Thank you to Jan at Poppytalk for interviewing me for the Design*Sponge Guest Blog! Take a photographic tour of the UPPERCASE space and find out how I get my work done with so many lovely distractions.

Glen's novel, Correction Road, is one of three short-listed for the City of Calgary W.O. Mitchell award! There will be a reading by the three finalists in early April at McNally Robinson. We'll post details when they are confirmed.

Glen has also posted his thoughts about the closure.

 

McNally Robinson Bookstore is closing its Calgary store. (link to CBC article) (Herald article)

The company, based in Winnipeg, has sold the historic three-storey building on Stephen Avenue to a land-investment company, co-owner Paul McNally confirmed Thursday. The bookstore said it is not looking for a new location in Calgary. McNally blamed the closure on the costs of real estate in the downtown core, as well as high labour expenses in Alberta's boom. "The value of the real estate over-reaches the potential of the bookselling business," McNally said in a statement. "In an average cost structure, the store would be viable and profitable. In downtown Calgary, not so much."

I am upset about this for so many different reasons. Bookstores have always been sanctuaries for me. They're an escape from my stresses and abundant sources of inspiration. I love the architecture of bookstore interiors, of navigating through rows of shelves. The McNally Robinson store downtown is a very pretty store, with a lovely open feel. It's a surrounding that the books deserve... very unlike the crowded mess of a Chapters.

Back in 2001 or so, when I first heard that the independent bookstore chain was opening a Calgary store, I actually emailed them and requested a good section on graphic design (the Saskatoon store, which I visit every time I go home to see my parents, has always had a great selection, so I was excited to hear that this could be possible in Calgary, too.) They replied to my request and assured me that they would be featuring a nice selection on design and typography. And I wasn't disappointed!

When I opened UPPERCASE in 2005, I was admitedly a bit concerned at how well my books would sell since the much larger McNally Robinson is just half a block from Art Central and UPPERCASE. I purposely ordered books that McNally didn't carry, from smaller international publishers. I didn't want to step on their toes since I was still a loyal customer, regularly buying magazines, business, travel, language, interior and other books. (And I admit that occasionally when I need a break from my work, I put a note on my door, close up shop and spend some time sipping a fruit spritzer in their restaurant.) After a few months of business, though, I realized that we could happily co-exist. In fact, when someone wanders into UPPERCASE carrying a McNally bag, the likelihood that they make a purchase in my shop increases! If someone is looking for a subject that I don't carry or they are visiting from out of town, I always recommend McNally as the perfect destination.

McNally has always been a great location for book launches and literary events — Glen and I were both thrilled that he was able to have the launch of his novel, Correction Road, at the store we love. The store and its staff was also supportive of my publishing venture and carried The Shatner Show book on consignment last summer while I searched for a distributor.

It is shameful that a city as prosperous and populated as Calgary cannot sustain a large downtown bookstore — whether it's a chain or independent. I recall a few outstanding bookstores that have come and gone in the city core such as Bollum's Books, Sandpiper, Books and Books... I mourned their loss as well. I don't know how much real estate prices caused the demise of those stores, but I fear the apathy of average Calgarians was a factor. This city has a wealth of opportunities; it is known for its prosperity and entrepreneurial spirit. But wealth can be squandered and spirits can be broken. One of my first thoughts upon hearing this news was, "I guess we have to move." Glen had a similar reaction. How terrible that the perception of our own city can be so devastated by the closing of a single bookstore.

Of course, we're not going anywhere. I remain excited by the potential of UPPERCASE and have renewed my lease for another five years. I hope that Art Central will thrive with the increasing number of downtown residents and the eventual completion of The Bow across the street. Seeing the benefits of those developments will require patience and perseverence. I will continue to work hard to make UPPERCASE into the little store that could.

I respect McNally Robinson for having the vision to open some remarkable bookstores. In fact, they are expanding into the Toronto-area later this year. I can assume that the decision to close our store was probably a difficult and emotional one for a family-owned company. I appreciate that sometimes, as much as you want things to succeed, the math just doesn't add up. No one likes to admit failure. But the failure of this bookstore is worse than an independent bookstore closing shop: the city of Calgary is failing to nurture its cultural and creative community.

And I'm losing a terrific friend and neighbour. 

