( ( ( ( <= ad __._ — > a a Se da Pia : ad Be wees ~ @ er Aa @@eeeeeeeceeeeeseee @@e@ | a @®@eeeeeeeeeeeseeeee 6 @®@ ." a @@eeeee ern ©. Se @9@eedewvw ses @@ee @ @ & = e eve oer eee fete eeeeeeeeoeeeeede @ @ @e@eeeeeeeeeeeeed 66 6r @ @©@eeeeee@e660 6 6 *e & the activists at Muckamuck were fired. Their rehiring was added to the list of demands for the first contract. There were four attempts at negotiation. Each time Chrismas came late, left early, and refused to discuss union propo- sals. As harassment on the job was escalating, the workers voted to strike. The strike is now in its eleventh month and Chrismas refuses to return to the bargaining table. He has hired scab labour and reopened the Muckamuck, with part of it redecorated as a ‘‘cowboy bar’”’ (which the original workers feel is a slap in the face to native people). The strikers have asked custamers to boycott Mucka- muck until the strike is settled. Business has been cut by over 80%. Chrismas is losing a lot of money, but I guess he has plenty more where that came from. Maybe he’s using the Muckamuck as a tax writeoff. Or maybe his ego is greater than his greed in this case. 6. Coda There’s a lot of artists on the Muckamuck picket line. I guess the connection is clear. We’re tired of being put down. That’s what I want to talk about. Persimmon Blackbridge calling all grads. ... ATTENTION ALL GRADUATE STUDENTS 1979 SLIDE/DOCUMENTATION SHOW Each grad has been budgeted five (5) slides to be compiled into a slide/documentation show. This ex- hibit can then be sent to other institutions, art schools, etc. All grads are requested to contact Colin Baker or Martin Smith at 6th floor Water (local 41) to book an appointment so we can photograph your work. Please book by the end of April. Documentation will take place during May. Paintings will be photographed on the 6th floor Water St. Other medium/disciplines we will come to you. Please book now. Colin (home) 255-7545 Martin (home) 682-3593 @@eeeeeeeeeeeeeee@esd 80 @ Pa a a ee a ee ee ee a ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ae @®@e@eees8e. @@eeeede@r @9@eees sé 8 e @ = ~ @ @e . i Jim Glen The Chrismas Connection 1. Andy Warhol, etc. Rumour is Andy Warhol is coming to the Ace Gallery (but that’s not what I want to talk about). Last time he was in town I said, ‘“‘Wow (I said Wow in those days), the Ace sure brings a lot of heavy artists up here.”” That was when I was young and innocent. 2. Who Is Doug Chrismas and Why Are So Many People Mad at Him? In Vancouver Doug Chrismas (along with his sidekick Jane Erikson) owns the Ace Gallery, the perennially soon-to-open Names Restaurant, and the Muckamuck Restaurant. In Venice, California he owns three art galleries and an apartment block. I don’t know what else he owns. I never even heard of him till last year. I mean, I knew the Ace Gallery. It was this place that brought Heavy Artists (read Ameri- cans) Up Here (read Lower Mainland). And the Mucka- muck is that native restaurant (read white-owned with native staff). Chrismas is kind of low profile. The Muck- amuck workers hardly knew what he looked like until they decided to join a union. But in Venice, California everyone knows who Doug is. 3. Chrismas in Venice People in Venice don’t like the changes they see happening in their town. You might say they’re standing in the way of Progress. For a long time Venice has been a quiet sort of town. There’s a real racial mix there as well as a large population of older people. There’s a lot of low income housing. There’s also a large and vital artistic community. People in Venice are proud of their diversity. They don’t want to change. Progress means becoming a resort for rich refugees from L.A. It means low income housing bought up by developers. It means racial minorities, the poor, and the elderly pushed out. It means three art galleries which all refuse to show Venice artists. Owned by guess who. When Chrismas started construction of his third gallery, the Venice Town Council explained their fears for the future of Venice to him. He refused to take the issues seriously. The Town Council got an order to cease construction pending an inquiry into the future of Venice, which Chrismas ignored. Several people from the Artists’ Community Forum asked him to commit himself to one or two shows of Venice artists a year, particularly featuring minority artists. Chrismas called this “totalitarian.” He opened Rauschenberg in the illegally constructed gallery amidst community picketing. Meanwhile the senior citizens living in the low-rent apartment block Chrismas just bought are waiting to learn their fate at the hands of this responsible, public-spirited entrepreneur. 