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PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, April 17, 1990 -- 7 VOICE OF FIRE I'm on very thin ice with this topic because what | know about art wouldn't fill the back of a postage stamp. " ut what's all this controversy about "Voice of ire Our National Gallery has purchased the painting by American artist Barnett Newman for $1.8 million. Up until now, | had never heard of Newman, but then as | said my knowledge of art is limited. People in the know, however, say Newman is a modern day master, so who am | to argue. "Voice of Fire" is a floor-to-ceiling canvas consist- ing of three vertical stripes, two blue with a red one in ny middle. Or is it two red and one blue. Doesn't mat- er. _ The critics of the National Gallery purchase of this canvas, and there are plenty of them, are upset for several reasons. The first and most obvious is whether this is art. To answer this, one must believe the premise that Newman is an artist of world class stature. If he is, aah anything he puts on canvas is art, and valuable Secondly, he's an American. A lot of people think the National Gallery might have been better off to spend the $1.8 million to line the walls of the place with works by Canadians. Come on. Even | know that art is universal, and knows no national boundaries. 10 think otherwise is chauvinistic snobbery at its worst. Some critics say $1.8 million is too much for any work of art in this day and age. The money, they sni would be better spent on housing and food for the poor. Really. times, do we give up culture? And finally, a lot of people look at the painting and think "big deal." It's so simple. Any fool with a brush and couple of gallons of paint could do that. Perhaps. But the mark of any great artist is who does it first. | mean there are probably lots of painters with a bit of talent who could do the Mona Lisa, but the fact remains somebody else beat them to it. Art is not imitation, it is creation. Should the Gallery bend to the critics and un- load "Voice of Fire?" Of course not. The controversy may be the best thing that's happened to the Gallery in a long time. People are flocking to see the canvas to find out what all the fuss is about. And finally, the Gallery must at all costs keep at arm's length from the politicians, even if the bulk of Gallery funds come from the federal purse. Judging from some of the comments made by the politicians over this issue, they know less about art than | do. Politicians have done enough damage to the country without deciding what art we put on na- tional display. Next thing you know they'll want to tell us what books to read, films to see, or performances that must be staged at any theatre that receives fi- nancial help from tax dollars. No thank you. I'd rather live with "Voice of Fire" than see that. In closing, "Voice of Fire" has already appreciat- ed in value since the Gallery bought the thing two years ago. All the fuss just guaranteés the value will continue to go upward. Can you imagine what some well-heeled private collector would be willing to shell out for the canvas now? As for Barnett Newman, the artist, his stock just went up as well, thanks in large part to the philistine attitudes found only in Canada. | can't wait to see the companion piece. Viewpoint EEA TE ER em ye, 1B. McClelianc SRE SR REDE RERRRaRNEERE HAROLD BALLARD We all knew the end was not far off for the 86- year old .owner of Maple Leaf Gardens and the hock- ey team of the same name. Yet, | must admit to a sense of shock and yes, sadness, on learning last week that Harold Ballard had passed away. He's been at death's door for weeks now, hooked up to all those gadgets of medical science that do nothing but delay the inevitable. Yet, some- how | expected that he would pull through. I'd flip on the tube to catch a Leaf game and there would be Ballard in his private booth at the Gardens: smiling scowling, bantering with the fans nearby, sharing a joke with the ghost of King Clancy. So much has been written and said about this man (good and bad) that now in death there's really not much left to say. | suspect the organization will eventually wind up in the hands of a corporate Colglomeraie, certainly one that sells beer. And the legal battles sure to erupt will guarantee that a small army of lawyers retire to luxury condos in Florida. | always thought of Ballard as a throw-back to another era. Had he lived 100 years ago, chances are he would have owned a railway or vast tracts of forest. Had he lived in 19th century England, he would have appeared in a Dickens novel. He would have made good company for the first Henry Ford or John D. Rockefeller, though his fortune was tiny by comparison. The Gardens and the hockey team will never again be owned by one individual. Yet, if Ballard came back to life today at age 40, | wouldn't bet against him. Not for a minute. Just because the country has fallen on hard Remember When? 45 YEARS AGO Thursday, April 19, 1945 Mr. and Mrs. F.W. Brock have returned home after spen- ding the winter in Florida. Flying Officer Murray Holtby of the R.C.A.F., who has been overseas for two years, has returned home. Mr. and Mrs. Norman Kerry, who have moved to Port Perry, will be greatly missed in the Head community. Miss Lucille Jeffrey of Toronto and Pte. John Jeffrey spent the weekend with their mother Mrs. Cecil Jeffrey. 