(Thanks for your comments and emails about this article. Renata Liwska has drawn the illustration above in response to the news of McNally Robinson's closure.)

I drove Glen to the airport this morning. He's off on a mini book tour. He will be reading Tuesday evening in Saskatoon's McNally Robinson and Wednesday night he'll be in Winnipeg's McNally Robinson. If you live in either city, please brave the cold and come out to these events! It would be very Canadian of you.

 

"Idea generation is an addiction...an engaging, brain-spinning indulgence that must be practiced in moderation." 

This statement is from the Behance's article which cautions on the intoxicating side-effect of idea generation. "New ideas have the potential to transform your life in wonderful ways, but they are also the most notorious source of distraction. Frustrated entrepreneurs and struggling creatives often trace back their problems to a moment when they decided to pursue too many things at once." This certainly rings true for me! Over the past three years, I have opened UPPERCASE, curated a few dozen gallery exhibitions, designed a line of wholesale greeting cards, made hundreds of handmade papergoods, launched an online store and published a book. All the while, I have continued to maintain my graphic design business. I admit that this is quite a lot to manage and though it has been exhilarating, it is also exhausting.

The arrival of a new year always brings about contemplation and resolutions. Leading up to 2008, I had been looking forward to putting more focus on my creative and business endeavours. UPPERCASE gallery, books & papergoods has developed into a bigger project than I could have possibly imagined when it first began. It its infancy, I thought it would be a small bookstore — a companion to complement my graphic design studio. It quickly became an outlet for my creativity. If I had an idea for a product, I could simply create it and see an immediate response from my customers. UPPERCASE allows me to conceptualize all aspects of a project — from concept to production to marketing to distribution. It truly uses all aspects of my creative thinking and I find this very fulfilling and enjoyable. Although working for clients has its rewards, it is so much more satisfying to have full ownership of an idea and its design.

Over the past year, the balance of my business shifted from Vangool Design to UPPERCASE as I began to devote increasing amounts of my time to the store. The success of The Shatner Show in terms of the quality of participants, press and other attention, was phenomenal and was a definite turning point. It put my small enterprise (pun intended) on the map. Although the show and book have just broken even at this point, with proper distribution now in place I hope to make enough to eventually fund another book.

My current self-directed publication project is Work/Life: the UPPERCASE Directory of Canadian Illustration & Photography. The intention of this publication is to promote Canadian talent to the best clients across North America. Participants pay a reasonable fee to be in the book and this, along with some sponsors, will cover the production and distribution costs. Some incredibly talented people have signed up! Necessarily, I have had to decline a lot of client work in order to have time to dedicate to Work/Life. After a decade of freelancing, it is against my nature to turn down a job — but now it has become a necessity to do so. I regret the inconvenience this will cause to some of my clients, but I know they will wish me well. I won't be turning absolutely everything down: I will focus on my love of publication design and special arts/culture projects, plus I remain open to any amazing unforeseen opportunities might come my way.

I'm looking forward to the year ahead, intoxicated with the possibilities!

Carolyn Fisher hosted an evening of making marzipan goodies. More photos here. Thanks, Carolyn! What a fun idea.

Congratulations to Glen! He launched his book last night at McNally Robinson. Thank you to the many friends and family who filled the restaurant. I've posted additional photos on Flickr.

I've created a new section in the store (for my favourite literary fiction writer): click here.

Glen's book has arrived!

The book launch is Tuesday evening, 6pm at McNally Robinson. Everyone is welcome.

My friend Erin sent me this list of a child’s development at 18-36 months. Much of this is true of UPPERCASE at 24 months:

I may know up to 200 words in my home language and sometimes in a second language, too.

I can put words together into sentences.

I can tell you about things that happened yesterday and about what will happen tomorrow.

I may get frustrated trying to express myself. I need you to listen patiently. It can help if you put into words what you think I am trying to say because it makes me feel understood and helps me learn new words.

I also communicate by using my body. I make up dances, songs, and stories, and I draw pictures that tell you what is on my mind.

I love hearing and reading stories, especially about things I know—like animals, families, and places I have visited.

Sometimes I like to “read” or tell you a story.

I like songs, fingerplays (like “Itsy-Bitsy Spider”) and games with nonsense words.