The Portable Library Project is a multi-dimensional mail-art/book-making project involving the creation of small works exploring ideas surrounding archiving, journaling, libraries, ephemera, and incorporating an art practice into everyday life. The 27 participating artists span several artistic disciplines, from performance art to fibre-based art; from photo-based art to craft to sculpture and installation.  Artists involved in the project are based across Canada, the US and are from as far away as Seoul, Korea.

Invited artists were sent/delivered an empty cigar box, roughly the size of a hardcover book. Over the course of a week, participants were expected to create a 'book' a day reflective of each person's day-to-day activities and artistic process. Books were ideally made while on the go; boxes were intended to be carried with the participant, where books were to be added and collected each day for seven days.

How do working artists fit artistic production into everyday life?  Challenging oneself to make work outside of a studio setting is one way. One element of The Portable Library Project serves as a challenge to artists to adopt a portable art practice to fit the demands of the life of a working artist, which often entails a job or two in unrelated work environments. The portability of the book format is a natural basis for the project, which also encourages artists to explore and comment on the relationship between the book and the art object.

Participating Artists

Aimee Lee  (Seoul, Korea)

Amber Landgraff  (Toronto)

Becky Johnson (Toronto)

Cara Spooner (Toronto)

Daphne Gerou (Toronto)

Debbie Danelley  (Winnipeg, MB)

Deborah Margo  (Ottawa, ON)

Fiona Bailey  (Toronto)

Jen Pilles  (Oakville, ON)

Laura Calvi  (Halifax, NS)

Laurie Kang  (Toronto)

Margaret Flood  (Guelph, ON)

Margaret Legue  (Forest, ON)

Morag Schonken (Winnipeg, MB)

Sheila Jonah  (Toronto)

Simon Rabyniuk  (Toronto)

Stephanie Cormier  (Toronto)

Stephanie Vegh  (Hamilton, ON)

Sylvia Ziemann  (Regina, SK)

The Portable Library Project is organized and curated by Tara Bursey.

Exhibition/Residency Dates

July 2009  lowercase gallery and reading room, Vancouver, BC

October 2009  Roberts Street Social Centre/Anchor Archive Zine Library, Halifax, NS

For more project information, extensive documentation, as well as artist information and links, check out the PLP blog.