52 Projects: Random Acts of Everyday Creativity (Perigee Book) (Paperback)

by Jeffrey Yamaguchi (Author) "52 Projects is an eclectic collection of offbeat, exploratory, artistic projects: memory inducing and life-affirming writing exercises; photographic assignments that capture the essence of fleeting..." (more)
Key Phrases: bike racks

Editorial Reviews

Review
52 Projects is a creative catalyst that encourages you to find beauty in the mundane things you do every day. -- Karyn Bosnak, author of Save Karyn

52 Projects is filled with ideas that are simple and fun, but can result in brilliant and complex art. -- Kevin Sampsell, author, critic, and publisher of Future Tense Books

52 Projects taught me that even seemingly simple ideas can kick start the creative juices. -- Heather Powazek Champ, creator and curator of mirrorproject.com

A treasure-trove of inspirational activities, 52 Projects is everything you'll need to get your creative juices flowing. -- Chris Baty, Director of National Novel Writing Month-nanowrimo.org-and author of No Plot? No Problem!

This book proves what I have long believed is true -- that creative inspiration is contagious. -- Keri Smith, author and illustrator of Living Out Loud

Thoughtful and inspiring. 52 Projects will unleash the inner original in all of us. -- Calvin Liu, editor of Bullfight Review

Product Description
Jeffrey Yamaguchi extends an invitation to indulge one's inner artist by committing yourself to one creative project a week for 52 weeks. 52 Projects chronicles the author's artistic journey over the course of one year and how it changed his life-and also offers 52 jumping-off points for the reader's own creative inspiration:

- Frame a picture you've drawn, painted, or photographed-and hang it up in a public environment
- Write the story of why you moved to the city in which you currently live
- Ask your grandparents to tell you their stories-and document them
- Create something while your laundry is washing and drying
- Make the perfect margarita-and drink it
- Send a friend a Chinese take-out menu and chopsticks
- Stay up all night-and make the most of it

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Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Perigee Trade (November 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399532064
• ISBN-13: 978-0399532061
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #265,870 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars miracle cure, November 2, 2005

By	Ayun Halliday "Author of No Touch Monkey!" (Beautiful Brooklyn New York) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Ours would be a richer world, if every citizen between the ages of 11 and 93 kept a copy of 52 Projects atop his or her toilet tank, where it could be referred to constantly and spontaneously. Full of high pranking spirits and sentimental recognition of the most deserving stripe, Jeffrey Yamaguchi's suggestions reduced me to tears even as they sent me scuttling for the padded envelope in which I happily mailed my first project to a stranger.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intelligent, meaningful, and doable, March 26, 2006

By	David Barringer "trick falls" (charlotte, nc) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

So if you've taken a look at the mags Readymade and Make and noticed how the stuff they suggest you do is mostly too kooky or too costly, you should definitely check out this book. They're projects that you make very personal, often heartfelt, either using the stuff of your own life that you already have at hand or joining with a friend or family member to exchange and share and create things with lasting meaning. The ideas get you going, and the direction is up to you. You have to follow how it plays out (which suggests that future editions should include some road-test feedback from readers). There is no requirement that you hunt down a billion little gadgets from Home Depot or invest in a circular saw or squint at four pages of diagrams. None of that. These are cool, imaginative ideas for making art out of the materials of your own life.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Way to Jumpstart Your Creativity! , September 23, 2006

By	Amy Graham (Scottsdale, AZ) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Ok, so the synopsis doesn't do much for making the book 52 Projects appealing in anyway...but I highly recommend that you visit Yamaguchi's website (www.52projects) if you want a better ideas of what this book is all about...or just buy it and read it!

I would recommend it without hesitation for anyone looking to jumpstart their creativity...you don't really get specific idas or "do this" type of information for the most part in this book...what you get are pretty open-ended "assignments" to ponder and do on your own terms.

I've been inspired by both Project 29 and my own variation of Project 21. I have enjoyed the book and for the price (10.46 on Amazon), I think the time spent reading 52 Things was well worth it!

This might be fun to buy with a group of friends (splitting the cost even) and try the projects out together or do some individually and then share the results of your creativity! Just all around fun!