The Canadian Jewish News, Friday, February 21, 1975 ^Fage
Arti
A mere Irumpet saved Louis^^^^B^ life 33 years ago whOe inmate a Aiiscliwit
Sheila Myers works out of her basement studio to produce an exciting variety diat a quilt is not merely a bed-covering, but a potential life-long work of art,"
of quilts. "She obviously understands and appreciates writes critic Paula David, Miio interviewed her recently.
ait form of q takes on new and colorful
art
By PAULA DAVID
In the past few years the craft revival has witnessed an exciting variation of time-honored skills. Batik, weaving, macrame and pottery have all been rejuvenated with, new iqterpretations and inclinations. The viewing pub-lip is also rediscovering tM' Mmy 61 TiiieTrana-" work and traditional designs.
The World Craft Festival, recently held in Toronto, and various gallery collections have emphasized the elevation of crafts into the realm of art. A collection of quilts at North >York's Gibson House illustrated the development of an ancient craft into a modern and functional art form. The tradition of pioneer quilting bees, - incorporating symbolic motifs and color schemes was highlighted. Unfortunately, the few modem versions lost the quality of design and handworic- that are such an integral part of the quilt. It takes a great deal (rf artistic sensitivity to pipdiice a modern quilt, for the ancient Lone Star, Log Cabin and other patterns are still able to withstand the test of time and have become classics.
SheUa Myers, a young ctaftswoman,works out of her basement studio, producing an exciting variety of quilts. She obviously understands and appreciates that a quilt is not merely a bed covering, but a potential life-long work of art. Accepting the facts of modem technology and the advantages of the
sewing machine, wash-' able fabrics and polyester fibrefill. she has created exciting new patterns without sacrificing a designer's approach. Her color sense reflects her fine art training, for her quilts are reminiscent of the color field painters.
When I visited her studio. I had the pleasure of watching Myers design.
and piece a quilt. Sewing the quih is the final and easiest step, and I developed a new appreciation when I witnessed the entire operation. Although she does accept -Tjersonjall2CTr'-OTtr~dfteM " t'fiaT'^"" layman confining commissions, never consider.
the finest quilts are produced when she is given a free hand in the design and color combinations.
The most important aspect in the creation of Myers' quilts is the initial judicious selection of fabrics. The incredible range of fabric designs available. today would astound the pioneer women, and it is vital that a qualified, discriminatory approach be employed. This is her strong point, for she has an excellent sense of envisioning the finished product, and is able to select colors and^^patterns • * "might
Once the color scheme and fabric range has been decided on, she cuts the pieces, and proceeds to develop the design. Working on graph paper, and then with actual materials, she finalizes the pattern and stitches it together. At this point the quilting takes place. 1 wondered whether the sewing machine would detract from the quality of the finished product, but it was interesting to note, that with modem designs and color combinations, machine stitches actually complemented the minimal patterns.
The finished quilts are
somewhere between a luxurious bedspread.and an exciting wall-hanging. However, as soon as I sampled it. 1 was sure that the quilt belonged on a bed and nowhere else. If Myers' own home is any indication, the presence of a well-made, modem quilt adds an inviting coziness as well as a dynamic art form to'the environment. A combination of color field art. minimal design, soft sculpture and traditional craftsmanship are all present in Sheila Myers' quilts, further reinforcing the potential for artistiediscovery in the art?, of crafts.
By S. K. LAZAROV Siaff Repwter
TORONTO-
Music has always provided Louis Bannet. a violinist and tmmpeter who has 17 Capital record albums to his credit, with all the material comforts. But 33 years ago, music literally saved his life.
Bannet. a transplanted Dutchman who now makes his home in Montreal, spent three long years in the most infamous concentration camp, Auschwitz, and he was the sole survivor of a bedraggled group of 635 Dutch Jews transported to the Polish death camp in the winter of 1942.
In his native Holland. Bannet was widely known as the "Louis Armstrong of Europe." After the German invasion, his life was thrown into utter disarray. His career vanished. He became a hunted beast, a frightened human perpetually oh the mn and always on guard against informers.
Thanks to a non-Jewish friendi brother of a smalltown police chief. Bannet obtained forged documents identifying him as a non-Jew. He passed himself off as just another citizen in the village of Drimmelan. But his carefully nurtured disguise was blown some six months later when the Gestapo caught him in a bakery. "1 didn't know how to react." he recalls. "What could I do? What could 1 say?.I tried to pay them off but there was no way they could be bribed."
They brought him to Rotterdam, ironically his brithplace. and interrogated him with 634 other Dutch Jews. Hours later, he was on a cattle train. "1 didn't have the slightest idea what was happening. 1 never really believed all those atrocity stories attributed to the Germians." he said in an interview.
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Loiiis Bannet literally owes his life to music. He saved himself by playing With the concentration camp , orchestra. Bannet recently made his debut in Toronto.
The train shuddered to a hissing stop after an arduous journey. Spotlights blinded Bannet and straining German shepherds pulled on their leashes.
The Jews were forced to stand out in the cold until dawn. In the morning, he and two other musicians were yanked from the line. A hasty audition was arranged. Like all concentration camps, Auschwitz had its own orchestra.
They were . led to a bitterly frigid warehouse piled high with musical instruments, booty of the war. All three shivered. The first musician, a
saxophonist, was unable to blow. His lips were frozen. The second man. a trombonist, met with the sanie fate. They were dragged away.
