Ris Publica (trans. Public Laughter), Version 1, occurred on Monday August 1st, from 10:30 am until noon, along the Dartmouth waterfront as part of Halifax’s civic parade on Natal Day Parade. Ris Publica, proposes the site of the civic parade as a unique possibility, as an event that carries forward a history and infrastructure of civic culture, while containing potential for the enactment of a diverse civic identity. In a humorous form of open, generous and joyful participation, the project ensconces itself in the event of the parade, by creating the semblance of conventional float entries.

Lorem Ipsum was one of four unique floats that were included in 2016.

Created prior to the MFA group exhibition “Work in Progress” at the Anna Leonowens Gallery, this banner displays an intentional “placeholder” text as the group name. During the Natal Day Parade, the volunteer group of performers take turns carrying the banner and interact as a “wave” (as in the crowd at an arena), passing movement through and across themselves, initiated from within or from the audience themselves.