In 1970, Trasov assumed the identity of Mr. Peanut, donning a handmade paper mâché replica of the mascot of the Planters Peanut Company. Soon after, he produced The Mr. Peanut Mayoralty Campaign of 1974, a twenty-day performance developed in collaboration with members of the Vancouver arts community. The legume quickly became Trasov’s cipher and central component of his practice. Mr. Peanut Drawings collects nearly a hundred of Trasov’s Peanut drawings together with a text by Nancy Tousley.

Edited by Jeff Khonsary

Jeff Khonsary's profile page

Nancy Tousley, recipient of the Governor General’s Award for Visual and Media Arts for outstanding contribution, is a nationally known senior art critic, arts journalist, and independent curator. Based in Calgary, she was the art critic of the Calgary Herald for thirty years, as well as a contributing editor to Canadian Art magazine, for which she wrote regularly. She contributes regularly to Border Crossings magazine and has written essays for more than sixty public art gallery and museum catalogues and books.

Nancy Tousley, lauréate du Prix du Gouverneur général pour les arts visuels et médiatiques pour sa contribution exceptionnelle, est une critique d’art, journaliste et conservatrice indépendante de renommée nationale. Établie à Calgary, elle a été critique d’art au Calgary Herald pendant 30 ans, ainsi que rédactrice en chef du magazine Canadian Art, pour lequel elle écrivait régulièrement. Elle collabore régulièrement au magazine Border Crossings et a rédigé des essais pour une soixantaine de catalogues et livres publiés par des galeries d’art publiques et des musées.

Nancy Tousley's profile page

Vincent Trasov's profile page