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7.

During an incident of the early part of 1976 after returning from Europe to New York where I was trying to work. I had exhibitions in Paris and Zurich, (without sales, of course) and I stayed in various hotel rooms and residences; however eventually and no longer having money for hotel rooms I had to "camp out" in various hotel lobbies for six or seven nights in the middle of February in wonderful New York. At this time I somehow lost my Greek passport and my permanent United States of America visa. The immigration authorities then gave me a permit too reenter the States with an expiring date of May 3, 1977, instead of a duplicate of my permanent residence visa. All this, of course, after 18 years of permanent residence in America at the time then. I eventually lost that permit as well. When I reapplied, I was given a duplicate of my permanent visa. The application form for becoming an American citizen, I find difficult for a true friend of America to sign, with its undignified questionnaire.

NOW, IF I AM AN "AMERICAN ARTIST" OR "TOO MUCH OF A GREEK"...THAT I LEAVE TO YOUR OPINION.

So, to cheer you up, I would like to mention to you another of the numerous brutal experiences that I went through. WHATEVER I WAS MAKING MY WORKS WITHIN THE TRADITIONAL METHOD (HAND MADE SCULPTURE) OR IF IT WAS FABRICATED IN NEON OR METAL, THE EXPERIENCE WAS AS IF IT ALL WAS PRODUCED MECHANICALLY. This mostly happened in Leverkusen when I was to make far too many in hand material multiples for the Harry Abrams publication. Eventually they only made one neon multiple, for the publishing of large size Chryssa book-

About the experience that my work, independently of material was all produced mechanically. Let me offer you homage tonight and say that you have created my sculptures, paintings and projects.

But somehow, this all brings to my mind a Bach Cantata entitled "Actus Tragicus".

Now, it could be a possibility as well, that I am a "city planned" or a "scientifically produced" art creation or that I might also have served as an observation experiment. That I mean about a "city planned creation or creative" is that I might have been myself "inspired" or sent to my Times Square image via electronic methods in which case I would like to ask "Did the city planners or scientists plan as well my own blinding brain washing and other brutal experiences, meaning "effects" to diminish my capacity of reading, etc.