Books unbound

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Category: Arts

Created on Friday, 21 October 2011 13:12

Angel McDowell shows off an 8.5 x 5.5-in sketchbook in the U of R Art Store. Photo by Sean Trembath.

by Sean Trembath

Last November, Aaron Wandler was given a small black sketchbook, the theme, “You Remind Me…” and three months to come up with anything he could think of.

“It seems pretty obvious what you’d want to do with it – write in it,” said Wandler, a fourth-year University of Regina visual arts student. He opted to go a different route, using a rotary tool to carve out the pages of the book in a play on the concept of life and death.

Wandler was one of 40 participants in the university’s first-ever Little Black Book Project. Now, the project is back. Registration for this year’s project is open at the fine arts department supply store, located in the basement of the Riddell Centre.

Participants are encouraged to think laterally in coming up with their final designs.

“It’s kind of a cool premise to do whatever you want with it. Don’t get too hung up on the theme. The idea is to create something unique,” said Wandler.

The project was started in Regina by Angel McDowell, who manages the campus art store. After paying a $10 registration fee, artists are given an 8.5 x 5.5-in. sketchbook with their theme tucked in the back. Three months later, they return whatever they’ve come up with.

The inspiration for the project came from Art House Co-op, a Brooklyn-based collective that has been using the Internet to collect sketchbooks from people all over the world for a traveling art exhibit. In bringing the idea to the U of R, McDowell opened it up to more than just sketches.

“Anything goes. We had people that pulverized the pages then turned it into sculpture. We had another person twist it into a tree,” she said.

In March, the finished works will be displayed in the Riddell Centre. Artists have the option to display their work anonymously. According to McDowell, this takes some of the pressure off those not used to taking part in public exhibitions.

“The thing that’s great about this project is it’s open to everyone on campus, whether they’re faculty, staff, or student, so it gives people who enjoy doing art, but aren’t in a fine arts program, an opportunity to kind of do some work, and have it shown, and be part of this big community project,” she said.

Contributors also have the option to put their pieces up for silent auction, with all proceeds going to the visual arts department for future projects and exhibitions.

Wandler said he plans to pick up a new sketchbook and theme in the next few days. He said he is consciously trying not to plan ahead so that the experience unfolds naturally.

“I’m going to see what my theme is this year, and see if I get a creative jolt. It’s good not to get too hung up on instructions. Just do something that’s cool and interesting,” he said.