Launch of What is Stephen Harper Reading by Yann Martel

What: Launch of What is Stephen Harper Reading? by Yann Martel
When: Monday November 16, 7-9 pm, doors open at 6.30pm.
Where: Patrick Gordon Framing, 160 Elm St (Elm St/City Centre Drive, via Albert). patrickgordonframing.ca In March 2007, Yann Martel had had enough. He was frustrated with continuous art funding cuts by Stephen Harper's government and he decided to do something. For an author a natural reaction was to trust the old saying "the pen is mightier than the sword"; and Martel started to send books to the prime minister. Since then, every two weeks Martel has been mailing a carefully chosen book, accompanied with a letter, to Stephen Harper. Two and half years later, Martel has mailed 65 books and received five answers, and Stephen Harper sings a song at the NAC. Maybe his performance was a result of Martel’s adamancy; maybe Harper has realized that art matters. Or maybe he is only after votes. In any case, one Beatles song doesn't change the fact that art funding has been cut and the future of Canadian art is endangered. To keep the art going, please join us for an evening of Canadian art: launch of Martel’s new book What Is Stephen Harper Reading? is accompanied with 29 pieces of art, with a theme Message to the Government, by 29 local artists. The MC of the evening is Peter Honeywell, the Executive Director of the Council for the Arts in Ottawa. Come and enjoy the book, the art, the discussion. No admission fee, no advance tickets. Better to come early! More about the book: www.whatisstephenharperreading.ca Local artists: Adrian Gollner, Andrea Sutton, Beth Levin, Bill McCann, Christopher Griffin, Christos Pantieras, Daniel Marchand, Daniel Sharp, Danny Hussey, Dave Cooper, David Barbour, John Barkley,  John Moffat, Justin Wonnacott, Maggie Knaus, Marjory Loveys, Mary Spicer, Michele Provost, Mike Ross, Mirana Zuger, Pat Durr, Patrick Cocklin, Patti Normand, Pedro Isztin, Peter Shemlzer, Petra Halkes, Reid McLachlan, Remi Theriault, Wojciech Jakobiec.