THE RIVER PROJECT: 19 London Artists Turn to the Thames
London Ontario Art Project / Text by Herman Goodden and opening essay by Michael Baker / 2008 / Cover Image: Rob Nelson / Illustrated throughout by the 19 artists of the River Project / Photography: John Tamblyn / Layout and design: Louise Gadbois

As one of the 19 artists who took part in The River Project, my job was to interview all the others and write up reports on the work they were doing to pay tribute to the Thames River. The full list of participating artists in the group was: Helmut Becker, Kevin Bice, Alan Dayton, Jason Dickson, Marion Drysdale, Herman Goodden, Ted Goodden, Kim Harrison, Cornelia Hoogland, Ray Jackson, Kirtley Jarvis, Johnnene Madison, Ron Milton, Rob Nelson, Annemarie Plint, Jennifer Robertson, Margaret Rossiter, Maurice Stubbs and Iris Waddell. With a lineup like that all beavering away on their creations, the visual component of the coffee table book (designed and laid out by Louise Gadbois) was absolutely stunning. Though the project itself and a series of exhibitions all received great media coverage, the book itself was never properly reviewed and sold out its entire print run within days. - Herman Goodden

REVIEW
“Capitalizing on a social ‘hunger’ for something unique that defines London, 19 local artists are providing an artistic tribute to the Thames River that is skillfully captured in a new book. The River Project: 19 London artists turn to the Thames, was launched at the fork of the river this week. The 140 page book, full of the artists’ work in colour and photographs of the artists themselves in black and white, is the culmination of the celebration of the Thames, which also includes exhibitions of the artists’ work, a festival and spinoff projects. ‘There’s a renewed interest in what makes London unique. People forget how the river makes London unique,’ says Kevin Bice, the artist who spearheaded The River Project. ‘What really surprised me was how hungry people are for an outlet to do something about that. There’s an energy boiling away among many Londoners.’ The text of the enhanced catalogue, dedicated to Beryl Ivey who provided to allow, for example, more colour in its pages, is written by Herman Goodden. He interviewed each of the artists. ‘You get a different tone and you recognize the character of the artist in the writing,’ Bice says.”
- Kathy Rumleski, London Free Press