An ongoing interactive project initiated by artist Leah Decter and curated by Jaimie Isaac.

In June of 2008, Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued an official ‘Statement of Apology to former students of Indian Residential Schools.’ In September of 2009, he delivered a speech
to the G20 Summit in which he stated that ‘Canada also has no history of Colonialism’.

‘(official denial) trade value in progress’ appropriates the latter statement as a springboard for critical exchange. In it a composite of Hudson Bay blankets with this statement machine sewn at the center acts as a platform for dialogue about contemporary
conditions of settler colonialism and processes of decolonization and reconciliation in Canada.

The project is carried out in recognition of the imperative for both Aboriginal and non- Aboriginal people to be involved in these processes. People are invited to interact with Harper’s statement by writing their response to it in a book when the piece is presented in public, and through series of sewing actions where people choose a response that someone else has contributed, and hand sew it onto the blanket. As the project evolves a growing dialogue is enacted and made visible through these actions.

The Sidespace Gallery is hosting events for ‘(official denial) trade value in progress’ while the blanket composite is on view in the gallery from August 7 to August 27, 2011

Events include:
Opening reception – August 24 7-9 pm
Sewing actions – Thursday, August 25 7-9 pm
      – Saturday, August 27, 1-5 pm

For more information about this project and details about how you can participate go to:
http://www.leahdecter.com/official_denial/home.html