I hope you do not mind, but I have chosen not to scan and post images I mail within The Post Soul Project. I just want it to remain between You + Me.

I know you understand.

Thanks, for that.

Love,

Brooke

O L D Q U A R T E R L Y is a ZINE I have begin to produce. It is going beautifully. It began as a secret self-indulgent response to my own seasonally-idiosyncratic compulsions of thought. It now exists outside of an apartment, in stories and libraries, hands spanning the globe, and includes various work by artistically inclined outsiders that exist within our little world. Each issue is topical and no topic will ever be repeated during its lifetime as a publication. Each issue exists in hand-made editions of 50.

O L D Q U A R T E R L Y C A N B E P U R C H A S E D H E R E :

everythingnewisOLD @ gmail . com

YOU CAN ALSO SUBMIT TO THAT ADDRESS, OR VISIT THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE HERE

THE POST SOUL PROJECT

The Soul Project began April 1st, 2009 and ended May 11th, 2010. I had originally intended to end the project on April 1st, 2010 but decided to continue until May 11th, the date in which I received my last submission in 2009. (To read more about it, see entries below; A public statement of intent will be posted here in time, when I feel ready). The conclusion of The Soul Project marks the beginning of my personal 'soul' project, outlined below. Thank you to the trusting and open minded beings that participated in The Soul Project. You gave me so much, the unspeakable even, and in turn, I gave to you and will continue to keep doing so.

Thank you,

Brooke

THE POST SOUL PROJECT

The conclusion of The Soul Project marks the beginning of The Post Soul Project. Within the duration of The Soul Project (April 1st, 2009 - May 11th, 2010) I carried 147 photographs on my person for X amount of time (no less than one week for each photograph). This is the first time I have mentioned what I was doing in that time. The photographs I carried are images that my 'soul' has taken over the span of my lifetime. Moments within the year revealed I had up to 10 photographs on my person at one time.

I started feeling something different towards photography around this time last year. Having studied photography for some time and completing a degree in the subject, I felt as though my passion for the process had faded. Although I did benefit in certain ways from the institution of universalized education, after 6 years of study and 2 fine art universities I felt as though the unconscious passion I had once had (and have had since childhood) for the process of photographic creation was becoming overly didactic, contrived, and dry. I felt used. This is how I feel when I feel separate from my soul, which is creative by nature. After I graduated, I did not create anything uniquely visual for 2 years. To clarify, 'uniquely visual', to me, explains moments in which your soul takes over your body within the creation of an object. Moments in which you are not thinking in mind-sense, but rather your body is creating objects of expression that become visual vessels for your soul. I am sure everyone has experienced such moments in varying ways. One may compare the feeling of these moments to a long drive which feels mechanic and unconscious; you don't remember how you got to your destination at all, but you did. In grasping for a familial relationship to the photograph again, I realized that the way in which I have always connected to a photograph is this: The photograph is the vessel. I can see my soul beyond the frame, behind the lens, within the composition/space/time/moment/intent of the image if the photograph was taken rather randomly or subconsciously.

Just after the winter broke in 2009, I felt the rebirth of the photograph. I became fixated on the idea of the objectification of the photograph and intrigued by photographs which are seemingly loose and forgotten, hasty and delirious; the images in which I feel your soul captures. There are moments in photography when your mind is making the image, and as well, there are moments when your body does. I am interested in the images of the Soul. My soul is right there, right here, I have seen it in those moments. My soul is for sharing, connecting, trusting, and especially loving. I feel compelled to trust and share, thus, The Post Soul Project has begun.

I have begun this project by returning The Soul Projects vessels + souls to their owners via post. Their owners will receive their souls within their vessels, a personalized letter of intent, confessions, repentances, and a moment of my own soul as sacrament (one of the 147 photographs I carried on my person for X amount of time last year). The participants of The Soul Project will be the first to receive a photograph as a sacrament. Thereafter, a vessel containing a section of my soul (i.e. said image) will be sent at random to varying addresses once a week. Addresses will include random strangers and acquaintances. I would like to give sections of my soul to those I know/love/trust as well as those I can know/love/trust (i.e. friends and strangers). I will not be accepting addresses as suggestions but will be seeking addresses via phonebooks, dreams, symbols, and numbers I stumble upon. The receivers of these images will open a small envelope to reveal a photograph that I have carried in my back pocket for X amount of time (no less that one week) within the duration of The Soul Project (that is; April 1st 2009 - May 11 th 2010). No explanation or words of any kind will be printed on the photograph, within or on the envelope with exception of the receivers address. I may choose to scan and post random photographs I send the week in which I send them.

I will continue to do this until all 147 photographs are mailed.

THE SOUL PROJECT

The Soul Project has come to an end. Thank you to the participants. You were very dear to me and will remain in my thoughts. Your Soul + it's vessel will be sent back to you shortly. In the package, you will receive a statement of intent and further information.

love brooke

//////||||||\\\\\\

TO THE SOULS I THINK ABOUT EVERYDAY,

THANK YOU

J., B., J., R., C., L., N., P., V., W., B., E., D., T., S., S., M., J., A., F., G., H., K., E.

I AM TAKING GOOD CARE OF YOU.

I THINK ABOUT YOU EVERYDAY.

THE TAPE PROJECT

1. I will create and send you a tape cassette.

2. You will listen and record over my voice anywhere you wish in the tape.

*Please never say your name while recording. If you must use names to clarify beings, please change them.

