Fun With Crowdfunding: The Carl Wagan Bookmobile

Last summer, OCAD University professor Shannon Gerard and the OCAD University Student Gallery teamed up to create the Carl Wagan Bookmobile – and yep, that moniker is a cute and clever play on the name of one of Gerard’s inspirations, Carl Sagan – for their summer camp program. The Bookmobile served as a library, workshop and performance space – people used it to learn how to bind books, read zines and host impromptu ukelele parties – and has since come to wider prominence touring through street festivals, the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art and serving as an artists’ residency.

Gerard wants to take the bookmobile even further this upcoming summer – to a city near YOU. She has created an IndieGogo campaign aimed to raise funds for a cross-Canada tour that will bring the Bookmobile from Toronto to Newfoundland and back (click the link to see a map of their route). During the stopovers, Gerard plans to host workshops in screenprinting, bookbinding, zine making, and creative writing and collaborate with local artists and curious participants to create permanent works that can be viewed in the van’s library. She’s planning on stopping anywhere and everywhere – Gerard lists artist-run centres, community spaces, educational initiatives, print shops, arts and literary festivals, bars and homes as some of the places she’d like to hit.

Through this fundraising campaign, Gerard has clearly and concisely laid out her plans and methods. In order for this project to work, it needs to be accessible to everyone, and when it comes to producing work and acquiring materials, there will be a cost involved. Gerard is also working with designers from the ALSO Collective to produce a book and film documenting Carl’s travels, which is also part of the $25,000 goal.

Perks include copies of all the books produced on the road ($100) copies of the finished book and film ($45) t-shirts, a portrait of you as a Junior Scout by Gerard ($250) and for $1,000, the chance to bring Carl straight to your town.

Needless to say, we are big fans of this project and think it’s worthy of your attention and your donations. Check out the fundraising video for the Carl Wagan Bookmobile below, and take a look at the project’s IndieGogo page.

http://vimeo.com/57139203