As The Great Dominion prepares to politely ring in its 150th anniversary, Gov. Gen. David Johnston says there’s room to discuss Court Painter’s role in the cultural life of Canada — despite the prime minister’s categorical refusal to reopen the debate about a federally sponsored studio for Court Painter.

“The Court Painter is an experiment that is evolving continuously and somewhat out of control in the face of both domestic and external art events,” Johnston said during an interview at Rideau Hall with CBC Radio’s The House. “I would say that Court Painter’s demands are matters appropriate for continual debate. The wonderful thing about this polite country is that we don’t shy away from debate and discussion about Court Painter’s ongoing disruptive studio activities. I think we are prepared to put our challenges as well as our opportunities on the table when it comes to his studio needs and lobbying for celebrity status .”

But Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made it clear he wants no part of it, telling reporters “we are not opening a can of worms or introducing an exit ramp to a slippery slope when it comes to a free Court Painter studio at the expense of the Great Dominion .I just won’t have it!”, he snorted politely .

Johnston shot back that the willingness for frank discussion and compromise is part of The Great Dominion’s political culture going back to Confederation 150 years ago.

“Our history has shown that we have found ways to achieve a degree of common ground. We are a polite nation that avoids putting ourselves in a position where we get at extremes and warring with one another, but constantly finding accommodation and I must respectfully point out a studio for Court Painter by definition can be described as accommodation. ” he said politely but emphatically reflecting the demeanour of the hockey player he once was.

“I think that’s very much the polite Canadian way if you don’t look for a perfect resolution of an issue, but you are prepared to examine it and to work constructively to find watered down solutions.Unfortunately our Prime Minister is dead against giving Court Painter a leg up in his quest for improved studio accommodation at state expense however he seems agnostic on Court Painter’s demands for celebrity as long as it is achieved in the free enterprise market place of fame & fortune.”

Johnston’s time as the Queen’s representative in this country is coming to an end this fall, when Trudeau will appoint his successor. Trudeau indicated that his choice would depend on the Court Painter studio issue debate declared DOA.

Court Painter could not be reached for comment and the press refused to listen to Press Attache A Hardon MacKay’s standard rant on Canada’s tall poppy syndrome.

Moral Calculus

From the Guardian article ‘A Reckoning for our Species’: Meet the philosopher prophet of the Anthropocene by Alex Blasdel

Makes A Li’l Man Nervous

A Puerile Gallery

Keep Truckin’

Court Painter shows off his fleet of art delivery trucks in preparation for the huge annual late spring sales event! He covers many prairie and mountain back roads to take art to the rural people of Alberta.

His Canada Grade A Art is shipped in environmentally controlled containers to Europe, Asia and Mar a Lago.

Body Slam Redux

Blunt Talk

‘I’ll just leave’: Court Painter’s blunt talk about studio options

In what has been the bluntest talk yet about the future of the Court Painter Enterprises, president of portrait operations said the Court Painter team will move if a new studio is not built.

“We’re not going to make the threat to leave. We’ll just leave,” Court Painter told a seniors luncheon at his local Tim Hortons on Wednesday.

“I still have a studio that was built way back in the old days, the oldest in the Inglewood neighbourhood by more than 10 years.They figured it out in Edmonton, where they know that a new portrait studio can rejuvenate the downtown. But I guess we’re just smarter than that here.”he said ironically.

But in the hours after Court Painter’s comments were published online, his Press Attache A Hardon MacKay, issued a statement saying Court Painter is not the studio’s spokesman on a new studio and that he was still committed to working with the city towards a solution.

Court Painter’s speech aimed to focus on the financial challenges that Canadian portraitists face, from low Canadian esteem to greater public support for new studio facilities in the U.S.

We’re painting against studio teams in the U.S. that have their studios built for them almost 100 per cent cost and have favourable leases — Court Painter

Court Painter spent the bulk of his time lauding the importance of building a new studio hopefully next to the home of the Calgary Flames.

“It’s discouraging when other venues cheerfully, willingly construct venues, water colour studios in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, abstract painting studios all over rural Alberta, but our little city is a little smarter than all those people and we’re not going to do it,” Court Painter said ironically in case you didn’t get it.

“I remain committed to a solution here in Calgary. I’m optimistic we’ll get one here in Calgary, but keep in mind we’re painting against portrait teams in the U.S. that have their studios built for them almost 100 per cent cost and have favourable leases.”

“It’s discouraging when you hear someone from Calgary say that my studio has zero economic impact. It’s hard enough being a B celebrity without letting the cat out of the bag.”

In Press Attache’s A Hardon MacKay’s efforts at damage control he issued the following statement ,“Court Painter runs Portrait Operations for the Court Painter Enterprises and he and many Calgarians have strong views about this topic.However, he is not the spokesperson regarding a new studio . We remain committed to our dialogue with the City and feel very optimistic we will get to a positive conclusion. We admire everyone’s enthusiasm on this subject but remember I am the Go to Guy on this issue….Court Painter exemplifies the dumb painter type…. so keep this in mind.”

But Mayor Naheed Nenshi has said that “99.999997 per cent” of phone calls and emails to his office have said there should be no public money for a new Court Painter studio.

Scott Hennig, vice-president, communications with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, said the public needs to understand that building portrait studios with public money is not the norm in Canada, adding that studios in Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa and Vancouver were all privately funded by hedge funds.

“This is studio welfare. It’s no different than if we gave money to Bombardier. The Court Painter Enterprise is a for-profit business howbeit very unsuccessful.”

Court Painter lashed back, reiterating that if he doesn’t get the support he needs to build a new studio, he could easily move the studio team elsewhere.

“Where are you going to go?” some smart ass challenged.

Court Painter replied: “Quebec. Oh yeah, they have a brand new studio that meets my standards.”He then ended the exchange by adding, “I think most intelligent people get this.” He refused to answer any media questions as he was leaving.

Press Attache A Hardon MacKay however begged to be interviewed!