Up in Ontario

Canadian Design Resource - Official Gallery

Just discovered the Canadian Design Resource - Official Gallery today from a link off the CBC Radio 3 blog. It strikes me that this is almost the same as Douglas Coupland's Souvenir of Canada and Souvenir of Canada 2 books but better. What those books could have been like without the pretentious kitch-art photography that seems interesting at first blush but then offers no meaning or narritive for the objects depicted, leaving me always asking, so that's it?

In contrast the Canadian Design Resource catalogues objects from our national past and provides short anecdotes of context. Thus we get:

The Crazy carpet, now termed a “Wacky carpet” is manufactured and designed by the toy manufacturer H2O Recreations Inc. in Chomedey Quebec.

An inherent part of growing up in Canada the Wacky carpet has stood the test of time spanning generations of Canadians. The no frills design of the Wacky carpet is all part of it’s charm. A slick surface with handles pretty much sums it up. It’s lack of comfort and control are made up for in it’s unpredictability and shear speed which makes for a wild ride down the local toboggan hill.

Usually found tucked away in the clutter of Canadian garages and basements or left abandoned in the back yard the Wacky carpet would fit in well among the sleek, minimal designs of contemporary interiors, furniture and architecture.

Not recommended for those with sensitive arses.