“CANADA a Bighteen months ago, labor artist Fraser \ilson’s historic mural was deteriorating an old auditorium wall, its plaster back- crumbling from years of water damage, wv its surface crakced and patched from eshift repair to the plumbing behind. ajthough the scenes it depicted — of the’ x, movement’s roots in the province’s invest mining and fishing industries — were y vivid, the paint itself was dull and the ‘ct’s Name barely visible under layers of 4 and inferior varnish. But last week, under the painstaking d of art restorer Ferdinand Petrov. Wil- 4g painting was brought back to life with Rbe color and vigor it had in 1947. “petrov, who with his wife Sylvia and ghter Zsuzsi spent six months stripping, pe g and restoring the mural, revealed results of his work Oct. 30. The event iy marked with a ceremony with Van- gver mayor Mike Harcourt, representing 9 city’s Centennial Commission which Bieided some Of the start-up money for the . on. Mioth Petrov were Dan Cole, president of : Maritime Labor Centre where the mural ye eventually be mounted, and Wilson whl had not seen the mural since it had ee taken off in panels from the wall of the ve Pender Auditorium last June. “H[e’s done an incredible job — the jors look like they did 30 years ago,” \yjilson remarked. Jronically, when the mural was painted a commission from the Marine Workers ~ Boilermakers Industrial Union, then ‘owners of the Pender Auditorium — “‘it y only intended as decoration for »? he said. “I never thought it would Y is. long or be given this attention.” ‘ Although the overall size of the mural has . on reduced slightly to fit the wall where it yen to go and to eliminate some areas Spere Gamage was extreme, it is still an ee cive 88 feet by 13 feet. It is now made wre 44 separate, interlocking panels. Bout the work required to get the mural to tage was staggering: the painting itself i be removed from the old wall back- thé Flanked by Vancouver mayor Mike Harcourt (I), artist Fraser Wilson (r) and Maritime Mural brought back to life Labor Centre president Dan Cole, art restorer Ferdinand Petrov looks over the restored mural panels. One scene is behind them. ing, carefully cleaned — including the stripping of several coats of old varnish — and then attached to sections of special kiln-dried plywood. Where there was dam- age to the painting itself — and in places it was extensive — the paint had to be chemi- cally analyzed so that new paints could be formulated to match the 1947 Original. Petrov said that the restoration took some six months of intensive work although he has involved in the project for some time longer than that. He said that his charge was substantially less than it would normally be for restoration work of this kind, adding, “the union doesn’t have much money. “We understand that this is part of their heritage and their history,” he said. Fortunately, the advent of the city’s cen- tenary provided the impetus for the cam- paign that saved the mural. Gary Oliver, manager of the Pacific Artists Co-operative Studio which has occupied the hall for sev- eral years, contacted Vancouver alderman Bruce Yorke, a member of the Centennial Commission, who succeded in getting oth- ers involved including the Marine Workers, the Maritime Centre and the Vancouver and District Labor Council. Harcourt paid tribute to the work done on the mural and presented Wilson with a letter from the city which noted: “This mural, a noble view of labor in our pro- vince, is now a_lasting legacy for future generations to enjoy.” For. years, the mural was familiar to hundreds. of unionists and» formed the backdrop for scores of union and political rallies that took place at the hall. After the union sold the hall in the 1950s, however, it began to suffer damage. Cole said that the mural panels will go into storage until the Maritime Labor Cen- tre auditorium, scheduled to be developed some time next year, is completed. Chile poised for renewed protest nless the United States is successful in v g a wedge between the left and right of Chile’s opposition forces — by Yguring dictator Augusto Pinochet to Vytiate a2 separate peace with the Y ervatives — Chile will likely see a new Yad of successful strikes and protests Ww yst the 13-year old military junta, a dian news correspondent told a Van- , er audience Sunday. fake Sagaris, a mer -¥ancouver J jent now living “santiago. Chile, +» said continued “ital military re- ssion will see * corresponding 4 in armed Vetance aS young yileans reject the yaceful change er this negotiation option does fail then the continued existence of the ‘gtional Assembly seems to promise more yd stronger public mobilization, possibly yinning im the next few weeks,” Sagaris, 4town On a national speaking tour, pre- | Ata talk sponsored by the Canadians for emocracy in Chile and Oxfam, the former yancouver resident and student activist said at despite difficulties in unifying the var- jis Opposition groups, last summer's tional strike shows it can be done. ‘The opposition this year managed to site long enough to produce a successful, Wo-day strike, with new and middle-class SAGARIS ‘sectors involved,” she noted. Sagaris, who corresponds regularly for the Globe and Mail and several other Can- adian and