Artist receives the bill for act of ‘chairorrism’
Jordan Jackle, The StarPhoenix
Published: Wednesday, February 14, 2007
An act of “chairorrism” has left a local artist with a bill for $450.On Jan. 26, the fire department’s water rescue team removed four wooden chairs from a patch of ice on the South Saskatchewan River in the River Landing area. The chairs were created by local artist Michael Hosaluk for his ‘Containment’ exhibition at the Mendel Art Gallery. Although he was surprised when he received the bill late last week, Hosaluk is accepting responsibility.”I guess that if you’re the initiator you should take responsibility, even though all the actions maybe aren’t yours,” he said.Hosaluk’s friend and fellow artist, Doug Taylor, used a canoe to place the four chairs on the patch of ice.Hosaluk isn’t too riled up about the issue, but he does wonder if it would be better to “put our energies towards other things rather then getting all worked up over some chairs.”
However, assistant fire chief Bob Fawcett took the issue seriously. He said if there’s something on the ice that might draw attention from children who might then venture on to the ice investigate, the fire department will respond.
As for the bill, he said it’s the same amount the department charges for responding to a malicious call, like when it knows the identity of someone who pulled a fire alarm without reason. The $450 pays for fuel, wear and tear on equipment and wages, said Fawcett.
Hosaluk believes the situation is indicative of a deeper social trend in Canadian society. He said there is a national conservative mindset, where everything has to be approved and “digested through a committee.”
“To do things of beauty randomly, without permission, (isn’t) allowed in our society,” said Hosaluk.
He and a few fellow artists had placed other chairs throughout the city, something they called “chairorrist actions.” Many of them, including one glued to a tree by City Hall, have been removed.
“It was sort of a gift to the city,” said Hosaluk.
The only remaining one is at the Mendel Art Gallery, as it’s “sort of” on their property, he said.
The City of Saskatoon adopted a Visual Arts Placement Policy in 1990, which states a seven-member jury appointed by city council will determine, on the basis of quality and appropriateness, what art projects will be allowed in open spaces, in civic facilities and on city-owned property.
Hosaluk recently returned from the United States, where he was an artist in residence at the California College of the Arts during November and December. He created a large portion of his exhibit during that time and placed chairs in random locations.
“They were greeted as something esthetically pleasing,” he said. “Even the security guards on campus loved it.”
But in the case of the chairs on the river, it came down to a matter of safety, said Fawcett.
“I know his (Hosaluk’s) work and I know he does great work, but this particular incident we felt was something we had to react to,” he said.
jjackle@sp.canwest.com
© The StarPhoenix (Saskatoon) 2007