Deryk Houston and Elizabeth Wellburn Keep Flame Alive
Barry S. Marjanovich
Below is an excerpt from a letter Mr. Deryk Houston sent me informing
me about the activities which are being planned in support of Mr. Vedran
Smailovic, the cellist of Sarajevo, and the human values and ideals that
Vedran so bravely defended when he played his cello for 22 days in the
streets of Sarajevo while being exposed to murderous snipers and shelling.
Vedran risked his own life to commemorate 22 innocent lives which were so
brutaly taken away by EVIL.
Also attached is a letter Mr. Deryk Houston sent to Ms. Robillard,
minister of Immigration, when the Canadian government refused to grant
Mr. Vedran Smailovic a visa to visit Canada.
Your support for this cause would be greatly appreciated.
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May 27, 1997, is the five year anniversary date of the massacre of 22
people in front of a bakery in Sarajevo. On this date, in a variety of
locations including here in Victoria and the grounds of the Vancouver Art
Gallery on the mainland, as well as in places all over the world, we are
planning an event to raise awareness (and to raise funds for Vedran
Smailovic so that he can continue with his own war relief efforts).
We are hoping that artists, musicians and others, around the world, will
gather in the street to create and share their work. If funds can be raised
to go towards Vedran's efforts to help war victims, so much the better. If
you can "spread the word" in some way, please do, because every individual
action makes a difference. In Canada, donations can be deposited directly
to any branch of "Canada Trust" . Other locations will be able to send
money orders to Canada Trust, made out to the Vedran Smailovic fund. If
you have internet access, please check the following website for updated
information:
On May 27th, I will personally begin painting in Vancouver on the lawns of
the art gallery for ten days. All the money from this work will go into the
fund in Vedran's name. I will then paint for twelve days in Victoria and
also donate those funds.
We hope that by hearing about this idea through the media, people will
spontaneously decide to participate. It is not possible for us to formally
organize something to take place around the world, but if people get
together in various locations, an important statement can be made.
A number of musicians are joining us.
Tommy Sands, who has been described as "one of the most important political
songwriters in Ireland, if not the rest of the world." (Sing Out - U.S.A.)
has agreed to organize an event for Belfast in Ireland. He could not
believe that Canada would not give Vedran a visitor's visa. He wants to
help Vedran and has arranged for him to stay in a cottage close to his home
in Rostrovar, Ireland. Mr. Sands also does a radio program out of Belfast
and when he did a broadcast about Vedran's situation (and the Canadian
government's visa refusal), the audience showed their support and the phone
rang of the hook. There was an even an invitation for Vedran to play at
someone's castle.
We really want to stay focused on the event as a fund-raiser for Vedran
Smailovic. He has been involved with a great number of charities for
refugees from war-torn countries around the world.
One such event held in New York, involved the signing of a huge banner
recognizing the thousand day siege of Sarajevo. Pete Seeger and Vanessa
Redgrave and Bianca Jagger were among the supporters.
We want to help him continue his generous support.
Vedran Smailovic, Bruce Cockburn, Bob Dylan and others are currently
recording a song that will be a tribute to Pete Seeger. A concert for the
release of this new CD will be held in New York at Carnagie Hall this fall.
Deryk Houston and Elizabeth Wellburn
Deryk Houston dhou...@coastnet.com
Victoria, B.C. Canada
-- voice: (250) 598-9908
The Art Gallery http://coastnet.com/dhouston/
"Why We Need Art"
"Art is the antidote that can call us back from the edge of numbness,
restoring the ability to feel for another." - Barbara Kingsolver
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Dear Ms Robillard,
We are ashamed that you seem to be so blinded by your own light that you
could not have reached out your hand to help Vedran Smailovic, the cellist
of Sarajevo. This man gave hope to the world through his music. It is a
disgrace that you are in a position of power and represent Canada on the
world stage.
You have diminished the memory of the innocent children who were shot by
sniper fire, children who were killed while they picked cherries in the
trees.
You have abandoned the mothers who had to crawl on their hands and knees
to avoid sniper fire and pick up the arms and legs and body parts of their
little children.
You have betrayed the twenty-two men, women and children who were butchered
in the line up waiting for bread.
You have let all Canadians down. I hope your ego gets a good night's sleep.
You have denied the opportunity for the children in our community to meet
Vedran Smailovic in our schools and to share his thoughts on how people
can find the courage to face the monsters of this world during a modern
war.
You have left us with few options. Our first obligation is to apologize to
Mr. Smailovic on behalf the many Canadians who have rallied around us to
show their support.
We intend to apologize in every way possible to us. Deryk will begin by
traveling to London to paint Mr. Smailovic and apologize in person. Upon
his return, Deryk will begin painting in downtown Vancouver for twenty-two
days.
All the money from the sales of these paintings, while he paints in public,
will be donated to a fund set up in Vedran Smailovic's name.
Twenty-two musicians and artists in Vancouver have agreed to join Deryk for
a period of time as part of this apology to Mr. Smailovic.
We are also in the process of organizing twenty-two cities across Canada.
We welcome Canadians who would like to join us and express their outrage
and support.
This visual apology will start twenty-two days before the next federal election.
We have heard two things repeated over and over again from all the calls of
support received from Canada and the United States.
1. "This is a bureaucratic decision, not a humanitarian decision."
2. "This is so un-Canadian"
Ms. Robillard, this cowardly decision is yours. What makes it all the more
baffling is that you have served in the roles of Minister of Culture and
Minister of Education. You have held positions that should have given you a
sense of the importance of extraordinary actions such as Mr. Smailovic's
stand for peace in Sarajevo.
The people from the media have supported this story. It struck us that
these people have often been to many parts of the world where they have
seen and reported on much of the horror of war close up. They have
photographed the shattered corpses of the children and felt utterly
helpless to offer any hope to the people caught in their lenses. These
journalists understand the full power of Vedran Smailovic's music both to
the survivors of Sarajevo as well as to the frustrated snipers who would
have loved to have got in a good skull shot at Mr. Smailovic.
The decision regarding Mr. Smailovic's visit to Canada comes down to the
question of whether we can accept his word when he says that he intends to
leave Canada when his visa runs out.
We suggest that you ask the mothers of the children whose bodies lay in pieces.
Whose word can we count on?
The world, including Canada, that stood by paralyzed?
Or Mr. Smailovic's word?
An honorable man who put his life on the line and gave hope to these
desperate people of Sarajevo.
Your decision advertises your ignorance and lack of compassion.
We wish a better future for us all. Too many people seem to seek answers
through power or possessions. Vedran Smailovic has shown the world an
example of a different way to act. Our hope is that every piece of music,
every story, every painting, etc., that shows a gentle alternative will
help lead us, one by one, to a better way of life.
Sincerely,
Deryk Houston and Elizabeth Wellburn
250 598 9908
1016 Verrinder Avenue, Victoria, B.C. V8S 3T7
e mail: dhou...@coastnet.com
Web Page: http://coastnet.com/dhouston/
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