Projects: Crepe Paper Turkey Hats

Photo by Susannah Wesley

While on an exchange to the Glasgow School of Art, in 2001 I had the opportunity to meet my future Leisure collaborator Susannah Wesley (www.Leisuregallery.ca). In what has now been retro-activated as the first "Leisure Project", together we created a Canadian-Glasgow Thanksgiving evening. A playful re-creation of a Canadian tradition, the event inspired convivial conversation and international awareness of Canadian festivities. As both catalyst and host of the event, Susannah treated participants to traditional Thanksgiving recipes, many including difficult to procure Canadian ingredients. For many event participants this would be a first and only experience with the unfathomable delights of the Wesley Ambrosia Salad.


Photo by Susannah Wesley

To provide guests with pink and orange crepe paper turkey hats I high-jacked production equipment from the SHOP exhibition at CCA Glasgow (www.cca-glasgow.com) Although not a real Canadian tradition, these hats added an extra air of distinction to dinner and were worn beyond the event as tired party goers paraded home in the night.