4. That Ace At one point in a talk with angry Venice artists, Chrismas bragged, “I’m a Canadian and the Canadians won’t talk to me, because I won’t show Canadian art.” Proud of yourself, Doug? I know there’s this myth that great art always has a Made in New York sticker on it (or made in Paris if before 1945). Living elsewhere warps your chromosomes or something. Well I’m not sure what makes a great artist, but I know what makes a famous artist. The media. And the kind of media manipulation it takes is out of reach for most Canadians. It’s not a question of art, it’s a question of money. If you become a media sweet- heart, a Name, people will pay a tot more tor your work. And certain gallery owners would rather sell Names than art. It’s more profitable. 5. Running Amuckamuck The staff at Muckamuck tried to work things out individually for a long time before they decided to union- ize. But management’s answer to complaints was to say that the staff should be grateful for what they had be- cause there’s plenty of other native people who need jobs. Patron as in patronizing. So what were they asking for? Regular breaks in the middle of each eight hour shift (management would only allow “breaks”? right when they got to work or just before they left). Another demand was consistent, pre- posted scheduling. The workers were tired of being called up at the last minute and told, “‘oh by the way, you’re on shift tonight.” That plays hell with any plans someone might have for)what they thought was a day off, and is especially hard for people who need child care. People who complained might find their hours so cut back that they could no longer make a living. There were other problems: the system of $5 to $50 fines for things like forgetting to tie up a garbage bag. Etc. ad nauseam. The Muckamuck workers went to the Service, Office and Retail Workers Union of Canada (SORWUC) because it’s a strictly democratic union where the people involved make the decisions, not union bureaucrats. After SORWUC applied for certification, seven of >> bs ; i i s hy iH Gt hi ~~: ; | ees oe typeset by MAKARA Publishing & Design Co-operative printed by Press Gang Printers and Publishers who have been extremely helpful throughout the year The Chrismas Connection 1. Andy Warhol, et. Rumour is Andy Warhol ie coming to the Ace Gallery (but that’s not what I want to talk about). Last time he lays), the That was was in town I said, “Wow (I said Wow in thos [Ace sure brings a lot of heavy artists up here.’ when I was young and 2, Who Is Doug Chrismas and Why Are So Many People Mad at Him? In Vancouver Doug Chrismas (along with his sidekick Jane Erikson) owns the Ace Gallery, the perennially soonto-open Names Restaurant, and the Muckamuck Restaurant, In Venice, California he owns three art salleries and an apartment block T don't know what else he owns. I never even heard cof him till last year. T mean, 1 knew the Ace Gallery. It ‘was this place that brought Heavy Artists (read Ameri- ccans) Up Here (read Lower Mainland). And the Mucka. ‘muck is that native restaurant (read white-owned with native staff), Chrismas is kind of low profile. The Muck. amuck workers hardly knew what he looked like until they decided to join a union. But in Venice, California everyone knows who Doug is 8. Chrismas in Venice People in Venice don't like the changes they see happening in their town. You might say they're standing in the way of Progress. For a long time Venice has been a quiet sort of town. There's a real racial mix there as wwell a5 a large population of older people, There's a lot ‘of low income housing. There's also a large and vital artistic community. People in Venice are proud of their diversity. They don't want to change. Progress means becoming a resort for rich refugees from L.A. It means ‘ome housing bought up by developers. It means minorities, the poor, and the elderly pushed out. Te means three art galleries which all refuse to show Venice artists. Owned by guess who. When Chrismas started construction of his third aallery, the Venice Town Council explained their fears for the future of Venice to him. He refused to take the issues seriously. The Town Council got an order to cease ‘construction pending an inquiry into the future of Venice, which Chrismas ignored. Several people from the Artists! Community Forum asked him to commit himself to one oF two shows of Venice artists a year, particularly featuring aninority artists. Chrismas called this “totalitarian.” He ‘opened Rauschenberg in the iegally constructed gallery amidst community picketing feanwhile the senior citizens living in the low-rent apartment block Chrismas just bought are waiting to learn their fate at the hands of this responsible, publie-sprited entrepreneur. 