Portarlington artist breaking world record one page at a time

A LOCAL artist has put the call out to Greater Geelong residents to assist her in breaking a Guinness World Record through a series of workshops across the region.

Local Portarlington artist of 37 years, Fern Smith, is attempting to break the Guinness World Record for “The longest book in the world”.

The record, currently held by Yang Shuanming in Taiyuan, Shanxi China, measures 814.26 metres in the form of a concertina book, a fold-out book that extends horizontally similar to an accordion.

Ms Smith will aim to break the record also in the form of a concertina book.

She began the project in October last year and is conducting a series of workshops across Geelong and the Bellarine, inviting residents to assist in the designs of each page.

Each workshop encourages participants to contribute and design a page to the book.

Contributions can be done through a range of art techniques including drawing, collage or micro-writing, drawing inspiration from their own experiences and perspectives related to the City of Greater Geelong.

“It’s more of a community book than mine, I’m more of a facilitator,” Ms Smith said.

“The book can have a broad range of artwork, whether it be through words or pictures. It will all relate back to the region we all live in and love.”

While Ms Smith’s book’s length currently measures at 37 metres, she says the number of pages will quickly grow through invitations to major art events and festivals.

“It’s a slow art project, by no means will it be rushed, but if everything continues ticking along as it has, I expect to have the book done within the next two years,” Ms Smith said.

“Seeing others creating art, expressing themselves by contributing to this book, that is what rocks my boat as an artist.”

The book is already supported by Geelong Writers Incorporated and the Geelong Regional Libraries Corporation with workshops hosted at local libraries across the region.

Once the book approaches completion, Ms Smith will need find a site to reveal the book in its final form to be officially adjudicated by a Guinness World Record judge.

For the full list of upcoming local workshops and how to be a part of the ‘Longest Book in the World’, head to www.fernartz.com/the-longest-book-in-the-world/