16 Planet of the Arts / October 1996° Who Is Jack Latek. and what does he really want? CIIININGIN Research and photography by Dylan Surridge Jack is an advocate for the poor, an inventor, and strives to make a contribution towards a more com- passionate society. PoA There don’t seem to be many people doing what you do. What is your expla- nation for this? Jack Latek is post-modern JL Weare all living in a misdiagnosed society’s version of the Renaissance society. We believe in our leaders man. Or tries to be. rather than believing in ourselves to The former social worker, cham- work out what is right and what is pion wrestler, and counselor has sta- wrong. It takes courage to stick up for tioned himself on street corners at the poor. various locations in Vancouver to get PoA What message do you have for the stu- out his message. He has met thou- dents of Emily Carr? sands of people this way. JL | need your support for my project. | need you to write letters of support to your newspaper. | could also use some metal buttons and pins to help me with my “Pins for the Poor” project. For the past few months, Jack has been a fixture at the entrance to Granville Island. Recently, Planet of the Arts interviewed him for a few moments between his conversations with passersby. - PoA What motivates you being here? JL tam out here, struggling like an artist. Through time, artists and the community have cooperated for the general bet- terment of people and social condi- tions. | am trying to get support for the manufacture of a bicycle rack. The bicycle rack has an advanced design and would be built by employing poor people. This is not a sexual device. It is Jack Latek’s device for improving the circulation in your fingers. Close Encounter of the First Kind Erin’s Testimonial: | saw Jack before he saw me. “What the heck,” | thought as | approached him on my bicycle, “I haven’t talked to him for over a year.” Before | knew it, he was blocking my way and had launched into his social work credentials. As | stood next to my bicycle, Jack guilted me about not doing my part for the environment or for the poor. He really came down on me, and none of my replies seemed good enough for him. He just kept going on and on with a sales pitch that had no definite point, at least in terms of what | was supposed to do or buy or whatever. So then I tried to ask him why he was being so hard-edged and why he wasn’t listening to any of my answers. Isn’t that half the job a social worker is supposed to do? “You're dissin’ me, man” was all he could come up with. | rode off wanting to be left alone. A Mouse In y House I tried to love it, tried I did The cake I baked, friendship I bid The mouse ate all, through and through Left nothing but a pile o’ poo. by P. Seuss Gunn I do not like this nasty mouse I do not like it in my house I do not like it in my walls I want it gone once and for all. | Poison’s now the gift from me Straight from my heart I want that mouse this remedy dead, dead, dead! I'll drop an anvil on its head! It does not let me sleep at night It gives me such a nasty fright. That damn mouse can go to hell. I hope it does not smell, smell, smell. 16 Planet of the Arts / October 1996 ho Is Jac k Latek, and what does he really want? III u Research and photography Jack Latek is post-modern society's version ofthe Renaissance rman, Or tiesto be, The former social worker, cham- ion wrestler, and counselor has st tioned himsel on street comers at various locations in Vancouver to get ‘ut his message. He has met thou: sands of people this way. Jack's an advocate forthe poor, ‘an inventor, and stves to make a ontibution towards a moce com Passionate society. For the past few months, Jack has ‘been a fiture at the entrance to GGrawile land. Recently, Planet of the As interviewed him for 8 few moments between his conversations with pasersby. PoA What motivates you PoA There don't sem to be many people doing what you do, What s your explo ration for tis? JL We ae all ving in a misclagnosed Society. We believe in our leaders by Dylan Surridge rather than believing in ourselves to ‘work out what is ight and what is ‘wrong, It takes courage to stick up for the poor. What message do you hove forthe stu dents of Emily Car? IL Teed your suppor for my project. eed you to write letters of supporto {Your newspaper. | could aio use some ‘etal buttons and pins to help me sth my “Pins forthe Pooe” project. being here? am out here, struggling lke an artist. Through time, artists and the community have cooperated for the general bet. terment of people and socal cond tions. am tying to {get support forthe ‘manufacture of @ bieyle rack The bicycle ‘ackhas an advances {esign and would be built by «employing poor people. Close Encounter of the First Kind Erin's Testimontal: saw fick Blob saw me. “What the heck” thought | approsched hin con my ble,“ hover aed to Rim for overs yee lee ire he was blohing my way and ad launched nto is sci work des sae net to my yc nk gute me bot ting my ak He realy came dow on me, and none of my replies seemed good enough for tim He ut kept going on and on with a alert that had no dfs pot Ie in ems of what was supposed to door Buy or hateve So then ved to ast him why he was bang ohare and why e wast stein to any of my anwers at Bat hal the jb a sacl worker supped to by P. Seuss Gunn I do not like this nasty mouse I do not like it in my house I do not like it in my walls I want it gone once and for all. I want that mouse dead, dead, dead! Ill drop an anvil on its head! It does not let me sleep at night It gives me such a nasty fright. ot “You're dsr’ me, mant war alle cul come up wth ode of waning tobe et sone I tried to love it, tried I did The cake I baked, friendship I bid The mouse ate all, through and through Left nothing but a pile o’ poo. Poison’s now the gift from me Straight from my heart this remedy That damn mouse can go to hell. I hope it does not smell, smell, smell.