Flight (Canada Goose from Made in Canada part 2) 2019 (Red)

Made in Canada, 2017 to present

James Lahey’s painting series “Made in Canada” focuses on three emblems used to represent his memories of growing up in Canada – the Canadian Flag, the Canada Goose and the Canadian penny (coin). Lahey’s paintings are in place of his journal as he uses the emblems as metaphors for his personal reflections. He chooses a portrait style of presenting his version of the flag, allowing the viewer to gaze upward at a monumental rendition blowing in the wind, reminiscent of the heroic stance of the general or king in historical portrait fashion. The Canadian penny is obsolete; what better way to represent the memories of one year in the past. For his Flight Series, the bold color combinations are reminiscent of the 60’s pop genre and the composition is presented as if the viewer is in flight with the bird.

“I remember the arrival of our new flag, or more precisely, I remember the nuns hanging one up in our kindergarten class. I knew it was our new flag because I had heard about it at home and I as enthusiastically determined to make it clear to everyone that morning that I knew what it was. The sisters of Joan of Arc school were not, however, fans of determined enthusiasm. 

I’ve always loved our flag. For me the new flag was part of a collision of memories, part of all the momentum Canada seemed to have n the 1960’s: Expo ‘ 7, the new flag, the centennial flame, the new coins, the centennial dollar bill and Trudeau. All of that and it was a maple leaf- just like my dad’s favorite hockey team. My team too- then because it was dad’s team and still today because that’s what happens to Leaf Fans.

We left Canada in 1969, living abroad for a number of years. It seems to me now that I held onto those memories, to the sense of momentum, and while we lived away this kept anything that was Canadian to my mind, beautiful.

 For years I have maintained a journal — a series of notebooks in which I write to record and retrieve ideas and memories. These notes to myself aren’t accurate or inaccurate, honest or dishonest. They are conversations I’ve never had and conversations I wish I’d had. More often, they are simply conversations with myself. We live with myths all our lives — big ones, little ones. Some we learn. Most we invent for ourselves. They are a way to live with the circumstances of our present. Half-truths, full truths, utter fiction — whatever it takes to get on with getting on. All of it, all of them, are a way to remember or to discover again who we once were.

I suppose my notebooks are the same — a way to find myself amongst all the stories I’ve told myself, the stories I’ve tried to live with and even the stories I’d rather not admit to. My version of events. Perhaps I’ve resorted to pictures of those years as a way to avoid those admissions? Perhaps I’ve settled on pictures in order to have those conversations again, and maybe to fix some of the details once and for all.

Made in Canada is beyond what I have said already, a love letter to my family and friends; A love letter to those who are still here and to those who are here no longer. As a metaphor, I hope this series transcends simple sentimentality and blind patriotism – our flag is older now, as I am, there is the odd loose thread or stretched seam, nevertheless, it flies still. The rest then is beauty, movement, color, presence- all that resists measurement- all the other reasons why I chose to make a picture instead of explaining why.”