“SPOTLIGHT NOY Lair leaving job she created AROLYN FRANCES Lair can’t wait to come back. The North Shore's first cuitural development officer doesn’t leave for the U.S. until month's end. but already she’s looking forward to the North Shore's artistic future. This impatience with the rurure isn't surprising 10 thase who know Lair; in her short stint as the North Shore Arts Commission's cultural development officer, ber clear focus on the future has made a powerful impression on North Shore policy-makers and artists. “She's a most remarkable per- son because she has this incredible vision. She has the most outra- geous approach to things. and sometimes it would take people aback. But what she has done is change a pattern of how people think,’ says Ella Parkinson, ex- ecutive director of the North Van- couver Community Arts Council. Lair’s last day on the job is Aug. 16 — after that she heads south tor California to join her partner Frank Ducote, a former planner for the City of North Vancouver. Ducote was recently appointed San Diego's new principal! planner of urban design. And Lair, who was quick to win the support of local politi- cians, colleagues, and artists, will be missed by many. ‘it's devastating that she’s leaving.” laments Parkinson. ‘‘Devastating” isn't a word you're likely to hear from this informal tall blonde woman who iikes to caver herself in wearable art. At 38 Lair is an interminable optimist despite years of tangling with bureaucracy. Even as she leaves a job she says ‘taught me more than what I'd learned from 10 years at uni- versity,’’ Lair is remarkably buoyant. “VI miss this community more than | thought I would, but 1 also feel excited about the progression the Arts Commission will go through. I’m looking forward to coming back and seeing how the North Shore has changed,’’ she Says, picking through a caesar salad in a Lower Lonsdale restau- rant. A community with a thriving artists’ colony, a city that is home to galleries, theatres, cafes, histor- 7 FINAL. WEEK® ' 5 Sannel . "TENNIS CAMPS KIDS 8-16 All skill levels Start Mon., Aug 19 Argyle Sec. 9-12 noon Carson Graham 1-4pm Evelyn Jacob SPOTLIGHT FEATURE ical walks, a place that provides housing for artist. — this is che North Shore community that the San Francisco-born bain is fouking forward to. One of her vet-to-be reilized plans is for the North Shore to develop what she cally ‘‘cultural precincts" — areas in which ar- tists could work and exhibit their art — in Lower Lonsdale, Ambleside-Argyle and Deep Cove. She believes municipal govern- AOed 'S photo Nell Lucente Carolyn Frances Lair ments should provide more of a leadership role in such an evolu- tion. For example, North Van- couver City Council could pur- chase the Versatile Pacific water- front site and turn it into an ar- tist’s haven or move Presentation House arts centre there. {v's all part af bringing the arts closer to people's daily experience. One of Lair’s pet projects has teen the development of a master plan for a North Shore public art program (Vancouver City recently passed a public art by-law that sets aside $1 per square foot of revenue-producing space in private PRIME RIB DINNER 2 for 13” prolects and one per centat the budget of civic structures for on. sHe Art}. Sach a plat would see empty Plavay and publig spaces transformed inta “people places’ = displaying ait comumissroned trom) professional artists. And Laut believes stromels that the public should be incinded in the art selection process, According to Pathinson. Dair’s enthussism for public art has Proven contavieus among presiousts leery municipal start and politicians, “She's managed to xo into North Vancouver City Hall and make if so exciting for staff that thes all want to be a part of it now 7 she says As for Lair, she only hopes that that enthusiasm fives on long after she is gone. “Tm good at. kicking things Off, creating structures and pro- viding @ vision. Ini not really a maintenance person."* Nor is she a paper-pushing ad- Ministrator or a bureaucrat bent on compromise. Lair’s background is in film and photography (she once had to edit out Diefenbaker’s drool for an evening news hour program on CKVU). She’s also studied music, dance and theatre. Having an artistic background is a big reason why, according to West Vancouver Ald. Pat Boname, a North Shore Arts Commission vice-chairman, people respect her and believe in her vi- sions, Lair said she didn't even. know what her job was when she first started, seeing how the North Shore was the first community in Canada to establish an arts com- mission with such a wide-ranging mandate. “Carolyn,’’ says Boname, **Had to invent as she went along. She's had to juggle three municipalities, two school boards and two recreational bodies. It’s been one hell of a job. I don’t know how she’s survived."” But thanks to Lair and the arts commission, artists now have a simpler, more equitable system of applying for municipal grants, a new arts promotion service and in PRIME TIME SPECIAL { 125 East 2nd Street North Vancouver 985-9192 Wecnesday. August 14. 1991 - North Snore News ~- 23 the ftoture., better cuitural tach Tes. But perhaps the most important thine Piar has done is toa have helped create a more nurturing covironment tor artists, “The arts on the North Shore," says) Boname. "twere quiet and almost submissive, and when Carolyn came aloug they were given an incredible force to deal with.” ) Topay ar 2 pm & 8 em Check Box Office for last minute ticket availability. ae | Cuality id CUSTOM SHIRTMAKERS MADE TO MEASURE — You decide the style — French cult of regular sleeve — Monograms can te provided — Over 1000 patterns to choose * 2x2 Egyptian cotton » poly & cotton * 100% cotton from 838-585 Gilt certificates available 2531 Granville St. at Broadway FREE parking at rear 731-9190 Dinner, Lunch and Weekend Brunch 1362 Marine Dr. 925-1945 West Vancouver