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A book with a first carved from its pages
The Solidarity Book Project encourages the Amherst community to think deeply about what solidarity means and to make that commitment material through art. It includes the three calls to action outlined below.

Artist and professor Sonya Clark ’89 envisioned this project as one way for the College, in its Bicentennial year, to recommit to a more equitable future by pushing against legacies of settler colonialism and anti-Black racism (see page 7).

In September 2021, the College will mount an immersive exhibition including participants’ sculpted books. For each participant who responds to the calls to action, the College will donate to organizations serving Black and Indigenous communities in need of book knowledge.

Learn more at amherst.edu/go/solidaritybook.


Try It Yourself

Here’s How to Start

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An illustration of a book with a raised fist and a pair of scissors
To sculpt a book You’ll need:
  1. A book that’s taught you something about solidarity. It should be at least 280 pages long. If you don’t want to alter books you own, consider buying from independent, used or BIPOC-owned bookstores.
  2. The tutorial video below.
  3. The template and instructions, which you can download here.
  4. Pencil
  5. Scissors

Video Instruction Guide

April 9, 2021

Artist Sonya Clark demonstrates how to sculpt the raised fist into the fore edge of a book for the Amherst College's Solidarity Book Project.

Calls to Action

This art initiative is now open for public participation. Submissions to the sculpting, reading and reflecting challenges will be accepted through June 2021 at amherst.edu/go/solidaritybook.

#SolidaritySculpting Challenge

Sculpt the iconic solidarity fist into pages of a book that has shaped your understanding of solidarity. Then mail in your sculpted book to feature in the project’s final exhibition: a communal monument to solidarity.

Make a Book with Sonya Clark

Clark is hosting virtual make-with sessions where she’ll make books in community with participants. If you’re unsure about how to get started, or you get stuck along the way, join in. To sign up for a session, go to amherst.edu/go/solidaritybook.

Done With Your Book?

The College will cover postage fees for you to mail completed books to be included in the final exhibition designed by Clark. See amherst.edu/go/solidaritybook for instructions on how to mail in your book.

#SolidarityReading Challenge

Share an excerpt or read and record (audio or video) from a book that shaped your understanding of solidarity. Please keep your submissions to fewer than 60 seconds or fewer than 100 words.

#SolidarityReflection Challenge

Post an audio, video or written response to “What does solidarity mean to you?” or “How has someone in your life been a model of solidarity for you or for others?”

On Social Media Share your responses using #SolidarityReflection, #SolidarityReading and #SolidarityBook. Find the project on Twitter (@solidaritybook), Instagram (@SolidarityBook_), TikTok (@solidaritybook) and Facebook (@SolidarityBook Project).

Template design by Meg Arsenovic