nutshell manifestoes
In the day and age when we routinely advertise for apparel companies
just by getting dressed and when foreheads are being sold on e-bay
to the highest-bidding advertiser, why not do the same for non-profit, non-partisan reasons?
It can only make the world a more interesting place.
- Julia Baird, May 2006 -
Nutshell Manifestoes was a public art project created especially for the innovative Alopecia Gallery. In the spring of 2006, I sent out an open call, inviting anyone to submit their personal message to the world on any topic. The catch: the manifesto could only be ten words long or less. Manifestoes were sent in from across Canada and around the world about a huge variety of topics, from art to world politics, words of wisdom about life and observations about smoking, track pants and horny boys.
Founded in 1996, Alopecia Gallery is a contemporary art gallery located on Gordon B. Isnor's face, usually in a bald patch in his beard . Thirty-one of the Nutshell Manifestoes were turned into 2" x 1½" stickers - providing Gordon with one sticker for each day in May. The Nutshell Manifestoes exhibition also has the potential to continue indefinitely: the stickers are available for anyone to download, print out and do with as they please!
STICKER INSTRUCTIONS: Just print them out on address labels, size Avery #05159 or 14 labels per sheet, sized 4" x 1½" (10.2 x 3.8 cm). You'll need one full sheet of labels and the top row of another. After they're printed, cut them in half to create 2" x 1½" stickers. Download the stickers in pdf format here and here.
Gordon and I had the pleasure of being interviewed on the CBC Radio One show Freestyle just prior to the start of the Nutshell Manifestoes exhibition. Just click here if you're interested in listening.
Photography: Jenn Wong
the manifestoes:
be happy for this moment, this moment is your life
cutesy art will meet the same death as sentimental art
No car if you can walk it in forty minutes! - Gerry Collins
REPLACE ALL ART WITH PURE AND UNFETTERED JOY - Jacob Wren
Let it go or let it eat you up.
By making choices…you live your life. - Zo
I am suspicious of manifestos and writers of manifestos. - Kyle
RESTRICTED TO SMOKERS - Otto Toth
aspire to the extraordinary;
embrace the mundane
- Paul Harfleet
Test the system to see if it works.
Stop reading c magazine until it's no longer about itself
Witness and Remember - Annette Manning Trnka
MAKE ART
LOVE ART
LIVE ART
INSTILL ART
________ ART
- Ian Amell
I will apologize for my mistakes, but not for myself. - H. Greene
terrorism is an excuse the world has heard before.
NICE GIRLS AREN'T ALWAYS COOKIES - Honey Novick
brains brains everywhere but not a one does think - John Constantinides
Live for Love and Chocolate
S.V.P. Aidons la planète à vivre en paix - Marie-Hélène
we must cure ourselves of the myopia we suffer.
BURN ALL SWEAT PANTS AND THROW AWAY THE PATTERNS. - Breeyn McCarney
Don't waste time trying to find yourself, create it.
Go, go, go, go, go, but remember to stay calm. - Jenine Marsh
MODERNISM BELONGS ON A STICKER - Danny Woodrow
Boys will never close the door to potential pussy. - Marie Sano
vocalized meaning does not bring superiority
on the corner: take it or leave it - Lisa Lipton
LIVE IT, LOVE IT, FEEL IT, BELIEVE IT AND DANCE… - Arielle S. Elbaz
DESTROY !
STUPID, ANNOYING, VACANT,
BORING, VAIN, PATRONIZING,
BAD, SUPERCILIOUS
ART !
- Phyllis Stine
PREGNANCY IS NOT A VIRUS
Get away from the city; it's not good for you.