3. You will send the tape back to me when you are finished. Please include a nameless return address.

Please only record when you feel a specific need to, not because you feel you have to.

I think it really can be this simple.

If you are interested in partaking in this project please express so.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: THE SOUL PROJECT

Hi. I am working on a project and I would appreciate your participation if you feel your heart is in it. Your heart really has to be IN it though. It really can't work without you. It's you that matters... you exist to me. So, here is the project... I know it may sound silly, but yes, I am serious.

I am collecting souls. I am looking for individuals that are willing to give me their soul for one year. Don't worry. You will still exist. Think about what a soul actually means. Your soul may come to me in anything. It must be contained in some sort of package. You can stuff it into a jar, you can give it to me in a locket, you can mail it to me in an envelope, you can bake it in a pie and I will consume it if you wish. I am open to you. I am willing to cater to your needs. If you are a friend, then great. If you are a stranger to me, wonderful. I do not need to know you at all to get to know your soul. If you are interested in the project, then here are the steps. If not, thank you for reading this far.

* PLEASE NOTE: I have received a GREAT response already. This excites me! I am excited that you are excited! There is a bit of confusion I am finding however. I am not interested in animism. I do not want your soul to become a physical object that you give to me. I would like you to put your soul into a container, and give me the container that has your soul inside. I will not be opening the container, nor will I be showing anyone the contents of the container. I do not want to release your soul or see what it actually is. I am interested in the vessel and your description, as well as taking care of it, and placing it where you ask. The vessel will be in an installation in about one year. The container can be anything you wish and should reflect the nature of your soul.

Instructions:

1. Mail me your soul, in it's container, or arrange to leave it in a location where I can find it. I do not want to meet you or see you when I receive the parcel.
2. Please include a note with a description of what your soul looks like.
3. Please include another note with a description of where you feel your soul should be kept in my home for one year. If your soul has any specific needs (does it need to be spoken to, does it need to be watered, would you like me to sing to it, does it need to interact with another soul in my house, etc.) please include these instructions as well. Please only request what your soul actually needs.
4. Please include your name, your location, your wishes, your souls description, and a return address with the parcel.

My Promises to You:

1. If you take me seriously, I will take your requests seriously as well.
2. I will love your soul like I love my own.
3. I will keep it safe and out of danger.

What I Will Be Doing With Your Soul:

1. I will carry out your requests and place your soul in my care, in the spot of your choosing for one year.
2. I will photograph it in said spot.
3. I will mail your soul back to you in April of 2010.
4. Please note that your soul and it's vessel will be in an installation, however, I will not be opening the vessel, or revealing what is inside the vessel to anyone.

5. I will be keeping journals about each soul I receive. I expect to have a great deal of resources/research/information to share with you at the end of this journey.

Serious Responses Only Please.

Please arrange for me to receive your parcel by emailing owleyescrowsfeet@gmail.com

If your soul is large and you are concerned about postage, I am willing to help you out. I am also willing to pick up your soul anywhere you are willing to leave it (I live in Toronto). All submissions will be returned a year after the day I receive them.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: So, if someone tells you to bake their soul cookies everyday, are you going to?
A: I am choosing to put my trust in friends and strangers. I am choosing to put my trust in you. If that is truly what your soul needs, then I will. But please, be conscious of what I am offering. Please be conscious of the loving time that I am willing to invest in your soul.

Q: What's the point?
A: I am taking time out of my day to invest time in you. More than that, if you know me, you know I am full of love for a lot of things. I want to get to know you. I am taking the time to nurture your soul. Perhaps think about what a soul actually is. Perhaps think about what it means to you. Maybe then, the answers will come. If then the answers have not come to you, please email me and we can talk about it. I encourage you to read about what a soul is and the varying contexts of it's meaning. A further description of my intent for the project will be stated in my artist statement at a later date.

Q: What if someone sends you something perishable?
A: Do you think your soul is perishable? Perhaps you are telling me then that your soul is dying. If so, I will do my best to comfort it in it's time of need. I will do my best to prolong it's life if that's your wish. I will document it's life and keep a record of it's death, if that's your wish. You may include these wishes in the descriptions I asked for.

Q: A soul is transparent. How can one describe it?
A: I would then question you as to why you think a soul has to be transparent. I may agree with you, and I may not. Really though, I am looking for a description of how you view your soul, or how you feel your soul may look if it can indeed be seen. You may suspect that your soul looks like air, or you may suspect that your soul looks like a piece of wood. It is really up to you and what you feel in your heart. If you know your soul is transparent, then you know. If a book told you it is, then you don't.

Q: If a soul is there with you for a year and you are caring for it, how are we to be soulless for a year?
A: Firstly, I will tell you that I am more interested in what you would choose to contain your soul in. The vessel itself. But, a soul is more than a spirit, a body without organs. The soul I am asking for is more than your soul. Do not fret. You will not be soulless for one year. You will feel it still, I assure you. I can do that for you. I can promise you that. Perhaps question the perimeters of the soul and how your body without organs may function on it's own for awhile. There is also a gift, a gesture, loving kindness, and trust in what I am asking you. I would ask you to maybe think about that for awhile. I only want your soul if you are willing to give it to me. I will never outright ask you for it, I am just putting a call out.


If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email me at owleyescrowsfeet@gmail.com.