Sweet Nothings was one of four works included in Ris Publica (trans. Public Laughter), Version 1, which occurred 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.

Produced on a 1 inch = 1 foot scale, this float visualizes oversized “candy” in the form of a barricade (with wheels). The candies each have unique “sweet nothings” logos in their packages. Three performers roll the candy barricade slowly forward while a repeated soundscape of various global resistance movements emanate from speakers hidden within the structure. Performed in the Halifax Natal Day Parade in 2016, with support from the Reznick Family Creative Project Award.