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‘The gift is to the giver 2 _ in a column a few weeks ago, | said something about my shelf _ . Hyde understands that risk which is intrinsic to offering art. It g of books to take to a desert island. Someone asked me what else _ comes as a gift and it is offered as a gift. _ _ . . was on that shelf. Quite a bit, actually. it will be a fairâ€"sized back in and out around this whole issue, Hyde raises interesting g pack full issues. He suggests, for instance, that "the gift must always _ One of my favorites on that shelf is a book by Lewis Hyde move." When it is incarcerated or "collected," its life ceases. It 2 called The Gift. Gregory Cook, poet, and former writerâ€"inâ€"resiâ€" lives only as it is shared, preferably moved around from one perâ€" L dence at UW, recommended it, and | return to it often. son to another. . * _ Lewis Hyde concerns himself with the aspects of "gift" which The practices of gift exchange in various cultures fascinate gsurroundaworkofm‘Heremmdsus Hyde, as he puzzles over them. It may be > that we often speak of talent as gift that, as is so often the case, what | like best § Also, most artists recognize an element of J drm m" about this book is the way it is written. Hyde 35 gift in their work. They become most U MET _ often retells folk taies, wisdom tales. Then 3 interested in a work when this sense of he speculates upon them, drawing lessons ~) something beyond themselves takes over, ! I and insight from them. | enjoy watching the @ interested in a work when this sense of i al he speculates upon them, drawing !essOns 2 something beyond themselves takes over, and insight from them. | enjoy watching the w when some element of whatever they are way his mind works. § making is given, is gifted. Hyde also takes on the thomy questions Hyde suggests that we might also conâ€" about the plight of the artist in a world sider our receiving a piece of art as involving gift. which measures significance by acquisition. That art that matters to usâ€"which moves the heart or revives If a gift is most alive when it is given away, how is an artist, the soul, or delights the senses, or offers courage for living, whose very existence is to give away, to survive in a society however we choose to describe the experienceâ€"that work is which insists on acquisition? which measures people by their received by us as a gift is received. acquisitiveness? The work appeals, as Hyde remembers Joseph Conrad saying, As gifts are given, Hyde says, the ego expands. The wider the to "a part of our being which is itself a gift and not an acquisiâ€" circle of giving, the larger the sense of self, the largerâ€"and tion." strongerâ€"the community. Why do I like this book? it addresses questions | have wonâ€" The ego which holds everything to itself shrivels and dies. The dered about. | am always made uneasy by glib comments on a ego which tries to exchange only with one other person creates work of art which dismiss it or make fun of it. | do not like critiâ€" an egoâ€"ofâ€"two which is just as dangerous. Two people who tried cal work which tries to show off its own cleverness at the that in a Kashmir folktale died and became wells so poisonous expense of the piece of art being considered. no one could drink from them. When a person offers us a gift, we accept it gracefully. Even if Art reminds us that some part of ourselves is larger than the sweater Aunt Annie made is four sizes too big and has acquisition, is gifted, and that gift is to be shared. When it is sleeves of different lengths, we say thank you. We acknowledge _ shared, life is expanded and enriched. That is why art/igift is preâ€" the effort which went into the making. We respect the gift. cious, why we welcome it and would shrivel and die without it. Why do I like this book? it addresses questions | have wonâ€" dered about. | am always made uneasy by glib comments on a work of art which dismiss it or make fun of it. | do not like critiâ€" cal work which tries to show off its own cleverness at the expense of the piece of art being considered. When a person offers us a gift, we accept it gracefully. Even if the sweater Aunt Annie made is four sizes too big and has sleeves of different lengths, we say thank you. We acknowledge the effort which went into the making. We respect the gift. Why are we so rude to artists? The work of art is always offered as a gift, clumsy though it may be. It deserves respect. A painter once told me that hanging up pieces of her work was like hanging up pieces of her soul for people to throw darts at Twelveâ€"yearâ€"old Ming Liu is this week‘s Waterioo Chronicle "carrier of the week". She delivers in the University Ave./Seagram Dr. area. Ming is in grade 8 this year. Her favorite school subject is art. She enjoys badminton and volleyball and her hobbies include collecting stamps and drawing animals. Favonite trips were to Ottawa and Montreal. Her favorite movie is Forrest Gump. CARRIER OF THE WEEK A Happy Birthday wish goes out ot Ming for her special day on October 24. For all her hard work as a Waterloo Chronicle carmer, Ming will receive a gift certificate from Kâ€"W Rotisserie Chicken. In the future, Ming would like to be a criminal lawyer or a forensic If you are interested in a route or know anyone who is please call the office at 886â€"2830 or mail this ad to: NBINIG ........s :2010 +s ooo ns seevresereveavenrrarrersenserereess se ons se vesoen seueanes PRGJ@L se ceu en sen se sen saes Judith Miller Waterioo Town Square 75 King Street, South, Suite 201 Waterloo, Ontario N2J 1P2 I put this book on a shelf where | would not lose it, because it has a generous sanity which I need to revisitâ€"often. Judith Miller is Associate Professor of English at Renison Colâ€" lege at University of Waterioo. Earn extra money delivering the Waterloo Chronicle after school on WEDNESDAYS. Paper carriers are needed in the following areas . . . 250 â€" 300 KEATS WAY BLUE SPRINGS DRIVE SHADOW WOOND CRES. / CT. KING ST. AT COLUMBIA 137 & 139 UNIVERSITY AVE. BEECHWOOD DR. / PLACE CARTER / DIXIE / MARSHALL BLUEVALE ST. / HARVARD PLACE MOORE / RODGER / WATERLOO GRAHAM / MOORE / WATERLOO DALE CRESCENT AUBURN DRIVE YOUNG ST. / PEPPLER ST. HIGH STREET ERB ST. E. / DEVITT AVE. MOORE, DOVER, UNION MOCCASIN / GREENBRIER THE REBATES ARE COMING! Watch for the details in upcoming ads The Cobblestone Gallery Quality Gifts, Crafts & Jewellery From Over 140 Selected Canadian Artists & Artisans whlee o aoll e F noaie d uP Pottery, Chimes, Candles, Oil Lamps, Native Dreamcatchers, Unique Jewellery in all media including Celtic & Native, Relaxation & Meditation Books & Tapes. Powt 33 ERB ST. W., WATERLOO 746â€"5829 $saget ‘A Or Fish From x olsn The Region of Waterloo, Water Services Division . ty ... : T he A tri um =)~ $ 1:-4\‘/5" rer e€€ Nes e " ) aast