Co-Laboratory-ing

I spent a couple of hours at GMB Chomichuk's studio tonight as part of his monthly Co-Laboratory.

The Co-Lab, as I will henceforth call it, is a space for artists of every stripe to create in the same space. There are several spots for bit paint/drawing collaborations, lots of places to sit, and even models if anyone feels like sketching.

I've been to two sessions. In January, I showed up late, after working all day at UMP and then teaching a 3 hour creative writing class. So I had nothing left, but managed to have some decent conversations with comic book types, including Nicholas Burns and Scott Henderson, whose work I've really admired over the years.

This time, I was feeling burnt out but dragged myself out of the house anyways. I brought my laptop instead of my notebook, mostly because the essay I'm currently working on—about knowing and the body and my time in the Muskwa-Kechika—has been tickling at the back of my head all week.

So: I didn't collaborate with a single person, just plunked myself down and pulled out my laptop, but it was great to be able to work in such noisy quiet. There was music and movement, but everyone was making something, so I was able to sink down underneath it all and do a solid draft of the essay.

Which was enormously satisfying.

It was also great to witness, again, Greg's commitment to the making-of-art. He thinks everyone should make art and everyone should support each other's making-of-art.

Next month, I'm going to try to actually collaborate. Maybe something with a big roll of paper, laid out on the table. People can write lines and sketch things and we'll go from there...