Adrian Blackwell and artist Kika Thorne publish an essay on public art addressing the policies of Mike Harris’ Ontario conservative government

Monday, November 12, 2018

In an essay published in the Canadian Art online edition, “Experiments in Collective Form”, two Toronto artists, Kika Thorne and Adrian Blackwell, reflect on the similarities between Harris’ "common sense revolution” in the 1990s and Doug Ford’s government of today. The article discusses collaborative public artworks made in response to Harris’ cuts to social housing and welfare as well as his dismantling of local democracy in Metropolitan Toronto, policies which have each been echoed in Ontario today. 
 

(inflatable) 1996  October Group, photo by
 Kenneth Hayes
Untitled (inflatable) 1996  
October Group, photo by Kenneth Hayes

(mattresses) 1997  February Group, photo by
 Luis Jacob
Untitled (mattresses) 1997  
February Group, photo by Luis Jacob