The Martlet

FEBRUARY 7, 1991, “ALIEN SQUEALS HEARD”

In 1991, CSIS was operating on campus.

The UVic “Campus Service for Interesting Stuff” operated by “unidentified members” is much like Canada’s version of the CIA, except that they’re concerned with security threats from the cosmos rather than across our earthly borders. The UVic CSIS had found a small, metallic decoder, which was believed to make possible direct contact to alien life forms.

The decoder, described as a “toaster oven, only smaller and different,” was reported to have contacted higher intelligence on Feb. 5, 1991.

The aliens allegedly conveyed their belief that a “pseudo-psycho crystalline, higher-energy vortex” existed at the centre of Petch fountain.

Ten years later, we have yet to experience any kind of apocalyptic detonation from the fountain that one might expect from an alien vortex. Or maybe they’re still watching and waiting for their chance and we’ll never see it coming without CSIS’ toaster oven decoder.

FEBRUARY 3, 1994, “ARTISTS FIGHT LOCAL AUTHORITIES”

It comes as no surprise that in 1994, the city council was locked in conflict with local graffiti artists. The Martlet ran a story that countered the largely negative mainstream media coverage of graffiti in Victoria. The mayor at the time had made a statement that all graffiti is gang related; to which Insight, a local graffiti artist, responded with a wall piece that turned the “gang mentality” label on the city council.

“[The Council] wants the city to be perfectly clean, envisioning white walls. Apparently they think more graffiti looks like more crime, which is not true at all . . . it’s a cultural thing,” said Insight.

There have since been praise of graffiti as art for and by the public, where streets are both studios and galleries. The Martlet noted that two years previous, Insight and another artist lobbied to merchants to allow for spray painting construction plywood downtown.

“It is a gross misconception we are uninformed thugs,” said Insight. “It is social commentary, to make people think.”

The Martlet displayed a direct look into the vibrant history of graffiti art in Victoria — a history that is ongoing, and suggests that it may never be whitewashed by Council brushes. This inherent clash between street artists and the City was reported in last week’s Monday Magazine. Monday interviewed three unnamed street artists, and largely echoed the notions of the 1994 Martlet article. Graffiti was again celebrated as cultural expression by artists whose “creativity cannot be erased.”