Rope making from waste plastic bags

This rope making machine is part of a NSCAD students' project to take a "satirical look at colonism" - to colonize George's Island, in the Halifax harbor as "Sub-Scotia" - the paddle up and plant a flag.

Halifax tourists thought we were part of a reinactment in NI'L day- a local holiday celebrated in Nova Scotia. ... and off they went! - life jackets, 15 foot of extra rope - and a bailer, and Harbor Patrol was happy.

When the project was exhibited, the gallery show of all the "colonization artifacts" was put on display to help bring light to the stark contrast between living traditions like rope making and the "dead objects" contained in museums and galleries. By providing a viewmaster viewer in the front window area filled with slides of the launch and Sub-Scotia landing, guests of the exhibit were now on display in the front window of the gallery as they used available light to enjoy the viewmaster slides.

In order to legitimize their project the following was provided: 1000 printed tourist pamphlets, fridge postcards before the event, a stone marker with an engraving was placed on the island, a passport stamp was developed, and a small museum was filled with relevant objects and remains on site beside the engraved stone marker.

Interesting metapors remain visible in the aftermath of this student project. A viewmaster obscures one view for another while contraining the narrative - how is this similar to the way new land is brought under colonial rulership? By placing the objects in the museum, asthetic takes over while utility becomes a thing of the past. How is this similar to pursuits of liberty, justice and equality in modern society, where we are often forced to make decisions regrading protecting the greater good by giving up personal freedoms?