Megan Caldwell Chandler

Over the past several months I’ve been continuing to work on mixed media paintings and hand-made books, but I’ve also been dedicating some of my creative energies towards a collaborative project with my brother, Travis. 

The title of our work is Cacoethes (pronounced kakōˈwēT͟Hēz).  It is a Latin term that is defined as an uncontrollable urge to do something inadvisable, otherwise known as a compulsion.  My idea for this work sprang from a previous book I made titled Obsess Manifest, whose subject matter was an exploration of the pervasiveness of obsessive thoughts experienced by those who live with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. 

 After that book was finished, I wanted to delve into the compulsion component of OCD, and so my collaboration with Travis on Cacoethes was born.  I approached Travis with the idea of creating a box that would hold a series of books.  We worked together on size and dimensions, and then we went to work on our separate parts.  I made 20 single signature pamphlets, and Travis crafted the box that would hold these booklets. 

I wanted the work involved in creating this piece to become a physical compulsion, and both Travis and I succeeded in that task.  My pamphlets are made from watercolor paper, matt acrylic, and ink, and they are bound with embroidery floss.  Travis constructed the box with reclaimed cedar and pine.  He built the box using only hand tools (no electric) and joined the pieces with a combination of miter, butt, and interlocking joints. 

There are so many things I love about this work.  I love the weight of the piece when I’m holding it in my hands.  I love the orderliness of the booklets as they contrast with the randomness of the box’s joints.  I love that the box is made from old wood that once belonged to an outdoor playhouse that my brother and I had when we were children.   And mostly, I love that I was able to work with Travis to create an equally shared and beautifully made artwork. 

 Brother and I are in the beginning stages of another book sculpture collaboration.  Stay tuned!