artefatica

The idea to start an open publishing company came to me in the opening session of OpenEverything Toronto, in June 2008. At that point I was still trying to wrap my head around what “open” meant. It began with a flash of excitement as I saw all the ways public domain content could be remixed and repackaged. At that point I was imagining artist’s books, beautifully designed with impeccable typography. Those sensual, compelling books that you have to bring home and touch and take in every word and letter and curve.

That’s still part of it.  But the idea has evolved and expanded as I’ve struggled to explain what I want to do, why, how it can work, and why others should join me. I realized that there was more: Creative Commons licensing expands the pool of content I can publish and provides a better way to distribute new content. I can create more than books: networked objects, events, communities, feedback loops, second editions that incorporate readers’ contributions. Books with no boundaries.

Thanks to the help of many people (you’ll have to come back if you want to find out who) Artefatica is now a reality. We’re working on our first project, sorting out all the details, setting up systems. Oooooh there are lots of little things to figure out. Much learning, which I will share with you along the way.

So this is the first step. I am so not ready but am going to move forward despite that. It’s important for me to do this publicly. Because it’s going to be excellent. I don’t care that the name is weird, that the site does not have its own URL, that this is an old WordPress template, that my copy is not ready.  Because I believe in this so much that I’ve decided to open it up, allow you to watch me stumble, and focus on the doing.

This is about celebrating creativity, the commons, the amateur. It’s about what we can accomplish together. It’s based in love, passion, and enthusiasm for a new way of working with and of relating to others. A new way of doing business. I can’t wait to tell you more. Hope you’ll join me on the ride.