arts editorial [ " v e r y C h r i s t m a s , f o r as long as I can r e m e m b e r my Father brings o u t b o x e s L_ labeled " X m a s " , and my M o t h e r carefully u n w r a p s t h e treasures o f C h r i s t m a s e s past. O u t c o m e s n o w - g l a z e d sparkling p i n e c o n e s . a tiny o l d w o m a n m a d e f r o m walnuts, and " z i e m a s v e t a k u v e c i t i s " - an e n d u r i n g albeit t i m e - w e a t h e r e d s y m b o l of F a t h e r C h r i s t m a s f r o m my parent's h o m e l a n d . Latvia. A m o n g s t t h e inevitably tang l e d lights a r e p r o t e c t e d packages o f candles that w i l l b e a r r a n g e d i n thoughtful displays t h r o u g h o u t the h o u s e . M o s t o f these candles have n e v e r been lit. It u s e d t o frustrate m e . after all. "that's w h a t they're m e a n t f o r M o m . " N o w I realize that these candles h o l d m e m o r i e s that, w h i l e n e v e r f o r g o t t e n , c o m e t o light w h e n lovingly h e l d and p l a c e d o n the dining r o o m buffet. C a n d l e s play a unique role in o u r lives. A t t i m e s , they are the only s o u r c e o f light after night has fallen. In t h e i r enchanting g l o w p e o p l e fall in love o r r e k i n d l e it. O n birthdays they may grant y o u a w i s h . A n d a r o u n d t h e w o r l d , they are a s y m b o l o f r e m e m b r a n c e and h o p e . C a n d l e making is a t i m e - h o n o u r e d art. Yet f r e q u e n t l y it is d i s m i s s e d as a " c r a f t " - n o t "art." N o t h i n g c o u l d be f u r t h e r f r o m the t r u t h . D e f i n i n g w h a t a r t is, is an endless s o u r c e o f d i s c o r d and d i s c u s s i o n . I p r e f e r the definition that d e s c r i b e s a r t as t h e way s o m e t h i n g is d o n e , " . . . t h e use o f skill and imagination in the c r e a t i o n of aesthetic objects, e n v i r o n m e n t s , and e x p e r i e n c e s that can b e s h a r e d w i t h o t h e r s . " (britonnica on-line) - r a t h e r than w h a t it is. C e r t a i n l y , candles m e e t the c r i t e r i a . N o v e m b e r a n d D e c e m b e r a r e m o n t h s m a d e f o r candles. It is at this t i m e o f year, m o r e than any o t h e r , w h e n c a n d l e s a r e ignited i n r e m e m b r a n c e . O n N o v e m b e r I I w e pause t o r e m e m b e r t h e travesties o f w a r - past and present. O n D e c e m b e r 6, c a n d l e light vigils h o n o u r t h e y o u n g w o m e n m u r d e r e d 10 years ago ( M o n t r e a l M a s s a c r e ) because they w e r e w o m e n : G e n e v i e v e B e r g e r o n ; H e l e n e C o l g a n ; N a t h a l i e C r o t e a u ; B a r b a r a D a i g n e a u l t ; A n n e - M a r i e E d w a r d ; M a u d H a v i e r n i c k ; B a r b a r a M a r i e K l u e z n i c k ; M a r y s e Laganiere, M a r y s e L e c l a i r ; A n n e - M a r i e Lemay; Sonia P e l l e t i e r ; M i c h e l e R i c h a r d ; A n n i e St. A r n e a u l t ; A n n i e T u r c o t t e . Yes, it is t h e s e a s o n t o b e m e r r y . T o c e l e b r a t e . It is also a t i m e t o pause, reflect, and light a candle f o r p e a c e . -- I l o n a B e i k s , e d i t o r , Arts Alive Magazine ARTS o n e y e a r $ 16.0S Subscriber N a m e : City: ARTS ALIVE MAGAZINE YES! I would like t o subscribe for the term indicated SUBSCRIPTION magazine below: to A r t s A l i v e t w o years $32.10 t h r e e years $ 4 8 . 1 5 Address: (prices include GST) Postal Code: SUBSCRIPTION: P L E A S E I N D I C A T E I F T H I S IS A G I F T (if yes, a c a r d will b e s e n d in y o u r n a m e : Please enclose payment by cheque or money order, and send to Arts Alive Magazine, 148 East 2nd St., North Vancouver, B.C. V7L IC3 phone: (604) 984-9537; fax: (604) 984-3563 L J