4. That Ace At one point in a talk with angry Venice artists, Chrismas bragged, “I'm a Canadian and the Canadians won't talk to me, because I won't show Canadian art.” Proud of yourself, Doug? T know there's this myth that great art always has a Made in New York sticker on it (or made in Paris if before 1945). Living elsewhere warps your chromosomes for something. Well I'm not sure what makes a great artist, but T know what makes a famous artist. The media And the kind of media manipulation it takes is out of reach for most Canadians. It's not a question of art, i's a question of money. If you become a media sweet heart, a Name, people will pay u 1ot more for your work. And certain gallery owners would rather sell Names than art. It's more profitable. 5. Running Amuckamuck The staff at Muckamuck tried to work things out individually for a long time before they decided to union: ize. But management's answer to complaints was to say that the staff should be grateful for what they had be- cause there's plenty of other native people who need jobs. Patron as in patronizing. So what were they asking for? Regular breaks in the riddle of each eight hour shift (management would only allow “breaks right when they got to work or just before they left). Another demand was consistent, pre posted scheduling. The workers were tired of being called Up at the last minute and told, “oh by the way, you're on shift tonight.” That plays hell with any plans someone ‘might have for what they thought was a day off, and is especially hard for people who need child care. "People who complained might find their hours so cut back that they could no longer make a living. There were other problems: the system of $5 to $50 fines for things like forgetting to tie up a garbage bag. Etc. ad nauseam, "The Muckamuck workers went to the Service, Office and Retail Workers Union of Canada (SORWUC) because it's a strictly democratic union where the people involved make the decisions, not union bureaucrats After SORWUC applied for certification, seven of the activists at Muckamuck were fired. Their rehiring was added to the list of demands for the first contract. ‘There were four attempts at negotiation, Each time Chrismas came late, left early, and refused to discuss union propo: sals._As harassment on the job was escalating, the workers Voted to strike. The strike is now in its eleventh month and Chrismas refuses to return to the bargaining table. He has hired scab labour and reopened the Muckamuck, with part of it redecorated asa ‘cowboy bat” (which the original workers feel is slap in the face to native people). The strikers have asked custamers to boycott Mucka- ‘muck until the strike is settled. Business has been cut by over 80%. Chrismas is losing a lot of money, but I guess he has plenty more where that came from. Maybe he's using the Muckamuck as a tax writeoff. Or maybe his ego is greater than his greed in this case 6. Coda There's a lot of artists on the Muckamuck picket line. 1 guess the connection is clear. We're tired of being put down. That's what I want to talk about, Persimmon Blackbridge calling all grads... . ATTENTION ALL GRADUATE STUDENTS 1979 SLIDE/DOCUMENTATION SHOW Each grad has been budgeted five (6) slides to be compiled into a slide/documentation show. This ex- hibit can then be sent to other institutions, art schools, ete, Al grads are requested to contact Colin Baker or Martin Smith at 6th floor Water (local 41) to book an appointment so we can photograph your work. Please book by the end of April. Documentation will take place during May. Paintings will be photographed on the 6th floor Water St. Other medium/disciplines we will come to you. Please book now. Colin (home) 255-7545 Martin (home) 682-3593 ‘ino have bean extemelyPelpfl throughout the