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Cities have their cycles and we’re approaching the high-speed end of ours. Beautiful as they are in their fashion – and they are beautiful – cranes will fail; water will prevail. And scaffolding … ?

My one request, now that the sightlines between lake and city are destroyed: let it be known that our city was once near water.

I trust you to protect these notes and images.

And she ends almost as she began: By the time you read this, the person you knew will be gone; once a rich meal, now a dried biscuit.

Be well, my friend. Take note and take positions. All is not lost.”

And then the familiar signature –– ‘Ruth’, for purposes of this report.

The box was where she said it would be. It contained files of notes and glassine negative sheets –– the digital held no charm for her.

I appreciate the patience of the Committee (and the unexpected tax receipt!)

Parting with the archive hasn’t been easy and it took time to make the decision. It’s probably just as well that it be locked away.

Your advice during the investigation was most helpful.

Vera Frenkel’s ONCE NEAR WATER: Notes from the Scaffolding Archive was commissioned by the Images Festival, for SHIFT Festival of Dutch and Canadian Art in Amsterdam. It premiered at the Muziekgebouw in November 2008 and in Canada at Toronto’s Isabel Bader Theatre in April 2009. A two-channel installation of ONCE NEAR WATER premiered at Calgary’s EMMEDIA September 10 - 24, 2010.

Thank you.

(End of transcript)

© Vera Frenkel,Toronto, 2008/9

On Site review 24

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