I'm in Winnipeg on summer family business, packing and moving a whole lot of boxes. The city is by turns charming, ugly, friendly, sad. I'm always glad to come, and usually ready to go.
Winnipeg is an up-front city -- citizens talk to you, yell at each other, tell you how they feel. The irony here is mostly about how pathetic things are. The Winnipeg Arcades Project show I went to last night highlights, among other things, a plan to improve local area businesses by pitting police-trained uniformed volunteers like the guys in the picture against streeters. The theme -- Isn't this ridiculous! -- is clear but never stated. The subtext is sadness and anger. The show is part of a series of unorganized art projects, a different one every few hours in a downtown space. (Think June weddings, rolling out the brides and grooms every hour of the weekend.) The show before the Arcades Project was all about preserving things -- from fruit and veg to memories.
Overheard conversations can tell you a lot about a place.
She's not my sister. She's a shoplifter!
Get off me, Dad -- you're crushing my smokes!
Why would I go home with you, a******? I live with you.
No wonder John Sampson writes the refrain, I ... hate ... Winnipeg and calls the song "One Fine City." No wonder Guy Madden can't leave.
7 comments:
I've never been there, but I don't think I'll go now.
It is one of the most referenced cities on The Simpsons. My personal favorite from the show is a city billboard: WELCOME TO WINNIPEG -- WE WERE BORN HERE, WHAT'S YOUR EXCUSE?
I overheard a woman comparing her femininity was like a train. Seriously!
I have dibs on writing that character sketch.
Maybe not.
I like the sounds of that preserving memories show though.
Sand
Just read "Me and Death". Started it last night and finished it this morning.... I loved it! What a great story
and characters that come alive. When that car scene was happening at the end, I was really on the edge of my seat. The story really moves along. An excellent book!
Aww, my blushes.
The baby actually scared me.
Winnipeg...I spent a month there one weekend. It was so cold my snot froze. :-)
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