making Beuys’ How to explain Pictures to a Dead Hare or Aconci’s Seed Bed? I didn’t stay for the screening, which was well-attended; I had seen (and heard) enough during the set-up.
What else happened last week? I paid a couple movers $150 to move our stacked washer/dryer. It weighs 300 pounds and was a nightmare coming up our stairs, but came it did, and it is now snuggly installed in the kitchen. We’ve already washed a couple loads of laundry. What a difference it makes, to not have to go to a laundromat.
We’re debating if and when to get the H1N1 vaccination. I have to admit I have my doubts about the whole thing; about the quickness the vaccine has been brought to market, the risks involved in widespread vaccination for a flu virus, the motivations or intentions of the companies behind the vaccine. Isn’t Baxter involved? Didn’t they “mistakenly” send deadly viruses in place of vaccines to dozens of health clinics earlier this year? What if a similar “mistake” happens this time? The media is blowing the whole thing out of proportion, creating more panic than caution. Anyway, we will probably do it, because the thought of Clo getting sick makes me sick with worry. We take the metro, we deal with the public all the time. The vaccines without the adjuvant is available starting this week.
My cousin Dustin arrived in Afghanistan this past week. He has three small infants with his twenty-something year old girlfriend back in Alberta. He probably knew the soldier who just blew himself up on a landmine. I don’t agree with hi being there; you know I don’t agree with any of us being there, outside the role of peacekeeping or aid with development only. I just hope he doesn’t end up blown up as well.
I’m still trying to coordinate final dates for the next series of exhibitions at Third Space; it takes time, especially when dealing with the NBM bureaucracy. But the new board is taking more of an active role which should help as I begin to withdraw more. One more catalogue (for Sky Vessels) to produce by the end of the month and then one more round of CC grants and I should be done. If it can’t walk on its own by then, after almost five years, then it can curl up and die.
Clo is getting so big! I can feel the baby move almost anytime, and her belly is full and round. It’s true what they say; pregnant women radiate beauty.
Last night I skipped the Lab Synthèse final party due to exhaustion. I installed our kitchen re-tooled IKEA ceiling lamps instead. Emily and Sebastien helped me move some of my stuff from the studio to the apartment the past couple days. I have one carload of binders and sketchbooks to go, plus all the re-claimed wood from 465. I still need to get my memebrship to Atelier Clark to do the final woodworking for the proposed kitchen table. Once I get the roofracks on the car I’ll bring some of the unfinished lumber to the apartment to make bookshelves and room dividers. Not today thouhg; it is raining. Also, Sarah Fortin, Stephan’s girlfriend, is coming over to take pregnancy photos of us. Did you take special photos of you and your wife when you were pregnant with your kids?
Oh, and the secret plans for Clo’s baby shower have erupted into a bizarre West Island suburban adventure with friends AND family and friends of family. I’ll fill you in more on my loss of control over this expanding monster of a surprise event, which has all the elements of total backfire written all over it.
I finally picked up my reimbursement cheque from VOX; have yet to cash it. My studio mistakenly cashed my post-dated November rent cheque; I need to get that money back too. Bills are starting to arrive.
-chrisfrom chris lloyd <dearpm@gmail.com>
to pm@pm.gc.ca
cc Sophie De Weweire <info@netwerk-art.be>
date Mon, Oct 5, 2009 at 9:26 PM
subject Ignatieff annoncerait son choix de lieutenant québécois mercredi; Tiger at Calgary zoo that mauled intruder did nothing wrong: Keeper
Dear Stephen,
Sorry about the big delay in my letters, I was busy moving. Yes, we are now installed in our new place on Henri-Julien, very close to the market, which is awesome. However, there is lots of work to do on the apartment, which is still fun, but I am also in one of the busiest periods at work, so I am working ong days and then working into the evening painting and unpacking and building shelves in the evening. The place needs to be entirely repainted, and I want to build a hall closet as well as a wall-division in the double room (where we will have our respective studios). There is some electrical work that needs to be done as well; right now, half the outlets come out of the wall when a plug is pulled out. And there are no ceiling lights in half the rooms. But the place has lots of potential, and remember: location, location, location.
It was last Wednesday that we actually had the bicycle movers come and take most of our stuff. Stacy had helped me with a load Monday night and Simon on Tuesday, while I had access to the truck DHC was renting for the de-install. It rained almost all last week. During that time we were taking down the exhibition and packing it up. The big rocks, especially Hitlaktup (the 1800-pounder which Phoebe bought, btw, and is loaning to the Musée des Beaux Arts soon) were a challenge but we got it all out, no major problems. At least nothing I can really share with you.
Last week I managed to take in a little bit of VIVA!, the performance art festival, and a BGL opening at the Parisian Laundry, which was great (but I missed the after-party). Saw some performances at the Bain St. Michel and ran into Patrice and Katherine and their new little guy. His performance was good, I quite liked it.
I haven’t been following the news at all, so have no idea what is going on with a fall election. It seems Parliament is always on these week-long breaks; are you back at work now? I’ve heard a lot about Denis Coderre, even saw him briefly on Tout le monde en parle last night, but not much else.
Saturday we went to Île Perrot for Nataniel’s third birthday party. He was wired all night and received more new toys; he glaned at the books we gave him, but was far more into the toy trucks and motorcycles that his uncle Alain and his partner gave him. But we played together in the basement, making big block towers and then knocking them down, or having pillow fights, or playing hockey.
Went to a pre-natal yoga class in our new neighbourhood with Clo on Sunday. The instructor is really hot. The yoga was actually fun and the stretching and breathing helped keep me calm. I might consider doing more.
I’m waiting for Clo to come home from her aquasize class and then we’ll eat. I’ve made a cauliflower quiche with scallops on the side.
-chris
DEAR PM 