MONDAY May 22nd PART C

Tanya Lukin-Linklater WOMAN AND WATER

Part C: Food & Ribbons & Food

Tanya gave out blueberries, oranges, water, salmon, cream
cheese, crackers, and bread. The salmon came from her
fishing village in Alaska. She explained to the crowd that it was
important for them to eat or take away all the food she had provided.
An older woman who was sitting and drawing
spontaneously came forward to give Tanya a painting
she had just made while sitting in the park.
Tanya gave out ribbons to the crowd.
[I am still wearing mine.]
Finally, Tanya asked her children to help her give away
all the blankets from the blanket circle.
Every single thing Tanya brought wtih her to the performance
was eaten, drunk, or taken away.

MONDAY May 22nd PART B

photo: Tanya Lukin-Linklater WOMAN AND WATER

Part B: Bird Spirit/Strawberries/Pool Story

Tanya circled, chanted, & embodied vocal spirits.
After her basin was filled with water and strawberries,
she washed the fruit, stood, circled the blanket & ribbons
then slowly transformed herself into a bird.
[Her movements were hypnotic and centred -- the opposite
of the "pretending" of theatre.]
She walked to the pool and the crowd followed.
Tanya danced into the pool, submerged and swam.
She played and splashed with the children.
Then she came out of the pool and sat and told a short story.
She was raised by her grandmother who was wise and
provided for everyone. Even though her grandmother was dead,
she still missed her very very much. Tanya wept.

MONDAY May 22nd PART A

photo: Tanya Lukin-Linklater "WOMAN AND WATER"

Part A: Blankets, Ribbons, Circles

The enigmatic & efficient Todd Janes
took me shopping to Whyte Ave's Army and Navy
to buy ribbons & cream cheese for Tanya's performance
plus dishcloths & tea towels for Todd and me.
[I have pursuaded Todd to do performance-gestures with me
before/during/after my video screening of
CLEANING AND LOVING (IT) and
MORE CLEANING AND LOVING (IT)
Wednesday at 8:00 pm
[Be there or be square]...

We joined the other Visualeyez Artists
(including Clemente Padin of Uruguay
who arrived after a 32hour flight)
at the Reflecting Pool in front of Edmonton's City Hall.
The Reflecting Pool is full of happy splashing children
as it is 25 degrees and very sunny. The pool is surrounded
by The Art Gallery of Alberta, CBC, Citadel Theatre,
the general public and a 3-person security team in good humour
but still an active presence managing the homeless, street youth,
working poor and transients who also claim this pool as their own.

We need more cream cheese so I go to ANOTHER mall.
When I return (with light -- 50% less fat), Tanya Lukin-Linklater
has laid out 6 or 7 blankets in a circle
and encircled them with ribbons. She slowly walks around her blanket circle.
A gallery crew person hands out slips of paper saying
"This is a performance by artist Tanya Lukin-Linklater"
with descriptions of who she is and her art practice
along with the how-to's to contact Latitude 53.