WEDNESDAY March 6, 1996 Naked truth a touchy subject A NORTH Vanceuver artist is irked by West Vancouver Memorial Library’s apparent “no-nudes” arts display policy. By Layne Christensen Community Reporter Claire Babcock was scheduled to show her paintings in a group exhibition at the library. But on opening day Monday, she received a cal] from the library's visual arts chairman, Carol Kostiuk. Kostiuk informed her that several of her 20 submitted works wouid not be exhibited. : Babcock said she was told by Kostiuk that there was “a policy of not showing nudes at the library." But the artist, who signed a contract to dispiay her work, said she was not informed of the library's policy when a selection of her work, including Dark Figure, a pastel and watercolor depiction of a female nude, was reviewed and accepted by a jury last October. Kostiuk would not comment on library policy when contacted by the News. She said “the artist had the option to exhibit some of her works and she chose not to.” But Babcock, who had mailed out 35 invitations to the opening, said she didn’t consider that as an option. “T thought, [just don’t want any part of this. To me they're all nudes, so what's the point in exhibiting just three works?" she said. Instead of attending Monday's open- ing, which went ahead with two other artists as planned, Babcock heid a “wake” at her home. “[m just having my friends in and we're going to laugh about it and enjoy my paintings,” she said. Chief librarian Jack Mounce said Tuesday that he regrets Babcock with- drew from the exhibition, but that he has “complete confidence in Mrs. Kostiuk” and the visual-aris review process. He said that in addition to questions about the “appropriateness” of some of the artist's works, there were “concerns about the quality of framing of some of the pieces.” NEWS photo Cindy Goodman NORTH VANCOUVER artist Ciaire Babcock is disappointed at the West Vancouver Memorial Library’s refusal to show a number of her paintings of female nudes. Fatal crash nets 8-month jail term Counsellor calls sentence ‘a joke’ AN ALCOHOLICS’ recovery house counsellor called it “a joke” when told that a North Vancouver man was recently given an eight-month jail term in connection with the drinking-driver-related death of a 16-year-old boy. By Anna Marie D'Angelo News Reporter lronieally, the dead teen, Ryan Woodside of Surrey, was a member of Alcoholics Anonymous and had been celebrating life without substance abuse at his first alcohol-free dance just before he was killed. “The kid spends all this time getting clean and sober and he is finally getting his life togeth- er and another drunk teenager kills him.” sitid Susan Lewis, counsellor at Altered Attitudes See Driver pave 4 Weather Thursday: Cloudy with showers High 9C, low TC. purchase opposed A MONTANA man’s bid to con- trol tugboat business on Canada’s West Coast has hit rough water. By Anna Marie D'Angelo News Reporter The federal Competition Bureau of Industry Canada said Tuesday that it opposes Dennis Washington's tentative purchase of North Vancouver-based Seaspan International. Washington, who is estimated to be worth U.S, $800 million. reached an agreement to buy Seaspun International in early January. Toronto-based Genstar = Capital Corporation bought ownership interest in Seaspan for $125 million two years ago. Washington purchased North Vancouver-based C.H. Cates & Sons Ltd. in 1992. C.H. Cates & Sons is the smaller of the wo tugboat businesses that operate in Burrard Inlet and Roberts Bank. The federal government agency alleges that Washington's contro! of both tugboat operations will lessen or prevent competi- tion in the berthing of ships in the Port of Vancouver and barging services in and around B.C. coastal waters. An application has been filed with the Competition Tribunal opposing Washington's “significant interest” in Seaspan as well as his proposal to acquire control of Seaspan. The federal agency also opposes Washington's acquisition of Norsk, the third-largest barging company in the B.C. market, Seaspan is the dominunt barging com- pany in the province, according to the fed- eral Competition Bureau. Seuspan subsidiaries include fancouver Shipyards and Vancouver Drydock. both focated on the North Vancouver waterfront. Seaspan operates 45 tugs and 240 barges. Its subsidiaries employ more than 1,100 people. NEWS graphic Cathisen Powell THE CAR’S driver tried to avoid the weaving truck by driving off the road.