Like so many worthwhile but unlikely projects, the idea for Cigar-Tin Stories, “came from something obsessive.” Kingston author and painter Darryl Joel Berger explains: “One night, as I finished a painting on canvas, I looked over at this stack of tins and then down at the leftover paint on my palette. And I thought, ‘why can’t I paint a cigar tin? And why not put a booklet with a story inside?’”
The project has unfolded very much as the name suggests: Berger starts with an emptied cigar tin (their contents a nightly accompaniment to some schnapps on the back porch) and paints an original image on its front. Next, Berger illustrates a short story, varnishes it, and folds it, accordion-style, inside the tin.
In 2008, Berger started selling his Cigar-Tin Stories, primarily over the Internet, but also in local stores, at writer festivals and art shows, or by request from collectors. Over the last three years they’ve become more and more popular, due in part to their size and affordability ($22 per tin, including postage). They are as much art objects as illustrated storybooks, begging to be handled, opened and read.
Though Berger is a self-confessed lover of both painting on canvas and “old-fashioned” books, he aims to transcend both forms with Cigar-Tin Stories, and each piece is — as he describes — “distinct and highly personal and made from materials that most people would overlook.”
These little tins, featuring streaky and offbeat, melancholy and startling paintings on their fronts, and containing tiny illustrated stories, have crept onto mantlepieces and bookshelves around the world. Most of these paintings have an enigmatic feel to them, a prelude to something else: one features a tiny dog with a shock of white hair, another a pursed-lipped blond winding a blindfold around her face. Berger is a self-taught artist — “I did go to design school,” he explains, “but that’s a bit like learning to swim from a video game” — and an experienced writer. He is the author of a warmly reviewed book of short fiction, Punishing Ugly Children, and a list of short fiction as long as your arm, so all the stories he illustrates are his own. “I just want my stories to live as many lives as possible, by whatever means I can find,” Berger explains. “In a sense each story deserves its own container, its own separateness. Where else does that happen?” (Victoria Hetherington)
For more on Cigar-Tin Stories, you can visit cigar-tin-stories.blogspot.com
38 thoughts on “Message in a Tin”
Comments are closed.
My partner and I stumbled over here by a different page and thought I might check things out. I like what I see so i am just following you. Look forward to looking into your web page yet again.
I’m usually to running a blog and i really recognize your content. The article has actually peaks my interest. I am going to bookmark your web site and maintain checking for brand new information.
Heya i’m for the first time here. I found this board and I find It really useful & it helped me out a lot. I hope to give something back and help others like you aided me.
This information is awarded a couple thumbs up from me.
Nice blog here! Also your web site loads up fast! What host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host? I wish my web site loaded up as fast as yours lol
As I site owner I conceive the content material material here is rattling excellent , thanks for your efforts.
Good day! Would you mind if I share your blog with my myspace group? There’s a lot of folks that I think would really enjoy your content. Please let me know. Thanks
Very educating story, saved your site for hopes to read much more!
Great article! Thank you for publishing. I will be coming back soon.
I’ve said that least 2607422 times. SCK was here
I have been gone for a while, but now I remember why I used to love this web site. Thanks, I will try and check back more often. How frequently do you update your website?
pleasant post, i certainly love this site, continue it
Thank you for another informative website. The place else could I am getting that type of information written in such a perfect way? I’ve a challenge that I am simply now working on, and I have been at the look out for such info.
Hey! This is kind of off topic but I need some help from an established blog. Is it very hard to set up your own blog? I’m not very techincal but I can figure things out pretty fast. I’m thinking about creating my own but I’m not sure where to start. Do you have any points or suggestions? Cheers
Lastly, an issue that I am passionate about. I have appeared for information of this caliber for the final a number of hours. Your website is tremendously appreciated.
You made some first rate points there. I regarded on the internet for the issue and found most people will go along with with your website.
Hi there, just became aware of your blog through Google, and found that it is really informative. I’m gonna watch out for brussels. I will be grateful if you continue this in future. Many people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
You made some good points there. I looked on the internet for the issue and found most guys will agree with your blog.
Thank you a lot for giving everyone an extraordinarily terrific opportunity to read in detail from here. It is usually so sweet plus jam-packed with a lot of fun for me and my office friends to visit your web site more than thrice in a week to read through the latest stuff you will have. And indeed, we are always pleased considering the good inspiring ideas served by you. Certain 4 points in this post are unquestionably the most efficient we have had.
I’m not that much of a internet reader to be honest but your sites really nice, keep it up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your site to come back down the road. All the best
Thank you for another informative website. The place else may just I get that type of info written in such an ideal approach? I’ve a project that I’m just now operating on, and I’ve been at the glance out for such information.
I am only writing to make you understand what a nice encounter our child had reading through your webblog. She learned some pieces, including what it is like to possess an awesome teaching mindset to make other folks quite simply fully understand a variety of tortuous subject matter. You truly did more than people’s desires. Many thanks for presenting those valuable, trustworthy, informative as well as unique tips about your topic to Julie.
Thanks a ton for stating your opinions. Being blogger, I’m always looking for new and different ways to look at a topic. I uncover fantastic motivation in doing so. Many thanks once again
I really like this website , and hope you will write more ,thanks a lot for your information.
Definitely, what a fantastic site and enlightening posts, I will bookmark your website.Best Regards!
I like this site so much, saved to favorites. “I don’t care what is written about me so long as it isn’t true.” by Dorothy Parker.
Its like you read my mind! You seem to know a lot about this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you could do with some pics to drive the message home a little bit, but other than that, this is magnificent blog. A fantastic read. I will certainly be back.
I believe other web site owners really should take this site as an example , really clean and wonderful user genial style .
I just saved brokenpencil » Blog Archive » Message in a Tin on Digg, hope this helps get you more visitors. Right because of this write-up, I really think this site needs a lot more due consideration. I’ll likely be returning again to read through considerably more, thank you for the blog post it is wonderful
Cool blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere? A theme like yours with a few simple adjustements would really make my blog jump out. Please let me know where you got your theme. Kudos
Hello! This is my first visit to your blog! We are a collection of volunteers and starting a new initiative in a community in the same niche. Your blog provided us valuable information to work on. You have done a marvellous job!