Displaced to Vancouver for a week, I found myself in The Regional Assembly of Text thinking of sending a letter home. Established by the artists and Emily Carr graduates Brandy Fedoruk and Rebecca Ann Dolen to explore ‘text as a theme’, this is a store/ printing press/ design studio that offers quirky cards, tiny books, papers and printed materials.
One example of a greeting card I bought (Susan look away now): "Pop Quiz/ Multiple Choice. You are such a wonderful friend. Without you I’d be… a) taking bad advice from strangers, b) poorly dressed, c) talking to myself, d) in the pit of despair, e) out of the loop, f) up shit creek, g) crying myself to sleep, h) all of the above."
But once a month they also offer The Letter Writing Club, now entering its eighth year. In this tiny space, out come the Remingtons and Coronas. Over an evening, people can type, or handwrite, letters to whomever they want, about whatever they want, whether letters to governors or girlfriends. No drafts on Word first, no time to mull over, just a page, a postage stamp, old style. The Regional Assembly of Text provides supplies, snacks and the space to compose.
As I won’t be here for their next session in a week, I chose a sheet to take away, titled ‘Heartfelt Letter to Follow’. The last (paper) letter I wrote was to a friend in High School, separated for the summer and pre-email. This being Vancouver, I have a rainy day ahead of me, a coffee on the table, and now a pencil in hand, composing a note, but to whom?
When faced with the possibility of a blank page and a typewriter, what would you say, and to whom would you write. An apology, a confession, a declaration of affection?
People talk about letter-writing as a lost art form, but perhaps the key part of that sentence is that which is lost. And maybe that’s what letters inevitably connect us back to, and why these sessions at The Regional Assembly of Text are so popular, those people, that feel like home, but aren’t where we are at the moment.
As it has rained
every day this week, we’ll end on another card:
‘Things to do: In order to increase your level of accomplishment on a rainy day of your choice: Answer the phone using only verbs beginning with ‘M’ / count all the books you own that have one word titles / choose between elbows and knees / practice drawing polar bears (mail the best one to your oldest friend, ask for one in return) / squint every time you hear the word ‘tomorrow’ / feel accomplished”