Are you an artist? (Banff Centre, 20 April 2012)

20 April 2012, Banff Centre: Ray performs a piece based on interviews with workers at the Banff Centre. Phoebe Tsang on violin.

Excerpts:

Are you an artist?

No.

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Are you an artist?

Yes. How did you know?

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Did I ask you whether you were an artist?

Yes, you asked me yesterday.

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I hear wonderful things about the baked apples. Are those walnuts on top?

Toasted almonds. They take the apples out.

[at this point, another chef overheard and joined the conversation because he realized someone was noticing the artistry of the food]

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Are you an artist?

No. I don't have a creative bone in my body.

Then what do you have in your body?

Sports bones.

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Are you an artist?

Banff Centre speaking. How may I direct you?

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Are you an artist?

No, no. I'm not part of the work study thing. I just moved to Banff and now I'm here.

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Are you an artist?

No, I fix the elevator.

Where do you get your supplies?

I make the elevator parts I use. We have workshops where we make the parts out of wood and metal.

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Are you an artist?

No, no. I think you asked me that yesterday. No, no, no. [laughs]

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Are you an artist?

Yes, yes I am. I'm actually a graphic designer in Brisbane. I wanted to switch things up a bit. Maybe that's weird.

No, no. Not weird at all. Many of my friends are working as cleaners.

Yeah. I think they hire a lot of artists here as cleaners because they understand what it's like to be an artist.

I started a writing workshop here for staff.

Oh what is it that you do? Are you a writer?

Most people know me as a poet. But these days I do a bit of performance art, conceptual art. I'm doing a piece tonight based on my asking staff around here whether or not they're an artist.

That's cool. Anyway, I better hurry. I have to finish my turn over. I hope this helps with your piece tonight. I'm Jo.