American media outlets, painted a picture of the three major opposition groups in the South American nation and the tenuous ties they have occasionally achieved. On the right is the Democratic Alliance, dominated by the right-wing Christian Democratic Party. It seeks a negotiated end to Chile’s military rule, has relations with the U.S. and represents middle to upper- class Chileans. It usually rejects alliances with left-wing forces. On the “far left” is the Manuel Rodrigues Patriotic Front, a para-military organiza- tion thought to be behind the assassination attempt on Pinochet last Sept. 7. In the “middle” are all those organiza- tions regularly staging massive “civil dis- obedience campaigns, similar to those that brought down the Marcos government in Philippines,” Sagaris explained. It includes the Popular Democratic Movement, an alliance of Chile’s Communist Party, MIR, and other left organizations, as well as left Christian Democrats. — Ever present is the United States, which, while making occasional statements about human rights abuses, continues to finance the Pinochet regime. But it remains “‘appar- ently ready to replace Pinochet if he loses control,” said Sagaris. The U.S., she said, also puts pressure on the Democratic Alliance to refuse co- operation with the Popular Democratic Movement, a situation she said is not solely responsible for, but is undoubtedly a factor in, holding back the anti-Pinochet struggle. While the assassination attempt resulted ina military crackdown, with a state of siege declared and the arrest and murder of sev- eral key opposition figures — and resulted in a breakdown of co-operation between the conservative and left opposition forces — it also showed how shaky the rul- ing junta is, said Sagaris. “One of the key things about the assassi- nation attempt is that it showed how shaken up the government was. Pinochet has no heir apparent,” she said in response to a question. And despite efforts by the conservatives to seek a negotiated settlement to Chile’s turmoil, Pinochet continues to treat all attempts at reconciliation with contempt, paving the way for future alliances against his regime, Sagaris said. She noted, that despite the differences, the two groups have “‘very similar minimal programs for reform.” Signs are also there that Pinochet’s sup- port is slipping. A rally held Sept. 9, two days after the assassination attempt, drew some 80,000 participants — large by Can- adian standards, but only about a third the size of pro-Pincohet rallies in earlier years, and considerably smaller than the up to one-million strong rallies the opposition has organized, said Sagaris. She also credited the trade union move- ment, led by the formerly pro-Pinochet Copper Workers Confederation, for stag- ing a strike in 1983 that “changed the politi- cal atmosphere in one day from one of fear.” Classified Advertising COMING EVENTS NOV. 22 — Canadian Farmworkers Union Annual Benefit Dinner and Dance. 5:45 p.m. at Hellenic Centre, 4500 Arbutus St. $13 employed, $9 students and unemployed. Guest speakers: Shirley Carr and Dolores Huerta (vice-president, UFWA). For reservations call: 430-6055. NOV. 23 — Federation of Russian Canadians International Year of Peace Concert. Russian Hall, 600 Campbell Ave. FRC Festival Choir and invited guest performers. 2 p.m. For info. phone 255-6488. NOV. 30 — WBA District Committee Annual Family Dinner. Ukrainian Hall, 805 E. Pender St. For the entire family, entertainment at 2 p.m. dinner following. $6 adults, $3 children under 12. For tickets, phone 253-3032, 277-0944. COMMERCIAL GRAMMA PUBLICATIONS. Complete print- ing services. Brochures, menus, leaflets, etc. A union shop. 1595 W. 3rd Ave. Vancouver. Hours: Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 733-6822. ELECTRICAL PLUMBING, appliance repairs. Don Berg 255-7287. GENERAL INSURANCE, home, business, trade union. Dave Morton, bus. 986-9351; res. 433-4568. é VICTORIA BILL HARTLEY your AutoPlan man. All types of insurance. Mail in or phone in. 2420 Douglas Street, Victoria, V8T 4L7. 388-5014. LEGAL SERVICES RANKIN, BOND, McMURRAY. Barristers and Solicitors. 2nd Floor, 157 Alexander Street, 682-3621. DIRECTORY COMMUNIST PARTY OF CANADA offices located at 102, 2747 E. Hastings St. Vancouver. Phone 254-9836. Office hours: 9:30-12 noon: 1-5 p.m: Mon to Fri. For information on political issues or assistance in political activity. HALLS FOR RENT RUSSIAN PEOPLE’S HOME — Available for rentals. For reservations phone 254-3430. UKRAINIAN CANADIAN CULTURAL CENTRE — 805 East Pender St. Vancouver. Available for banquets, weddings, meetings... Phone 254-3436. People’s Co-op Bookstore 1391 Commercial Drive Vancouver, B.C. V5L 3X5 Telephone: 253-6442 AFTER BENNETT. A new politics for B.C. — a sequel to the best seller The New Reality. $5.95 (paper) HERSTORY 1987 — the Canadian women’s calendar $7.95 (coilbound) RANKIN & COMPANY Barristers & Solicitors 4th Floor, 195 Alexander St. Vancouver, B.C. V6A IN8& 682-2781 Offers a broad range of legal services including: @ Personal Injury & Insurance claims © Real Estate & Conveyancing @ Divorce & Family Law @ Labour Law @ Criminal Law @ Estates & Wills PACIFIC TRIBUNE, NOVEMBER 5, 1986 e 11 bli, 1 5 yp tienes asad ‘ABN MRT te