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An exhibition for Toronto Design Offsite Festival. The series is based on pages from a 1957 Atlas of Canada that was salvaged from the Geography Department of Northview Heights Collegiate. The original atlas provides a logical story that embraces physical, human, economic and socio-political geography. By removing the spreads and overlaying the maps with idioms, historical mottos and quotations, the atlas plates are re-contextualized. The series explores our ‘Canadianess’ at the intersection of geography and language, and touches on the humour of cultural navel-gazing.
The text has been lettered by hand, and each piece finished with custom solid walnut dowels, and a natural rope for hanging. Each piece is one of a kind in a series of 25. Details are provided on the reverse of each map.
SMALL THINGS IGNITE US, 2014
Credit: Dennis Lee, Civil Elegies and Other Poems
“Small things ignite us, and the quirky particulars flare on all sides. A cluster of birches, in moonlight; a jackpine gnarled and focussing heaven and earth — these might fend off the void."
AM I REALLY THAT BORING?, 2014
Credit: Margaret Atwood, Second Words.
“The beginning of Canadian cultural nationalism was not ‘Am I really that oppressed?’ but ‘Am I really that boring?’”
DOUBLE DOUBLE, 2014
A term used when ordering coffee, a double-double means two sugars and two creams. Commonly associated with Tim Hortons.
FUDDLE DUDDLE, 2014
Quote: Pierre Elliott Trudeau
Trudeau famously attempted to cover up his use of the f-word: "What is the nature of your thoughts, gentlemen, when you say 'fuddle duddle' or something like that?"
JOKES ARE GRIEVANCES, 2014
Credit: Marshall McLuhan
“Behind every joke there is a deep cultural grievance. You cannot have a joke without a grievance.”
A MARI USQUE AD MARE, 2014
Canada’s national motto in Latin translates to “From Sea to Sea” in English and “D’un ocean a l’autre” in French.
WE ARE ALL MÉTIS, 2014
Credit: John Ralston Saul
In his book A Fair Country, Saul argues that Canadians are heavily influenced and shaped by aboriginal ideas.
WE SING ABOUT THE NORTH, 2014
Quote: J.B. McGeachy
“We sing about the north, but live as far south as possible”.
PRO PELLE CUTEM, 2014
Official motto of the Hudson’s Bay Company. Translated from Latin as “a skin for a skin”, the meaning has several debated interpretations.
SNOWBIRD, 2014
“Snowbird” is a song by Anne Murray recorded in 1969, written by Canadian songwriter Gene MacLellan. Snowbird also refers to those who spend their winters south of the border.
VOICES IN THE FOREST, 2014
Credit: David Suzuki
"Voices in the Forest" was the title of a two-part series on the CBC program The Nature of Things about clear-cut logging practices in Canada.
INTERCONNECTEDNESS, 2014