What:
The 1000 Journal Project is an independent, privately funded social experiment.
It is an attempt to follow 1000 journals throughout their travels, to see
where they go and what people do with them. The idea of passing the journals
on can be traced to the Exquisite
Corpse, a technique used by surrealists as a kind of collective collage
of words or images.
Why:
The goal is to provide methods for people to interact and share their creativity.
If you ask a kindergarten class how many of them are artists, they'll all
raise their hands. Ask the same question of 6th graders, and maybe one third
will respond. Ask high school grads, and few will admit to it. What happens
to us growing up? We begin to fear criticism, and tend to keep our creativity
to ourselves. Many people keep journals — of writing or sketching —
but not many share them with others. These journals are for the world to share.
Who:
Hiding behind the curtain is a single person, commonly going by the handle
"Someguy." He's pretty sure it doesn't matter who he is,
as much as what he's doing. Much support has been given to him by
Nate at the Vicksburg Collective, Erik at Nervousness, and Miles at Miles
Keep Photography (Miles shot the covers).
How:
Available journals are listed on the 1000 Journals website, but you must be
pre-registered to get on a list to receive a journal. People are free to draw,
paint, add collages, and write poetry, stories, rants, and random thoughts.
Once finished, that person sends the journal to the next on the list —
wherever he or she may be in the world — and when the journal is completely
full, it is then returned to Someguy in San Francisco.
To date, one journal has returned from its journey around the world.
Someguy says, “In August 2001, journal 526 was sent to Hollie in Middletown,
Connecticut, USA. The journal spent time at the coffee shop klekolo,
went to Brazil, traveled through plenty of States, and made it to Ireland
for a spell. Just over a year later, the journal returned home, wrapped in
a custom velvet bag made by Deb D'Amato, and full of writing, artwork, and
photographs — scraps and slices of people's lives. This is what it's
all about!”
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