{S IT or isn’t it art? It’s

sa question that’s been popping up

a lot lately as more and more artists push the boundaries

of traditional ari.

Do three simple stripes splashed
across a canvas constitute art?
Apparently. The National Gallery
of Canada shelled out a cool $1.8
million for the late American
abstract’ expressionist. Barnett
Newman’s controversial painting.
Voice of Fire,

Is $300 worth of flank steak
sewn into a dress and then left to
rot on a dummy fine art?

In his tirade against Japanese
artist Tadashi Kawata’s wooden
hut installation beside the Na-
tional Gallery, the president of
CRAP (which stands for the
Committee for the Removal of
Artistic Pollution) said, ‘I’m not
going to decide what is and isn’t
art. What | am concerned about is
the old question of having it
rammed down people's throats.”*

The irony, of course, is that he
may have been able to make that
decision had he been educated in
the principles of art. The problem
is, most of us aren't. We may
know what we like, but we don’t
“*know” art.

The reasons for this are many,
but viewing art exclusively in its
finished form is partially to
blame. Would we feel the same
about Voice of Fire if, say, we
watched Newman create and even
explain it?

Would we be as quick to
write off a meat dress if we were
able to talk to the artist? Granted,
it may not make us like either one
more esthetically, but it would
help us understand the artist's
motivation.

By Evelyn Jacob
News Reporter

Events like Harmony ‘91's Stu-
dio Art Tour of North Shore ar-
tists’ homes (held as the final
component of West Vancouver's
art festival on Aug. 18) are help-
ing to lift the veil of mystery that
so often envelopes art.

“The idea is to promote art at
the grassroots level. Many people
are intimidated by gallery set-
tings,"’ says Elinor Florence, a
journalist and co-organizer of the
tour in which 15 North and West
Vancouver artists open their
homes/studios to the public for a
day.

For $15, anyone who is slightly
curious about art and the creative
Process can visit the tome of a
painter, printmaker or giasswork
artist and learn why, for example,
an artist painted a tree blue, or
why another dribbled paint across
his or her canvas.

Some of those taking part are
English-born sculptor Carole
Driver, who produces life-size ter-
racotta busts with brilliant
metallic finishes; Joy Zemel Long,
the first artist in Canada to por-
tray pregnant women; painters
Monica and Barry Shelton; Gregg
Simpson, and Alistair Bell.

(Davide Pan, a hot young artist
involved in turning scrap metal in-
to primitive art. had orginally
planned to use his parent's West
Vancouver hume, but was forced
to withdraw from the tour after

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NEWS photo Mike Wakefield
PAINTERS MONICA and Barry Shelton are two of 15 North and West Vancouver artists participating
in Harmony ‘91's Studio Art Tour, in which resident artists open their home to the public for one
day. Here, the pair are seen in their West Vancouver home.

“Tt wasn’t until we pitched the
idea to the (Harmony °91) festival
See Artists page 32

Shore, but Florence and partner
Jane Ross say the events are
becoming increasingly popular.

they sold their residence).
It’s the first time an event like
this has been held on the North

Welcome aboard

Cro Lucas and the staff at West
| Van Esso welcome Tom Scull as
Service Manager.

Tom brings with him 14 years ex-
perience as Service Manager at
Lynn Valley Chevron (soon to be
closing down).

Tom is eager to meet ail our
ee customers at West Van Esso and
"a looks forward to continue servic-
ing his old friends and
customers.

Tom Scull Service Mor.

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