(a very brief history)
In 2007 I was asked by artist (and McKnight Photography Fellow) Monica Haller to assist her in designing a book from content that was the culmination of a three-year conversation between Haller and Iraq War Veteran, Riley Sharbonno. The resulting book, Riley and his story., has just been released in a second edition by onestar press — and our collaborative efforts have continued over the years.
More recently, as part of the Veterans Book Project, Monica has been conducting workshops around the country with small groups of people similarly affected by current and past military conflicts. For use in these workshops Monica and I collaborated with new media designer Mark Fox to develop a lightweight software program that enables non-designers to easily assemble their own book in a spirit akin to the Riley book.
(present day)
Today, on Veterans Day, NPR will be airing a segment about the Riley book and the Veterans Book Project during the program State of the Re:Union. The story will replay throughout November and will be available on the SOTRU web site. Also happening today: we are launching the brand new web site for the project, where you can read more about the project, view (or download) all of the current books, keep up to date with upcoming workshops, read blog posts by past workshop participants, and much more.
(more about the project, taken from veteransbookproject.com)
The Veterans Book Project is a library of books authored collaboratively by artist Monica Haller and dozens of people who have been affected by, and have archives of, the current American wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. In their printed format, the books provide a place or “container” that slows down and materializes the great quantity of ephemeral image files that live on veterans’ hard drives and in their heads.
Each book re-deploys volatile images with the aim of rearticulating and refashioning memories. It stands both independent of and in concert with the larger collection.
(about the process, from veteransbookproject.com)
The Veterans Book Project facilitates bookmaking workshops around the country. In these workshops, combat and non-combat veterans, their families, and others affected by the current American wars are invited to edit and design their archives and stories into softbound, print-on-demand books. Using software specifically designed for this project, three to six participants compile their digital and handwritten archives into book format over the course of a week. These materials can include digital images, emails, journal entries and writings generated at the workshop.
(finally, here are the airtimes—that we know of—for the State of the Re:Union segment)
WNYC – New York City – 11/11 @ 2p and 10p
KALW – San Francisco – 11/16 @10p
WDET – Detroit – 11/11 @ 9p
WAMU – DC – 11/11 @ 9p
WJSP – Atlanta – 11/11 @ 7p
KUOW – Seattle – 11/11 @ 9p
WVXU – Cincinnati – 11/11 @ 7p
WHAD – Milwaukee – 11/13 @ 3p
KUT – Austin 11/11 @ 3p
Vermont Public Radio – 11/11 @ 8p
WSLU – North Country Public Radio (upstate NY) – 11/17 @ 1p and 11/20 @ 3p
WIUM – Macomb, IL – 11/11 @ Noon
South Dakota Public Radio – 11/11 @ Noon
KBBG – Waterloo, IA – 11/11 @ 1a and 8p
KUFM – Montana Public Radio – 11/11 @1p
WFPL – Louisville Public Media – 11/11@ 8p
WSNC – Winston-Salem, NC – 11/11 @ 7p
Get Walker Reader in your inbox. Sign up to receive first word about our original videos, commissioned essays, curatorial perspectives, and artist interviews.