35 YEARS AGO Thursday, April 21, 1955 Port Perry Master Feeds Pee Wees shone very well in their trip to the Young Canada Tournament in Goderich, winning two games and then dropping the third to Temiskaming by a 3-1 count. Mrs. W.W. Scott of Windsor, with Bobby and Brenda, is visiting her sister, Mrs. Bruce Beare. 30 YEARS AGO Thursday, April 21, 1960 With the score 6-1, on Monday night, the All Ontario Juvenile "C" Championship O.M.H.A. was captured by Port Perry for the 1959-60 season. Congratulations to Mr. William Brock, who has won Canada Council Fellowship. The category under which Mr. Brock won the $2000. prize is for Secondary School Teachers and Librarians. During the noon hour on Monday, Mr. Lorne Hunt, a resi- dent of Scugog Island attempted to drive his Volkswagon to Port Perry. While crossing the causeway the car was pushed off the road by floating ice, driven by wind. Mr. Hunt who had succeeded in getting out of his car, was found clinging to a pole when Robert Duff and Don Wallace proceeded to rescue him. 25 YEARS AGO Thursday, April 22, 1965 During the Dedication Service of the Warriner Lodge Hall last week, Bro. Samuel Tummonds, a faithful member of the Lodge, was presented with his well-earned 50 year Jewel. Grand Master, Bro. L. Arthur Burch, made the presentation. The Grand Lodge of Canada, A.F. & A.M., in the Province of Ontario, recently announced the appointment of W.J. Carnegie, Port Perry, as its permanent representative of the Grand Lodge of Vermont, U.S.A. The commission was presented at a meeting of the Fidelity Lodge, A.F. & A.M. on April 13, 1965 at the Port Perry Masonic Temple. (Turn to page 10) Letters io the editor Reconsider purchase of sweeper To the Editor: It was with astonishment and then dismay that I read of Scugog Council's decision to purchase a street sweeper for Port Perry. Choice for To the Editor: How very unfortunate has become the fact that we can no longer trust those elected to represent our views. During an election campaign they promise to represent and actively pursue the views of their constituents. Once elected however, and to protect their pensions and other very generous perks, they then become nothing more than plastic mobiles willing to be directed and spun according to government view, - constituents be damned. Obviously government is such an important element in our everyday lives that it is a shame to leave it to politicians who specialize in deception. Stop the pollution To the Editor: I think that the people should stop littering but they do not do that. If people don't stop littering this environment will turn into a waste. I would like people to stop polluting because 1 want this country to be a better place to live. Thank you for listening. Ronnie Colvin, Prince Albert Public School Your report stated that council was almost at a shouting point, and well they should be. For Mayor Hall to state that the coun- cil should think of Scugog Canada Lucian Bouchard, Federal En- vironment Minister, recently said - "Canada may have to choose between Quebec and New- foundland," and he being subse- quently classified as a "real patriot' by our P.M.. May I add my view, - under the present cir- cumstance, and considering Quebec's seemingly unending demands, the choice is obvious: Newfoundland. B.C. Eddy Scugog. Township as a whole instead of the separate wards is the type of thinking that got us into Durham Region. And look at the costly mess that has caused. An expense of $140,000 for the exclusive use of one ward should be paid for by that ward. User pay should be the criteria of this coun- cil, (with the obvious exceptions). I urge council to reconsider this purchase, or at least put it on the tax bill of those benefitting from its use. Sincerely, Colin L. Kemp, Nestleton. Editor's Note: The article last week did not say the sweeper would be used exclusively in any ward. In fact, it will get use in all four wards. COLLECTION OFFICE OR BLOOD, - "WE ACCEPT PERSONAL CHECKS CASHIER 6 CHECKS CASH