Go Straight to Reading
About the Project
“Illuminate” is my submission for the Brooklyn Art Library’s newest venture, the Time Capsule Project.
The Time Capsule Project is a smaller slice of an artistic endeavor the Brooklyn Art Library calls, “the Sketchbook Project.” This is a collection comprised of sketchbooks, mailed in from around the world. This collection, of around 40,000 submissions, is housed at the library (now located in St. Petersburg, Florida.)
Anyone can be a part of the project. But it can’t just be any sketchbook.
Books are generally 5×7 inches (though I had seen a smaller option on their website.) They are plain, kraft-paper-brown books. Every one of them begins the same, but the final results are all stunningly different. That’s the idea, all participants receive the same size paper journal and from there the sky’s the limit.
Folks get really creative with these. Drawing, photography, journaling, fabric art, and so much more, from people of all ages. The project is organized by volumes, with themes to choose from, if you like. In the past, the volumes traveled to major cities across the US in their bookmobile (see the video on their site), however since the pandemic and the library’s recent fire in early 2022, no touring is happening.
My Time Capsule Project Art
It’s about 1,000 people sending a note to the future. It’s 2072 – If I’m still alive I’ll be ninety!
After a wild 2.5 years, we wanted to find a way for our community to preserve something and tell a story about 2022, so we’re filling a time capsule and burying it for 50 years. Sign up, receive a mini sketchbook, and join 1,000 people in sending a note to the future.
Brooklyn Art Library
Whether or not to participate wasn’t a question. I have also participated in volumes 15 & 16. My first book, “Believe” was a Sketchbook Project gift from a friend. The second book I made was during the pandemic and that is called, “The Weight.”
So as soon as the email pinged its way into my inbox, I signed up.
One of one thousand is a pretty cool thought. I’m excited to see what the other participants chose to do with their sketchbooks. These were smaller than usual at a whopping 3.5×5 inches!
Miniature isn’t a problem for me, I have always enjoyed drawing small. What kind of theme do I want to make this? This is what kept me from putting anything permanent in my sketchbook for most of the summer. When finally I got the spark, I ran with it quickly to meet the deadline. After all, I knew I had a lot of research to do.
I’d decided that to me, the most important note, or question that I could send to 2072 is: What have we done? My focus was on the information & warnings we have currently, and whether we heed them. So that, in 50 years when the Time Capsule Project is unearthed there can be some reflection when one reads my book.
“Illuminate” is a collection of quotes about the environment by some of today’s leading scientists, environmentalists, & activists.
The final page is illustrated by my daughter.
A complete read aloud of the book is on video here on Instagram.
“Illuminate” by Deanna R. Meyer (Full Story):
Read the full story. Use pinch and zoom if on mobile.
I asked my daughter to illustrate this page.
About the Artist
Hello, I’m Deanna. Creating little worlds is all I want to do.
I spend my days in my illustration studio, surrounded by herbs and antique curiosities, in rural Pennsylvania. I enjoy many interesting adventures with my husband, daughter, and Shmoop, the “Office Cat.”
Since I was a young child, I’ve been creating. Some of my earliest memories are of drawing historic clothing, making fairy tale paper dolls, and designing my own “book covers.”
The work I make is influenced heavily by my affinity for historic eras: Color palettes, patterns, textures, architecture, typography – the list goes on. From Medieval to Mid-Century, I love it all.
If you don’t want to miss anything, follow IG: #deannameyer for illustration and vintage musings. I’m an artist, herbalist, and mother with Multiple Sclerosis & Endometriosis.
I’m also an official artist of the Brooklyn Art Library’s Sketchbook Project.
— Deanna
