ART... the textile performance/installation piece evolves

Here are some notes from Tuesday Aug 18th, our first formal meeting on the project “Out Damn Spot” has taken place. This idea of an art project has been percolating for about 10 weeks, basically the first day the encampment moved into our local park. LOL one meeting and already things have evolved. This makes me very happy.

Here’s the deal so far I, being the curator of the project, have brought in a documenter and materials coordinator. Both Wendy D and Amy are wonderful people with exceptional talents so we’re off to a good start. Already through both of these great humans the project has grown to include: a name change and visual installation review. At the end of the week, post-meeting mentioned above, Caroline is onside too and is helping with the grant writing so this community piece can happen. Who’s the artist? In the spirit and intention of Joseph Beuys it will be everyone! …as everyone is an artist.

To be clear this is how it’s going at this point (August 24th) :

Name: abOUT DAMN SPOT

Intention & practice: This art project involves people showing up to the Strathcona park every Monday. The time (not solid but likely) between 7 am and 10 am to work together on textiles. The 7 am start is a thank you nod to the Parks Board of Vancouver that came up with the bylaw of tents needing to be packed up after any overnight camping. Rather than pack up our group will unpack their sewing kits, sitting 6 feet apart, and begin stitching.

Each kit will have material, from bedding, that has been cut into a triangle and a circle; the triangle is inspired by Judy Chicago to be a symbol of equality and the circle is a symbol I’ve used for community. On each circle will be a word : STABILITY, SUPPORT, SAFETY, SPACE. The participating community will stitch a circle onto the triangle and each flag shape will be attached to the fence around the park. The goal here is to bring attention to SOCIETY’s need to DO BETTER.

The 3 plus layers of Gov’t and partners in the hot mess of social problems have not done enough to make society safe and clean. The people who have access to more than the average ‘Joe’ are where exactly? Washing hands Like Lady McBeth we find those who can make a difference too are washing their hands of a spot (the circle in the triangle) on society instead of providing the necessary solution of Stability, Support, Safety and Space. Or are they trying and just not leading? Why can’t Canada come up with a solution like other countries such as Portugal? Are we just throwing money at a stain that won’t go away? What are we missing?

These are the kinds of questions we can toss out there while stitching together as a community. We look to healing ourselves one stitch at a time. We encourage the positive conversation of “We can do better” as the sub text of the title “abOUT DAMN SPOT”.

So let’s talk about that spot!

Here’s the template of an installation to come…

fingers crossed the start date will be August 31st!! (7 am, ouch to 10 am)

PEOPLE... preparing for Art to come called " OUT DAMN SPOT"

We don’t have an army but we’ll settle for a community. People of action to create something interesting as the tension builds in our hood due to the horrors of what comes with an encampment. We all agree what has become almost accepted and surely tolerated in our society is quite unacceptable; leaving people to live in doorways, tents, streets and alleys. Surely as a society we can do better!!!

Problem here is no one is leading society into something better; the way one did in Portugal — decriminalization and treatment resulting in safety for everyone.

Leaving sad people without homes, with mental disabilities, mental health issues, drug addictions and weak who are being exploited by criminals, activists and out of province travellers (looking for a tent and a free meal) is not a good thing. It leaves everyone without Stability, Support, Safety or Space and that is the makings of an unhealthy society.

As I hear and watch my neighbours frustration grow, due to their lack of those 4 S-words, I understand they just want to protect their children, neighbours and elderly. It is a very concerning situation that effects everyone everywhere in BC and across the country. So let’s look to a positive push for resolution it’s been a thought floating through my head for several weeks now.

I’m thinking let’s get to work on “Out Damn Spot”. A little Shakespeare never hurt anyone and kind of reflects on our city, province and countries insistence to wash their hands of a spot they know is there but can’t see it; or are they just washing their hands of dealing with the problem? Let’s start meeting with some people in the hood who would be interested in a Performance/Installation Piece “Out Damn Spot”. Here’s part of the vision: we arrive at the park and unpack our sewing kits ( with textiles from bedding) and stitching circles to our triangles with the incorporation of one of the 4 words; Stability, Support, Safety or Space. We stay for as long as we decide, yet tbd, and then pack up and leave. This continues every week until the encampment is gone from Strathcona Park — ideally there will be a bigger solution to the problem as well; ie. navigation centre, free injection site, medical assessment for needs and permanent placement in a space one can call home.

As has been written in the past the triangle and circle are significant for me when wearing my art hat. The meaning being equality, the triangle, based on Judy Chicago’s dinner party piece. The circle is about community.

and here is how it was implemented in the house …

(more to come with the art project)…

COMMUNITY...Celebrating life! PEOPLE... coming together

What a special day we had recently. We came together to celebrate the life of Sue Teahan: mother, wife, sister, neighbour and friend to many. She was a special person who lived here on Union St. It was such a nice contrast to shenanigans pre-and post the celebration and it pays to remind oneself that there is still good in the world and positive ways to be during these difficult times.

The space was offered to Gerry and his children when we realized there would be no funeral because of Sue’s untimely death during Corona in March. Our community lost her due to cancer and Covid 19 times made it impossible for the family to have closure with a service honouring her life. Well sunshine and BC opening things up a bit changed it all and it turned out to be a joyous day to celebrate a fabulous lady!!

Yes, Sue’s art was on display and the family gathered ( it would have been easy to have 4 x’s more people) but the limited people did not hold back the unlimited love for her. What a heartfelt tribute given by her daughters and son, each in their own way bringing the day together and Gerry’s playing was a special treat. The grandchildren also brought special moments with helping, serving food, slideshow and positive energy.

I think Sue’s family did her proud!

PROGRESS...all action, let's get physical

If you scroll back to the last PROGRESS post you’ll see we haven’t come a long way baby from a month ago (smile). The dance continues and the encampment grows last publication was 200 or 250 tents? The main stories in the press of recent have been about the Park Board’s recent bylaw decision, passed 4-3, to be able to enforce camping in parks between certain hours. The present occupants in Strathcona Park are in violation of this bylaw on a daily basis so now the question becomes how with that be enforced? and by whom? Perhaps next post on PROGRESS there will be an answer for you.

It appears that all gov’t officials are more concerned about going away on summer holidays, during this time of COVID19, than sitting down to resolve this inappropriate placement of unfortunate people who can not represent themselves along with the residents who’s children’s summer programming has now been curtailed due to the danger of entering that park. Their summer isn’t a priority I guess. In the meantime all the illegal and dangerous activities that tag along with the unfortunate confuse the optics : the unfortunate being the mental health and hard to house people and the tag alongs being the criminals, drug dealers, activists, trouble makers… We live in a time where talk is cheap and there’s lots of it. It isn’t a wonder the gov’t staff, politicians and the like are afraid to “do” something; it’s just easier to do study after study.

My answer is ‘LET’S DO SOMETHING’!! Here’s my idea hmmmmm, an art installation!! or maybe an ongoing performance art piece that lasts as long as it takes to get an encampment to be properly placed. I have some ideas on what it should be how about you? Bring the ideas on!