4 planet of the arts / october 1997 FEATURE every mise! elses: Ah Joyeds imo eee peter? ‘ one ane aaa) ai bee ae onic Like any ey Claes 0 are © ¥ aa uy at wat, in \ be gene oe 4a at wat, ani xhat 1S : oe eansee 6 are BON?” nee community ge ead sseeees at people AB Sale \ ¢ nctiod of a 5 Be ae With art there are these superstructures of theory activity Sree Ss : not uu peeneee Be os oe eo ie 4 . , be Sr ae cage Avs D - a ynvel! a> that in some situations squash the initial impulse. ae as 1 io — ae : ‘ ; guperflue at - Sasule!! a5 In medieval times there were things called cere NEEM ive tan ‘ ; pange> unde 5 West unders re monstrances: let’s say it was the hair of the beard iil eR pdr hhkkt = a . EEE ae ae suas ate to of St. Nicholas; it would be placed in a glass box, Sak a } ivi which would be put inside a silver box embellished with angels and a portrait of the saint, which would be put in another glass box, which would be = put into a shrine. To me, that’s what is happening enough Ree ae : A : = yeoett* nag es with a lot of art. The initial impulse is tas® ae overwhelmed, lost under these turgid baroque structures of words and theories and obligations and rules. I don’t want to participate in it. I can’t understand it anymore. 1 don’t find Wester culty, : > € attra: appealing. I Le t want to fightive or got it ot change It anymore, [ think it’s past redemption. ’m fifty- gont want to spend the rest ‘of I don't know if [ll be making art in the future... the jury’s out on that one. I don’t know how to proceed... I can make objects, or I can think about this, or I can write a pro- posal to Canada Council (I probably won't get it), and why? I think that political action is more important than art to me right now. I believe it’s important to constantly re-evalu- ate one’s motives for making art. I haven't told anyone yet. It’s not a big deal, though. It’s slowly been coming to me and now I feel more comfortable with it. I was thinking that art making was like a lost love — what would I replace it with? How would I jus- tify my being? But now I just say, “if it comes back, it will come back in a different way.” And if it doesn’t, Pll think of something else to do, because I’m a person who has good ideas, and they're usually right on and relevant. And | believe in that. <6) Carel Moiseiwitsch teaches drawing at Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design. Compilation of interview passages and photo illustraticn by Jonathan Lander Scratchboard drawing by Carel Moiseiwitsch oye LONG TIME AGO, when I was on welfare with three kids, I heard a Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young song about “going on the Marrakech Express” — the name sounded so beautiful. I saw a photograph of it and it had these red walls, it was a walled city. I just wanted to go — it was just a dream. I went there for the first time in 1990 after my last child left home. It was amazing! This was how my world was supposed to look, it was like coming home, or like walking inside a dream and having it all come true. 4 plonet of the arts / october 1997 FEATURE 538 wee We seo vig oS $999 tase eee Sone FT gg cane aon TH jet ie < ce, you 8° © xis 15 2 PEN" ae anes “jen cng” and vo cr ae we ga sito Ge ion a 8 Wiha there are thse sperrneteres of theory ee nee ii that in some stations sqush the inal ipa. sap ame sc, ieee atl nce wr agscalled “ander si xt undersia ‘monstrances: let's say it was the hair of the beard oe wee oe inthe ene! aber of St Nicholas bead place ins ae gene a gaat which wold bp nid ster box ened 2S wr cee tno yah gous See, ae Ne sa eas ati © ner soul be pu in age law te Ach A rete’s MO ace ung, Pe ng SO ing eggs i es dag ng at ie Oa vith lo ofa. The nil imple is gag ye = ee ee 5$ — poe 3$8 Ss = case alert § § Seo es za oN Tae C0, when Twas on don't find West culture attrac: Sppealing. I don want yo Rebei oF fort change it anymore Stink avspast Tedemption. I'm fi dont want to spend. the rest of andl 1 Suite like living in Vancourgcays ere. {think Wester nN culture’s ked welfare with three kids, Jaan Crosby, ils Nash and Young song about “going on the “Marrakech Express” ~the name sounded so beautiful. sw a Photograph oft and it had these red walls it was walled city just ity-five years old, WH 1 don't know if 1 be making art in the future. the jars out on that one. 1 dont now how to proceed. Iam mak objects or Lean think about his can write pr posal to Canada Council (1 probably won't fet and why? | hin that politcal action is ore important than art tome ight now ‘ei is important to constantly re-va ste one's motives for making at. {havent tld anyone yet. I's not a big del though, les slowly been coming to me and ow I fel more comfortable with it. 1 was thinking that art making was ik a lost love ~ ‘what would replace it with? How would jus: {ity my being? But now I jst say,“ comes tuck it wil come hack ina different way And {f5t does, think of something else vo do, because 8 person who has good ideas, and they're usually right on and relevant. And 1 believe in that. are Moiswitch teaches drawing at iy or insttate of Art and Design wanted to go it was just a dream. ent there for the ist me in 1990 afer my lst hl left home. t ‘vas amazing! This was how my word was supposed to look, it was like coming home, o ike walking inside a