Graf gone bad?

I can appreciate urban art (aka graffiti) as an art form that can stand on its own ["The cult of anonymity," Feb. 25]. I respect the artists who create art lawlessly, thus challenging what this society thinks art should be and how it should be created.

However, I need to make you aware of a sad situation. The artist Zilon was hired to paint several walls at the new solution centre for Fido. A far cry from being given a "free wall to paint on," Zilon was paid around $4,000 to paint three murals. They're the worst I've ever seen (not only in my opinion--there's actually a movement to erase his work from the walls). It must have taken Zilon about one hour to do all the walls. Empty of any kind of meaning, the lines this Zilon person painted look like something from the side of a hick shopping mall in small town Canada circa 1989 (I'm talking fluo greens with fluo pinks).

It's not clear if Zilon made these horrible works in a effort to mock the corporate world or if graffiti really doesn't lend itself to commissioned work. But I find it regrettable that he was the one chosen and not someone who would have given us something nice to look at.

--Simon Adamien

Hear hospitals out

I was not surprised that my article "One Big Hospital, One Big Mistake" [Feb. 4] on the proposed McGill University Health Centre received a response from the "chairman of the existing sites work group."

Anything even mildly critical written about the MUHC has been invariably answered with facts culled from one of the many (unpublished) reports produced by the MUHC. Anyone interested in the polemic should visit the ground floor of the Macdonald Harrington Building on campus: a whole wall of clippings is on view.

The letters to the editor section of newspapers is hardly the way to discuss the most invasive urban renewal project in Montreal's--as well as McGill's--history.

The MUHC accuses the existing hospitals of being beyond redemption. The onus is on the accusers to make the case in an independent public forum and convince the jury, which ultimately is the community served by the hospitals.

Anything less jeopardizes the community's continuing support not only of the hospitals but of McGill as well. Last week's Mirror mentions that the organization STOP is calling for a public inquiry into the massive environmental issues at stake. Why not have one broad-based public forum?

--Pieter Sijpkes

Shut up 'n' play yer Zappa

This is in response to that silly article about a silly new CD by Ross Rebagliati, Fulliedialedinn ["Snow job," Feb 18]. Being a true fan of Frank Zappa's music, I was quite upset by the review. (C'mon, you're gonna tell me that Bran Van 3000 and Zappa can be part of the same selection without affecting the credibility of the guy who came up with this stupid idea?)

But most of my anger is not directed towards the Olympic gold medalist, Mr. Snowboarder himself (who doesn't seem to know a thing about Zappa, besides the fact that he was a musical genius and that "Peaches En Regalia" has a good groove to it). Rather, it's towards your amateurish music reviewer Chris Barry, who did not find anything interesting to say about this century's most important composer other than to rehash the old myth of Zappa eating shit on stage in a "gross-out contest."

First of all, Zappa never ate shit on stage. This rumour surely has something to do with the offensive "scatological lyrics" of some of his songs or the famous picture of him sitting on a toilet (intended to shock middle- and upper-class sensibilities, and which, in true po-mo fashion, was recycled by that unoriginal, untalented asshole better known as Marilyn Manson).

Zappa is one of the most original and complex artists of all time, who left a musical legacy of more than 60 records behind him, including film scores, pop songs, jazz and orchestral compositions. He is not part of "shock rock"--an insult to his talent and stature. He is, without a doubt, some sort of Musical God--far more important in musical history than the pompous John Cage or the over-rated Brian Eno. He is a true inspiration to anyone against MEDIOCRITY and all those GREAT LAME MINDS (something that seems abundant in your newspaper, if you ask me).

--François Primeau