“Paying attention is art.” “Faire attention est un art.” -Jean Boulanger

...And so, what if I reframed my everydayness, contextualized my gestures, improved my awareness and made the usual special for others and myself? What if I could insert shine into the mundane?

Intent and context are at the core of this differentiation or transformation of the dull (everydayness) to shiny (art). To shine is to appear with luminosity or clarity, to glisten. Stars shine, twinkle and draw your attention if only momentarily; a shining moment is a distinguishing point in time and an employee who shines excels in that he/she is remarkably superior to others; they stand out. To shine is also to appear in someone’s consciousness. Reframing or re-contextualization brings attention to something and may restore its shine.



METRO HALIFAX PAPER/ACTUAL AND ALTERED FRONT PAGE PLACED IN SEVEN DOWNTOWN PAPER DISPENSERS, MARCH 2009.

Interventionist practices are very much about this notion of art infiltrating everydayness and creating imaginary narratives for both the artist and the observer. Within the brief hiccup in the innocent bystander’s daily routine, there is an intimate communication between the artist (social agent) and others (patient). No warnings are given; no commitment is expected. The magic of this work greatly depends on the unannounced, chance meeting. Gestures are made and objects are left for others to discover.





EVERYTHING OUTSIDE THIS POSTER IS ART/LOWER WATER STREET, HALIFAX, MARCH 2009.


letterpress print, 14' x 20', edition of 35, 2009

AD SPACE/ MONCTON AND HALIFAX, MARCH 2009.


letterpress print, 14' x 20', edition of 30, 2009

Poetic intervention is art spilling over into everydayness. Although most interventionist practices are socio-politically engaged, there is a category that relates more closely to the notion of a message in the bottle thrown at sea. This contact is subtle, intimate and playful: a silent tête-à-tête conversation with the observer.
Doing nice things for others is art. Decorating weeds, sending flowers and writing letters of encouragement are ways in which shine can be restored to the everyday.

The Gift

A simple gesture of thanks or appreciation is normally achieved by offering personal gifts or words of encouragement and thanks. I am making anonymous offerings of pre-paid coffee cards, thank you cards and delivered flower arrangements.

Ce qui mijote

I asked 25 people the following question: If someone offered to do something nice for you, what would you pick? The large majority answered simply making them supper or taking them to lunch.

My work typically involves merely the residue of my presence and although I am uncomfortable with the performative aspect of the following, I decided to offer to make supper for people I know only slightly. I approached 6 people, showed up at their homes with ingredients in hand and cooked for them. This gesture forced me to overcome my awkward social self and pay attention to time spent in the company of new acquaintances.

Letters of Encouragement

Small actions or gestures have become increasingly important to me. I am far from home, far from my family and friends and am in need of encouragement once in a while to stay focused on the task at hand. With this in mind, I wrote myself a letter of encouragement and mailed it. There is something reassuringly tangible in sending and receiving mail. Though sending yourself a letter could seem a little sad, finding mail addressed to you in your mail slot triggers intrigue: someone is thinking of me. A handwritten letter says much more than the words contained within: the choice of paper, the penmanship, the ink, the envelope, the scent of the paper and the chosen stamp convey intimate details of the author and his/her intent. In a world of clinical e-mails, misspelled text messages and business-like memos, a handwritten letter almost seems like a beacon, or a diversion. I was surprisingly delighted to receive the unicorn envelope which I dropped at the Post Office a few days prior. Though I was aware of its content, the ritual itself was enough to make my day. With this in mind, I asked 10 people to write me a letter of encouragement. They accepted and upon receiving them, I realized how much a medium revealed about the author. Although the content was to encourage and to restore my confidence, it revealed much more. The object itself shed a personal light on the person behind the pen. The letter I received from Jean-Denis Boudreau was littered with confetti and I could picture him laughing at the mess. It was illegible due to his recent obsession in becoming ambidextrous. My grandmother’s soft pink letter had beautiful penmanship and smelled of lavender. My father's letter arrived by priority courier, undoubtedly mailed by his secretary (he is a busy man). Its contents included a picture of a painting I had made over a decade ago at a time when my parents could easily identify, grasp and appreciate the objects I made. I am uncertain if this gesture was a questioning reminder for me, or a nostalgic reminder for him. In any event, this year I am answering all the letters.