Arts & Culture pages 10 to

U of M alumni present a library in one book

Visual artists pair paintings of book covers with imaginative titles

NEWS

Zoë LeBrun, staff The saying goes, “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” but Library, published by Drawn & Quarterly, is a book by visual artists Michael Dumontier and Neil Farber that requires viewers to stray slightly from this idiom.

Library consists of hundreds of paintings of book covers with invented titles that showcase the artists’ classic deadpan style, resulting in works that are simultaneously thoughtful and entertaining. These paintings, which are bold, minimalistic and colourful, exist in the real world as acrylic and ink works on medium-density fibreboard and are printed in Library in a variety of grid layouts.

The concept behind Library has been going on for some time, with the original project beginning in 2009.

“I painted a book, Neil added a title, and we realized we could do that for a long time,” Dumontier said.

“The thought and then opportunity to make a book came many, many years later.”

Library’s paintings — of which there are over 10,000 to date — were first shown in an exhibition by the same name and have been exhibited many times since. The paintings are often installed in large grids similar to some of the page layouts in the book.

Dumontier and Farber met while attending the University of Manitoba school of art in the 1990s, and their working relationship began 25 years ago when they founded the Royal Art Lodge collective alongside Marcel Dzama, Drue Langlois, Jon Pylypchuk and Adrian Williams.

“When the collective disbanded [in 2008], leaving just Neil and I, our focus really turned to writing,” Dumontier said.

Although Dumontier’s and Farber’s personal artistic practices differ greatly, their separate modes of thinking complement one another wonderfully in Library. The paintings themselves are initially created by Dumontier, which Farber adds titles to afterward.

“The imagery is always pretty graphic or simplified,” Dumontier said.

“I like to make them quickly […] The books are painted first and Neil adds a title he’s already written, or he reacts to the image provided.”

Farber’s solo work as a painter is very different from his work with Dumontier, but he found Library to be an outlet for different forms of creative energy.

“When we started, I was just enjoying the possibility of making up pretend titles, but I think I figured out pretty quickly it was a good place to put any form of short-form writing,” he said.

His titles contain a wide array of ideas, forms and energies — some are humorous, some are vaguely existential and others are more like short-form poems.

“I write things down on my phone off and on pretty much every day,” Farber said.

“I’ve always got thousands of little bits of writing in my notes app, so whenever Michael gives me blank book paintings, I just scroll through and pick ones I like or ones that will fit in the space.”

Both artists said their favourite part of creating Library has been in enjoying the finished product of each work. “My favourite part is reading Neil’s titles and laughing,” Dumontier said.

“I am part of the process, but I can enjoy the work objectively. I am grateful for that.”

“I love writing for [the] project and I’m always proud when we get to show one of the large Library paintings, and I’m really grateful that we’ve had this book made,” Farber agreed.

Considering the sheer amount of paintings Dumontier and Farber have created over the years, it comes as no surprise that neither artist has a singular favourite piece. However, Dumontier did mention one highlight from Library.

“I can’t choose a favourite, but I like

/ provided Drawn & Quarterly image /

the back cover title as a summation of the book,” he said.

“‘It’s not going to be what you think. It can’t be described properly, or understood easily. It’s everything to me. It may be nothing to you.’”

Signed copies of Library can be purchased at McNally Robinson, and you can visit Drawn & Quarterly’s website to learn more about their signed bookplates, which are available to those who order Library from an indie bookstore or comic shop.

arts@themanitoban.com

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Bisons cross country team runs time trials

Team uses race to prepare for upcoming events

SPORTS

Matthew Merkel, staff The University of Manitoba Bisons cross country team held its annual time trials on Sept. 16 at Churchill Drive Park.

Twenty-eight athletes — 12 female and 16 male — participated in the first race of the cross country season, which is used to judge how Bison athletes are shaping up against each other heading into Canada West competition.

Bisons cross country head coach Claude Berube explained the importance of the time trials relative to the Bisons’ schedule.

“It’s basically the start of the season, and it gives the athletes an idea of where they are on the team,” Berube said.

“We’ll find out who’s fit, and who has still got some work to do, but it has an impact on our initial travel and it just gives them a baseline of where they’re at from the start of the season.”

After not being able to participate in U-Sports for over a year, Berube is excited to start competing against other universities.

“This is really exciting to be able to do this and know that next weekend we will be going to [Saskatoon, Sask.],” Berube said.

“We go to Saskatoon next weekend with the group then with a small group to [Camrose, Alta.] the weekend after. Then we’ve got two meets here in Winnipeg on the 16 and the 23 of October. Then Canada West, and then [the U-Sports national championship] for those who go on to that.”

In the 4.2 kilometre women’s race, Hailee Morisseau finished first with a time of 15:53. Lindsay Greasley finished in second place with a time of 16:21 and Angela Kroeker finished third with a time of 16:57.

Finishing first in the men’s 6.3 kilometre race was alumnus Daniel Heschuk who ran a 19:34. Trailing right behind him was fellow alumnus Simon Berube finishing with 19:37.

Michael Wood was the first current male Bison athlete to finish, finishing in third with a time of 20:20. Four seconds behind Wood was third-year Bison Calvin Reimer.

For cross country team member Annika Niblock, the time trials are a great indicator of how she feels she needs to improve as a runner.

“I’ve got a lot of work to do, that’s for sure,” Niblock said. “It’s a really fast field, all the ladies are really strong.

“This early on in a season, normally when I go into a race I just like to judge my performance off my old times and almost just race myself rather than getting caught up in how others are doing […] The time trials are always such a great opportunity to do that, so I’m motivated more than ever to get stronger for the next races.”

Last year, the cross country season was cancelled due to the pandemic. This forced Niblock to wait a whole year before she would be able to run competitively for the Bisons. With support from her teammates, she’s more motivated than ever to get back to racing.

“It’s definitely nice to get back,” Niblock said.

“Everyone on the team is so inviting and it’s [a] really nice community to be a part of so I felt really welcomed […] This year will be quite a different year, that’s for sure.”

“It’s basically the start of the season, and it gives the athletes an idea of where they are on the team”

— Claude Berube, cross country coach

The Bisons cross country team heads out to Saskatoon, Sask. for its first meet Sept. 25.

graphic / Dallin Chicoine /

staff sports@themanitoban.com