Hamilton: a guidebook from memory
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Join artists and collaborators Jojo Chooi-Harley, Jonathan Harley and Robert Motum On Friday October 11 from 7-9pm for the launch of their book Hamilton: a Guidebook from Memory. Featuring live music by Jonathan Harley and a suminagashi demo by JoJo Chooi-Harley. The first 20 copies of the book will be given away for free while quantities last, the remainder of the books will be sold for $20.
Guidebooks from Memory is a community art project toward the creation of a series of physical 'guidebooks' to communities in southern Ontario. Unlike traditional tourist guides which highlight local attractions, these books present a community-sourced anthology of memories and invite you to experience your city through the stories of your neighbours.
As a hyper-local community-based project, Hamilton: a guidebook from memory asks its participants and readers to consider the places in our city that hold personal significance. What memories continue to linger or haunt your street, your neighbourhood, your commute to work? How does the city of Hamilton come into being through story and memory? And where do our stories overlap?
Hamilton: a guidebook from memory is a collaboration between local artist and illustrator, Jojo Chooi-Harley, Hamilton musician, Jonathan Harley, and editor, Robert Motum. Like the Kitchener-Waterloo (2016) and Kingston (2024) iterations of the project, the edition will be published and released in a limited print-run.
About the Demo:
In tandem with the publication launch of the Hamilton Guidebook from Memory, attendees are welcome to attend a drop-in workshop and demonstration of Sumingashi, a Japanese marbling technique that was utilized by the illustrator JoJo Chooi-Harley.
Fundamental tools and materials will be available for attendees to learn how to create and pull Sumnigashi monoprints on paper and leave with enough knowledge and skills to continue exploring on their own.
About the Artists:
Robert Motum (he/him) is an artist-researcher. With a background in site-specific performance, Robert has staged work on an active city bus, in a gallery, castle, vacant Target store, in augmented reality, and occasionally even in a theatre space. His writing and research have appeared in the Boston Globe, Theatre Research in Canada, Canadian Theatre Review, and in collections from Routledge and Palgrave Macmillan. He holds an MA in Performance from Aberystwyth University (Wales) and is a SSHRC-funded PhD candidate in Theatre and Performance at the University of Toronto where he studies site-specificity and notions of nationhood.
JoJo Chooi-Harley is a self-taught first-generation Chinese-Malay Canadian artist currently residing in Hamilton, Ontario. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Bachelor of Social Work from McMaster University (2017). Since graduating, JoJo has been continuing her self-directed artistic practice while working as a social worker and psychotherapist in the Hamilton community. JoJo has taught artist workshops and demonstrations at the Art Gallery of Hamilton, Worker’s Arts and Heritage Centre, Centre 3, the Dundas Valley School of Art, and the Lincoln Cultural Arts Museum. Her work has been exhibited locally within the Hamilton area and has been supported by the Ontario Arts Council, the City of Hamilton, and the Hamilton Artist’s Inc. As a social worker and artist, she advocates that creative arts practices fosters generative connections across disciplines for sites of discourse and engaging with the world.
J.J. Harley is multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter. He has written, performed, and recorded music spanning various genres including classical, indie rock, jazz, and folk music. Jon trained in the Suzuki method for violin from the age of six. From an early age, Jon’s musical interests extended beyond classical influences which motivated him to explore non-classical sounds with the violin. Jon's influences in non-classical violin playing and songwriting came primarily from indie and alternative rock figures; such as Andrew Bird, Kishi Bashi, Owen Pallet (Arcade Fire; Beirut; The National), Sophie Trudeau (Godspeed You! Black Emperor; Silver Mt. Zion) and Warren Ellis (Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds; Dirty Three). Like these musicians, Jon utilizes the violin as his primary instrument with a unique style of playing accompanied by effects and loop pedals. Jon is also an accomplished player of a wide range of other stringed instruments; including guitar, mandolin, cello, and sitar. Jon is a co-founder and band member of Coda Facto - an alternative rock/singer-songwriter project which began in 2015. The band has released two EPs: Jamesville (2021) and Honey Harbour (2022) recorded with producer Carl Jennings at Westmoreland Studios in Hamilton, Ontario. Honey Harbour was partially funded by the City Enrichment Fund from the City of Hamilton and Hamilton Arts Council. Coda Facto is continuing to record new music with producer Tal Vaisman in Toronto, Ontario. Jon is also a co-founder, songwriter, and band member of Wreckless Harbour – an indie folk band which began in 2022. Wreckless Harbour is currently recording their music with producer Steven Branchaud of the indie record label, Canary Minor Music. Wreckless Harbour plans to release their first singles to promote their debut album, Step Lightly, later in 2024. As an independent artist, Jon continues to collaborate with numerous artists for live performances and recordings as a session violinist and strings arranger. Outside of musicianship, Jon is a social worker and psychotherapist. Jon is also an avid practitioner of yoga. In all of his vocations, Jon supports endeavours for development of communities that foster creative musical expression; particularly in advocating for the provision of accessible music education to children and youth.
©2024 Hamilton Artists Inc.