Trash turns to treasure at Text & conText Lab’s ‘Junk Journal Journey’

Students who walked into the Text & conText Lab on Wednesday afternoon were able to use old scraps, receipts and pictures to create something wholly new. The Center for Creativity hosted a “Junk Journal Journey” event on Wednesday afternoon in Hillman Library’s Text & conText Lab. The lab is a collaborative space shared by the Center for Creativity and the University Library System. Participants gathered here to create personalized scrapbooks, called junk journals, full of recycled materials from their daily lives.

The Text & conText Lab is a creative space open to all Pitt students and faculty. The lab focuses on text preservation and conservation, bookbinding, printing, calligraphy, paper-making and other experiential activities. It contains a large number of services such as letter-presses, binders and printers. 

Ahead of the workshop, attendees were encouraged to bring in supplies of their own, like old receipts, tickets, letters and maps. These types of materials, which are typically discarded without a second thought, serve as little memories from larger experiences. Students were able to combine their items with bountiful amounts of recycled paper, stickers, markers and other materials and tools provided by the Center for Creativity. 

The workshop was run by Anaïs Grateau, the preservation coordinator for the University of Pittsburgh’s Archives and Special Collections. Grateau’s main responsibilities with Special Collections are to preserve collections for future generations and perform repairs on books and other valuable materials. She wanted the junk journal workshop to be an opportunity for students to make art from their memorable moments, in a comfortable environment. 

“I want students to get the opportunity to go through a lot of material that you don’t usually associate with bookbinding, like different types of papers, stickers, unusual materials,” Grateau said. “With all this, they create their own little book, have fun with it, and just kind of keep memories.”

Students had various resources at their disposal during the workshop. Different sizes, colors and designs of papers were scattered around the Text & conText Lab, free for the taking. Paper cutters and scissors were available to create collages, the basis of the junk journal. Students were then able to use glue, staples, string and other materials to bind their journals together. 

“[Students] can use this as a journal, it can be something they make as a little gift for someone, or they can use it to keep memories,” Grateau said. “It is really all up to them.”

Sanjana Chittimalla, a junior chemistry major, originally attended the workshop as part of a class requirement but was captivated by the process.

“A couple of my friends make junk journals and they recommended it,” Chittimalla said. “I’m going home for the holidays, so I’d thought I would just do holiday themes or something like that. I had a great time.”

Swetha Reddy was also among the students in attendance for the workshop. Reddy, a senior biology major, enjoyed expanding her art horizons.

“I’m not really into junk journaling, but it was fun to do a scrapbook-type journal. I’m kinda just making a journal,” Reddy said.

The Center for Creativity is hosting one final workshop event for the fall semester. On Monday, Dec. 9, the Stress-Free Zone and Center for Creativity are hosting a “Move Breathe Paint” event in The Understory in the Cathedral of Learning. This de-stressing activity will consist of yoga, watercolor painting and breathing exercises as a way for students to alleviate stress before finals.