An image of a tape dispenser is selected for the cover of this project because it makes for a good representation of our collaboration. The images we produced are put together from pieces, provisionally rather than definitively. Thomas Weir made this tape dispenser from balsa wood, tape, hot glue and a repurposed blade. It is fragile; I broke it and used tape to fix it. Superior dispensers are easy to come by. What is suggested by this precariously constructed imitation of a familiar object?

We conceived this project with minimal structure after three months of meeting and completed it in a month. Emails and two or three visits at my studio formed our communication. We never decided on a single medium or concept and the only approach was to exchange materials with each other and try and do something with what you were offered. The imagery developed organically. He brought in photos that inspired me to pull out an old film camera. He brought in a tape dispenser that brought me to the concept of taping some collage material to a wall. Throughout the summer, I got to know Thomas's practice and works in progress. He created a work about the logo of the Mac's convenience store which no longer exists, consumed by a more ubiquitous brand name. I see a connection to this memorializing of a Canadian brand with an interest in outliers. I thought of this when he brought into our collaboration a photo of a suburban castle standing out among the standard architecture of the adjacent homes. I thought to try and produce some images that might speak to this theme but I couldn't force it and my images didn't work. I think we took a good approach to this collaboration and the context of this exchange— we figured it out in the process and set up a situation where we could encourage ideas to emerge.

—Collin Johanson

Thank you: Thomas Weir, Mitchell Art Gallery, Carolyn Jervis, Jamelie Bachaalani and Anna Hawkins.