excerpt
“Yes. What else?”
“I would like to have the Canadian ambassador available to me to help
me tell this story, and to make contacts in Madrid. I don’t want to use my
family’s contacts. I want to come in, brand new and fresh, without being
in the shadow of my family’s name.”
“Right,” McEachern smiled. “Our ambassador in Madrid, is Monsieur
Bolin, and I’m quite sure we can make him available to you at any time
you wish. I like this – I like this a lot. Your family in Europe – I gather
they are involved in industry? They’re certainly very well-to-do. Are you
expecting any money from the Canadian government?”
“I don’t want a penny,” Ken said. “Thanks for asking, but if you offered
financial support I wouldn’t accept it. I don’t think we should expect
government to do that sort of thing. If we are moved by a passion for
something, we should get on with the job and do it. I would prefer that
government money be allocated to looking into the matter of the people
in the Arctic – these are desperate matters.”
“You have an agenda, don’t you?”
“Yes. But, it won’t involve you. I’m not asking for your support in that
matter. I want your support around the work I am doing to publicize the
stories of the Arctic, so that people at large will have an understanding.
There’s no point in going to government and saying, ‘Go fix that.’ It has
to be willed in the heart of the public.”
“So, you’re a strategist and a politician.”
“No, I’m just an ordinary man who has an idea… it’s a very strong idea
and I’m pursuing it.”
“I’m going to see to it that you have all the things you’ve asked for. I’m
delighted to help.”
Ken accepted the gallery’s invitation. Spain was changing. Franco had
aged, and now wanted to return Spain to the deposed royal family – who
had lived near the Kirkbys, in Portugal. Ken had grown up with the Crown
Prince, Juan Carlos, who was to take the reins of power.
On a blustery day in early 1975, Ken kissed Helen and Michael goodbye
and boarded the plane for Madrid. When he arrived, he was met by
his Uncle James and Aunt Vicki, as well as the Canadian ambassador and
two aides. He introduced himself to Monsieur Bolin and made introductions
to his aunt and uncle.
At his uncle’s apartment, across the street from the old Royal Palace,
Monsieur Bolin asked, “What is it that we can do for you?”
“I want to meet the one person who it’s impossible to meet,” Ken said.
“I’m trying to make a statement. I don’t know how familiar you are with
Spanish art history, but it was Goya who painted the soul of his country.
More than any other artist, he portrayed the psyche and reality of Spain.
He was very close to the Queen, who reportedly is the Naked Maja…
Libros Libertad 