Introduction

Starting in 1994 and continuing until the end of the 20th Century Jas collecteddiscarded cigarette packs from more than 45 countries.   Most of the packswere found during numerous expeditions to Spain. Others were collected onshort expeditions to Paris, Moscow, New York City and Oaxaca, Mexico. Stillothers were donated by Jas' friends and neighbors, as well as his internetcontacts around the world. Empty packs were also deposited by the public the JMP Collection Box placed in the Roundhouse Community Centre in Vancouver from July - December, 1999. All the empty packs (both soft andhard) are now being deconstructed, cut-up, and arranged in patterns to coverthe interior walls, floor and ceiling of a portable room, to be named The Smoking Room.

Jas has been collecting the foil from cigarette packs for some time. Hecovered a chair and bookcase with silver foil in 1969.  Early in 1998,after two expeditions to Spain (1994 and 1997) to collect silver and goldcigarette pack foil and some empty discarded cigarette packs, Jas completed Impressiones de Barcelona (a series of collages using gold and silver foil as well as newspaperclippings) and The Smoking Table   The legs and base of The Smoking Table (a used library reference table (6’ x 4’ x 30”) were covered in silver andgold foil.  The top was covered with 192 different cigarette packs from 20countries surrounding a central mandala of health warnings from Canadiancigarette packs.   This work was on display and in use at the exhibition Hello Again!  A New Wave of Recycled Art and Design at the Vancouver Museum from June 20th, 1998 until January 3, 1999.

Just as he did with The Smoking Table, Jas invited individuals to help with The Smoking Room by mailing him discarded cigarette packs.  He also traded with numerouscollectors from around the world to enlarge the variety of cigarette packdesigns. Here is the list of Supporters (cc) of the Jas Millennium Project