Grano Biennale Party: Brochure Quotes and Thank-You Poem
Last night, the newly launched Yonge/St. Clair Good Neighbours’ Fund held its first community celebration/fundraiser at Grano, which from all reports in was a great success. The event was on behalf of my Florence Biennale exhibit.
Here are some quotes included in the Good Neighbours’ Fund brochure:
"St. Clair to ArtWalk and the new Wychwood Barns project, to the recent success with Luminato, we have a great deal to be proud of here in Toronto. I am proud to be part of a small effort to make up for the misguided cancellation of the Public Diplomacy Program which used to help fund artists to show their works abroad. We are truly blessed to have such a talented artist in Susan Makin living and working in our Riding of St. Paul’s.”
CAROLYN BENNETT
Member of Parliament
St. Paul’s, Toronto
"I have always felt that all arts (and crafts) benefit by rubbing elbows with one another, so I am happy to see food and the visual arts doing just that at The Good Neighbours’ Fund Celebration. Congratulations on your launch! Having had significant support from my own community over my life, I am a firm believer in initiatives like this one. There’s no better place to discover and
support talent than close to home. Very best of luck to you!"
LAURA CALDER
French Food at Home
Food Network, Canada
(Earlier related blog entries include: Toronto Preview—Florence Biennale Exhibit, Yonge/St. Clair Innovation—The Good Neighbours’ Fund, and Why Canadian Talent Moves Away from Canada.)
Instead of giving a thank-you speech, I read the poem that follows—written especially for the event. For those who weren’t able to make it to the event, and those who’d like to know more about it, I thought this was the best place to share what I said:
From Boston, to Toronto, to Florence—and Back?
Painting happily in Boston
An invitation arrived
You’ve been chosen by an International Committee of Judges
The President of the Biennale wrote
Which country will you represent? he needed to know
Canada, of course! No hesitation
I was ready to come "home"
26 years ago, I settled here
And, to me, this place has become very dear
But, in order to succeed, as many do
A forée across the border broadened my scope
Prompted opportunities
Enabled fresh hope
Thus my work began
To make Canada proud, or so I thought
To become an "emerging Canadian artist," or so I wished
Alas, barely started, I nearly stopped
The painting was my passion, but not the expense
The painting was my vocation, but not the run-around
After close to ten months of rejections
A thousand e-mails and phone calls unanswered
I’m still here to tell the tale
and say THANK YOU
I don’t give up easily
And nor do you!
From one little lead
There got planted a valuable seed
When all else fails, neighbors can be there to help you out
Hear you shout
Stand by your side
Protect another Canadian hyde
An idea for a celebration/fundraiser came into being
Thank you Dr. Carolyn Bennett, MP for St. Paul’s
That idea for a celebration connected to a venue
Thank you Roberto Martella, proprietor of Grano
Next, a committee formed
Thank you David, Danny, Graham, Peter, Ryan and Saverio
My men in shining armour, who’ve enabled this happening
Thank you also to all the business keepers, friends, and acquaintances
who understood the plight
I aplologize if anyone is missed
Please don’t be that little word that rhymes—P-I-S-S-E-D
From those who donated prizes
to those who provided rereshments
to those who volunteered time and energy before and on this night
to those who displayed and forwarded posters and invitations
put up with me…and more
An Academy Awards Speech this is not, but to remember there’s a lot
Off to Florence my precious collection will go
And in six weeks, I will join them
For now, that’s all we know
Looking to the future, no one really can predict what’s ahead
Long live the Good Neighbors’ Fund
For whatever assistance it can provide
Nurture the dreams of other talented Canadians
that they stay in Canada
Not feel forced in other countries to reside.