Now it was Bannet's turn. "Louis, you play for your life," ordered the guard. And Bannet, a trumpet in his hands, belted out a sentimental German song. The guard was impressed. It was the difference between life and death.
Bannet. whose left arm was branded with the number 93626. joined the camp orchestra, composed of the best musicians in Europe, musicians who
had played in the most illustrious nightclubs and concert houses.
The orchestra was there for a devious purpose, performing Whenever new victims stepped off the train .loaded down with groaning Jews, and in the morning when work groups left for the mines. The histrionic strains of martial music, the stock in trade of the orchestra, had the desired effect of creating a false and perverted sense of security and well-being in the camp.
Bannet. the ultimate professional, became so hardened to his task that when his mother was marched into the crematorium he continued to play. "If I had protested, they would have shot me like a dog," he explained.
When he was not doing his duty with the orchestra. Bannet and the rest of the musicians were busy with another job — carting camp manure, great piles of it. to an outljring open pit. It was one of the best jobs in Auschwitz. The inmates and their German tormentors considered it pJush beyond words.
Bannet. a lively, robust man wont to pacfe the floor and gesticulate with his arms to explain his story, was liberated by the Russians, but by then he was a broken shell of a man. He . spent many months in a hospital in Czechoslovakia.
He resumed his career in Holland. But in 1953 he joined the Royal Canadian
Artillery Band, based i^ Darthmouth, Nova Scoti^^ and with whom he travel^ led half way around the world entertaining over^ seas Canadian troop^^ After three years, hf returned to Holland again^i Scarred by his concentraf tion camp experiences^^ Bannet assumed that thci^ outbreak of the Hungarian revolution would cause ^ third world war and engulfj him and his family in i nuclear holocaust. ^ In Montreal, where het finally found a measure peace a^d stability, Bani net began to work at th^ Salle Bonavanture of th^ Queen Elizabeth Hotels^ He performed with sucff? personalities as Liberace^ Rowan and Martin, Jane^
Morgan, Nelson Eddy ahij^ Lawrence Welk. ^
When his contract ex?c pired after some three years, he went down to" New York city. He played; at the Savoy Hilton ani Sabra nightclub. Mosf-recently. Bannet has beenr featured at Alberta's-Jasper Park Lodge. ,.i
Currently. Bannet. whtfc is best known for his gypsy, fiddling that evokes' memories of the Depresf-sion era, is at Toronto'sL . Roehampton Place Hotel^ Listening to his alter^ natively soulful and spirit^ ed renditions, and watch^ ing his bright face light tip-as the audience applauds, it is easy to forget — and impossible to ascertain -^7 that Louis Bannet. number 93626. owes his life, to a trurnpet.
John Munro
As Minister responsible for Multiculturalism the Honourable John Munro gives direction to the overall impact of multiculturalism in all departments of the Government of Canada. He is specifically responsible for the Multicultural Program in the Department of the Secretary of State.
In the Department of the Secretary of State
The MulticLiltural Program is designed to assist and promote cultural development of all Canadian groups wishing to preserve and contribute their heritage to Canada. Implementation of the following activities helps to achieve this goal:
Project Grants Program
Makes funds available to voluntary groups in support of multicultural activities.
Multicultural Centres Program
Provides grants to voluntary groups to organize multicultural centres in local communities.
Canadian identities Program
Strives to strengthen the cultural identity of minority groups and promote an understanding and awareness of Canada's cultural diversity.
Canadian Ethnic Studies Advisory Committee
Formed to advise on the development of research on ethnic studies in Canada and administer ia program of visiting professors of ethnic studies at Canadian universities.
Third Language Teaching Aids
Makes fiJnds available for the development and production of teaching materials for language classes.
Immigrant Integration Program
Assists various groups in helping immigrants to participate fully in Canadian society.
Ethnic Groups Liaison
This program makes available professional resources afthe^ national and local levels to assist groups In organization and comniunicatlon.
In the National Film Board
The National Film Board has produced over 400 of its films in 19 different languages. These may be obtained free of charge from National Film Board offices in the following cities: Vancouver, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa and Halifax.
In the National Museum of Man
The National Museum of Man in Ottawa documents the history of all Canadian ethno-cultural traditions. The Museum has accumulated a vast number of artifacts, tape recordings, video tapes and films. Special attention is being placed on such elements as folk architecture, home furnishings, pre-industrial techniques of food production and handicrafts, traditional story-telling, family and community life, feasts and rites. Cultural exhibits and travelling displays are also being prepared.
In the Public Archives
The National Ethnic Archives program Is designed to find and protect ethnb-cultural records from loss, damage or deterioration. A staff of area specialists has begun collating records of this rich and important aspect of our heritage through contacts with ^thno-cultural organizations, associations and individuals.
In the National Library
The National Library has undertaken, the organization of a Multilingual Bibiio-service. Its aim is to acquire books in non-official languages spoken In Canada A and make them available through J^' public libraries. It is hoped that the <^ blocks of books, in ten languages,/ will be ready for mailing at the ^
beginning of 1975, five new languages being added
Hon. John Munro Minister Responsible for Multiculturalism
annually.
L'hon. John Munro ~ Ministre charg§ ■ .j du Multiculturalisme
^ Name:
^ To present ^ your views, 4r or to
r receive further informaiidh, mall to: Multlculturallsn^ P.O. Box 366, Station A, Ottawa, Ontario K1N8Z9f
Ad(/ress:
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