Project recap

In 2013 I took on an interesting reading project with the one and only Biblio-Mat at The Monkey's Paw. This was the greatest machine I had ever seen, in one of the best bookstores I have ever been to. Although the project is long over, this site remains an archive to the eclectic assortment of books to be found in the world's first and only antiquarian random book vending machine and the guy that was stubborn enough to read one week.

The quick links:

The First Post - Start here to get the full story

The End of Project Recap and Thoughts

The Giant Biblio-Mat Project Celebration Party

OT 16: Collage Party 2015

Early June brings with it the Dundas West Fest, and with it comes the much celebrated Monkey’s Paw Collage Party. For the third year in a row (recap of previous years), DWSF revelers participated in the dissection and reconstitution of vintage publications.

This 2015 iteration came with an understanding that the people who most liked to engage in this event are also the people who are most troubled by the wanton butchering of biblio paraphernalia. Which is fair, as no bibliophile wants to go through a bookstore with ink on their hands from freshly massacred books. To remedy this, the pages were pre-separated via guillotine in the most humane way possible and neatly processed into boxes of collage fodder so they could be consumed without guilt.

The result was pure art. Specifically the kind that can be displayed on giant boards on Dundas West on a gorgeous summery day:

Credit: Alexandra Prochshenko/@marvelle_grey

Credit: Alexandra Prochshenko/@marvelle_grey

Credit: Alexandra Prochshenko/@marvelle_grey

Credit: Alexandra Prochshenko/@marvelle_grey

Credit: Alexandra Prochshenko/@marvelle_grey

Credit: Alexandra Prochshenko

OT15: Vintage Crawl Biblio-Mat Celebration

As part of Vintage Crawl Toronto 2014, the Monkey’s Paw will be celebrating the two year anniversary of the Biblio-Mat. From the Monkey’s Paw:

For those who prefer to browse the Monkey's Paw by candlelight, October 9th promises to be rich on atmosphere. As part of Vintage Crawl Toronto, we'll be extending our melancholic brand of hospitality to visitors until 11pm. Also, since we installed the legendary Biblio-Mat at this same event just two short years ago, we're treating the evening as a celebratory Tooniversary for our eccentric vending machine. (Is that the smell of birthday cupcakes, or is it just book dust?) Expect a cameo appearance by Biblio-Mat designer Craig Small, and audio wallpaper by our in-house musicologist DJ Anachronistik, who will spin some very scratchy grooves on a century-old Edison cylinder player.

Date: Thursday October 9^th, 2014

Address:

The Monkeys’ Paw

1229 Dundas St. West

Toronto, ON M6J 1X6

A birthday party for the most interesting machine in Toronto? Count me in!

OT9: Collage Party

This Saturday marks the annual Dundas Street Festival in Toronto and along with it, the annual Monkey’s Paw Collage Party. If you are in the area, I highly recommend checking it out. The Monkey’s Paw will have a table where you can create art out of old and antiquarian books and magazines that Stephen assures are beyond salvage (although people will try).

The details

Date: June 7, 2014 11:00am-4:00pm

Address: The Monkey’s Paw at 1229 Dundas St. West, Toronto

Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/248245232045317/?ref=25

Even if you’re not into cutting and gluing up old texts in the name of art, the Dundas Street Fest still has a lot going on, including street performers, sidewalk sales, and patios upon patios laid out everywhere since they close off the street. Some pics from last year:

My collage, because who doesn't like rhinos?

Another collage form a fellow animal lover.

Street performers everywhere!

A fundraising booth where you could get your portrait
drawn by an elementary schooler for a few bucks.

Of course I had one done.

These two performers busted out a Victorian vibrator and none were
 the wiser except for the Asian guy laughing his ass off at the front.

Patios and stalls everywhere.

OT3: Biblio-Mat Fanatic Party

It was a beautiful evening of laid back book and curiosity discussion paired with random cocktails. Many many random cocktails. Much thanks to everyone who made it out. Wish I had taken some more photos but my hands were constantly full of books and the aforementioned drinks. Nonetheless, the lovely Jolie Featherstone captured the night as the unofficial photographer:

The parents of the machine.

Handed a book and a drink before I even got my coat off.

The evening traffic worked out well with attendees coming in

and out in a steady stream, which gave us room to move around.

Like an offering to the random book gods, the 53 books (52+the one I made) were laid out in front of the Biblio-Mat for all to flip through and critique. 

Front and center
(actually more like towards the back in the corner)

The original idea was to serve tequila all night, but then Stephen brought up the idea of Biblio-Mat Cocktails – You drop a $2 donation and received a completely random cocktail. Jesse spent all of Saturday boning up on mixology to ensure no two cocktails were alike!
 

The wizard behind the curtain. Literally.

Had to take a shot at the machine of course.
Think I may have received the best book of the night.

Craig Small, the creator of the Biblio-Mat, hauled in a projector and displayed the blueprints, schematics, logistical animations, and other various behind the scenes looks at how the machine came to be from gestation of the idea to the actual building of the Biblio-Mat.

Beyond being read, books serve many purposes.

Late night picture show.

At the end of the night, Stephen and Craig surprised me with one of the most amazing gifts I’ve ever received – a plaque commemorating the blog project… made from the piece of metal cut out of the Biblio-Mat’s book slot. Yes, I now own a piece of the Biblio-Mat. Truly humbled by this.

Creator, proprietor, and guy who just likes to read.

A gorgeous work of art. Incredibly honoured.

Still stunned by this.

So the big announcement of the night regarding the future of the blog was that it will now be opened up for submissions. Read the details here.

Used so much it had to be refilled halfway through the night.
Submit your book!

A wonderful night with a wonderful creation.