Been there, Dundas
I imagined John Graves Simcoe and Henry Dundas’ personal relationship through a series of correspondence I generated based on historical research at the University of Toronto Thomas Fischer Rare Books Library. This work culminated in a performance at the library, dialoguing my generated letters and watercolors (attributed to Elizabeth Simcoe) with historical artifacts such as books, dog hair, and hand-drawn maps. Highlighting the ongoing mechanics of colonial violence in southern Ontario, the work drew into question the practice of honoring a known bigot and opportunist by portraying him as such through the constructed narrative of personal correspondence.
