The examination of the present identity of Canadian Culture
Does Canada need a stronger identity?
Oct 1, 2009 – TORONTO – “Lots of Canadians braved the rain, bees and mosquitoes this summer to converse about our cultural diversity,” says Canadian Artist Bruce Thomas. Thomas and his family set out from their home in Toronto on a seven-week camping tour in search of answers for his Canadian PULSE Landscape Project: Canada’s new visual identity 100 years after the Group of Seven. “The purpose of PULSE is to create a body of work that expresses Canadians' different interpretations of our current national identity and what it means to be creative in Canada.”
“I met with people in their native landscapes and collected artifacts about their experiences being Canadian. In each case, as we discussed their culture, people began to transform. They began to link their own heritage to our collective heritage as Canadians. There was pride in every discussion.
“The PULSE project aspires to a new ethos – a dialogue on the definition of our Canadian culture. You see, the dialogue is the answer to everything,” said Thomas. “For some time now, I’ve been concerned that our culture identity has eroded. That we’ve lost sight of the tenants... That complacency, acceptance and apathy have crept into our actions. I believe each of us needs to transform and re-emerge to take responsibility for our culture. For example, to celebrate our Aboriginal foundation and its intelligence. To celebrate the Dominion and its steady industry. And, to celebrate the people and institutions that have contributed to Canada’s position as a leading world economy. [Like Dick Haskayne’s Northern Tigers…] We need to take responsibility for our culture: describe it succinctly and protect it without debasing our past.”
Does Canada need a stronger identity?
Oct 1, 2009 – TORONTO – “Lots of Canadians braved the rain, bees and mosquitoes this summer to converse about our cultural diversity,” says Canadian Artist Bruce Thomas. Thomas and his family set out from their home in Toronto on a seven-week camping tour in search of answers for his Canadian PULSE Landscape Project: Canada’s new visual identity 100 years after the Group of Seven. “The purpose of PULSE is to create a body of work that expresses Canadians' different interpretations of our current national identity and what it means to be creative in Canada.”
“I met with people in their native landscapes and collected artifacts about their experiences being Canadian. In each case, as we discussed their culture, people began to transform. They began to link their own heritage to our collective heritage as Canadians. There was pride in every discussion.
“The PULSE project aspires to a new ethos – a dialogue on the definition of our Canadian culture. You see, the dialogue is the answer to everything,” said Thomas. “For some time now, I’ve been concerned that our culture identity has eroded. That we’ve lost sight of the tenants... That complacency, acceptance and apathy have crept into our actions. I believe each of us needs to transform and re-emerge to take responsibility for our culture. For example, to celebrate our Aboriginal foundation and its intelligence. To celebrate the Dominion and its steady industry. And, to celebrate the people and institutions that have contributed to Canada’s position as a leading world economy. [Like Dick Haskayne’s Northern Tigers…] We need to take responsibility for our culture: describe it succinctly and protect it without debasing our past.”
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