1000 Journals Project [Hardcover]

Someguy (Author), Kevin Kelly (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 8, 2007

Voyeuristic. Inspirational. Entertaining. One thousand blank journals are currently circulating throughout the world, beckoning contributors who find the journals by chance on trains, in cafs, and anonymously left on doorsteps. Artist Someguy shares more than 250 of the best entries: a collage of African countries repositioned into a new continent; the musings of a teen trapped in a drug- ravaged community; a student's humorous personal ad for his ideal girlfriend ("C-cup required!"). A faux leather cover and two beautifully embroidered pages bring the look and feel of the original journals to life. The perfect gift for journalists, aspiring artists, designers, and anyone who can't wait for one of the journals to magically appear in their lives.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Someguy is a San Francisco-based artist and designer. He launched the 1000 Journals Project in 2000.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 212 pages
• Publisher: Chronicle Books; Edition Unstated edition (March 8, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811858561
• ISBN-13: 978-0811858564
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #88,297 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #74 in Books > Arts & Photography > Other Media > Mixed Media

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pure Magic of Creativity, March 21, 2007

By 

Danusha Goska (Bloomington, IN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 1000 Journals Project (Hardcover)

I first learned of "1000 Journals" from TheScreamOnline, an online publication in which I have been lucky enough to place some of my own writing.

Someguy began the "1000 Journals" project in San Francisco. He purchased 1000 blank journals and sent them around the world. He gave them to friends and left them in coffee shops, book stores, and libraries -- and even on park benches. People wrote in them, drew sketches, painted pictures, glued-in photos, and then passed them on. Instructions inside the cover ask that each contributor scan his/her pages and email them to Someguy for posting on the website.

I was fascinated by this project when I first heard about it. The "1000 Journals" project evoked, for me, the pure magic of raw creativity unmediated by middlemen who, all too often, strain out the magic and keep only the commercial or easily digested product.

Like a drill sent deep into earth that hits fresh water, the "1000 Journals" project hit people like you and me, people washing their laundry, sipping brews in cafes, getting over broken hearts, nursing invisible dreams, and then erupted with their creative gifts.

The project's foundation was serendipity. Someguy released his journals to the winds with the faith that something beautiful would result, and it has.

Someguy's process reverberates; to some it is reminiscent of religious faith -- of letting go and letting God.

For others it is a manifestation of the faith an artist requires to begin any project that may, or may not ever, find its audience. For others it brings to mind the process of being a parent. "Your children are not your children," wrote Khalil Gibran. Well, your journal is not your journal; your art is not your art. Someguy's process brings that all home.

TheScreamOnline featured the 1000 Journals project in 2003 and it has since been made into a documentary, which will be coming out soon.

The magazine's editor calls it "one of the most significant and innovative sociological experiments in recent history." Thousands of hands have touch the books, and it truly is a global project. This new book looks just like one of the journals, with its black cover and dimensions. The project certainly has had many incarnations, from the journals themselves, to the website, the magazine feature, the film, and now this book. I highly recommend it!

28 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Write" on Time!, March 14, 2007

By 

S. Briggs (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 1000 Journals Project (Hardcover)

Unfortunately I came too late participate in the 1000 Journals project. I found myself in awe of the creative rawness of the entries I found on that site and its sister site 1001 Journals. So be inspired by the multisensory spreads (much easier on the eyes that staring at the computer screen). This books is compact, but not too small and it looks like an actual leather bound journal. Entries range from innocent to indulgent, sensual to sublime. All of these artists have created a book that is not only an art book, but a memoir as well. Each entry expresses a piece of the artist's world. I am looking forward to a sequel. Until then, enjoy this book and check the websites:
[...]
Thank you someguy and to all who contributed to the project.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Art Made Accessible, May 6, 2007

By 

Sonora "Sonora" (Phoenix, AZ) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: 1000 Journals Project (Hardcover)

This beautiful book is the product of a multi-year mail art project. The actual size and color of the book match the 1000 journals that were sent out over the world. Each journal has it own incredible journey and story to tell. And this is undoubtable one the largest and most exciting collaborative mail art project ever undertaken.

I've been fortunate to be part of this experiment, and it was a life changing experience. This book is a tiny glimpse into the 100's of 1000's of pages filled with the art of the everyday person. Art made accessible to everyone.

If you think the Postsecret books are fascinating, this book actually looks a bit more indepth into the personal lives of the participants. It is a look at the everyday reality of our times.