Matthew has been involved in numerous book projects throughout his career. While at Humber College, his first professional project was as the art director and typesetter for Lifelong Learning, a collection of essays by a range of international educational researchers, published by Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation organization. At The Hockey News, Matthew worked on two books, converting magazine collector’s issues in hardcover editions. And in 2003, Matthew independently published Wide Collar Crimes, an anthology collecting five years worth of of his comic m@b.
Since in 2015, Matthew has conceived and conceptualized all of Spacing’s books, as well as acting as the author, editor, photographer, and/or art director for each title. In 2019, Matthew released his first photography book, The Beautiful Mess of Toronto Laneways.
Matthew has also published five short-run, custom-made books for friends and family.
BOOKS BY MATTHEW
Wide Collar Crimes
Matthew began self-publishing his comic m@b in 1998, handing out photocopied and hand-folded issues to his friends and work colleagues. While the beginnings were modest with a print run of maybe 50 copies, the comic quickly turned into a second career. After four years of publishing, he compiled the 15 issues released from 1998-2002 into a cohesive collection called Wide Collar Crimes. He partnered with the organizers of the inaugural Toronto Comic Arts Festival (TCAF) to share the kickoff of the event with the launch of his book. Over the next two years, Matthew went on two promotional book tours across Canada and the United States, appearing at numerous comic and alternative press festivals as a featured comic artist discussing the his unique approach to independent publishing and the success of Wide Collar Crimes.
published: 2003 / pages: 208 / size: 5” x 8”
The Beautiful Mess of Toronto Laneways
By Matthew Blackett
Matthew documents the city’s most overlooked architectural asset in his first photography book, The Beautiful Mess of Toronto Laneways. In this unique collection of images, Blackett visually explores the condition of Toronto’s laneways, where century-old garages and former workshops are locked in a constant battle with modernity, graffiti, and nature itself. Many of Toronto’s laneways are dilapidated, overgrown, hazardous… and also strikingly beautiful. The distinct structures featured in this book not only shed a light on those who used these spaces before us, but reveal so much more about ourselves than our prim-and-proper front yards.
published: 2019 / pages: 96 / size: 5.5” x 8”
CUSTOM PUBLISHED BOOKS BY MATTHEW
Matthew has made five short-run, custom-published books created specifically for friends, family, and teammates. He has used Rapido Books in Montreal as his printer, which produce high-quality ‘vanity’ publications. The interior pages are printed on 80lb offset white sheets, while the book is wrapped in a hardcover and black end-pages. Matthew did all of the writing, layout, photography, and production for these books.
Minor Hockey Dnyasty
This book was created for three friends who played hockey with Matthew growing up. It includes studio photography of the players’ hockey equipment, awards, and mementos, as well as career statistics and photos from decades past. 10 copies printed.
published: 2018 / pages: 40 / size: 6” x 7.25” / copies: 10
Kuhn, And Then Some
When Matthew’s mother passed away, all of the family’s photos and documents were handed down to him. He decided to create a book for his cousins, who didn’t have access to these family heirlooms. Matthew also built a family tree stretching back 22 generations into the 1300s. 12 copies printed.
published: 2021 / pages: 100 / size: 8” x 10.25”
Boys of Summer
When Matthew’s son made the High Park Little League rep team in 2023 he bought a 150-600mm zoom lens for his camera and never looked back. This book documented the team’s season that culminated in the 10-year olds winning the 2023 Ontario Little League championships in Timmins, Ontario. 24 copies printed.
published: 2023 / pages: 74 / size: 8” x 10.25”
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Taking it to 11
Matthew built on the format he had created the previous season and added new features and sections to this book. While the season was a ‘development’ year where the boys played kids a year older, the book took on a more refined and cohesive layout along with improved photography. 30 copies printed.
published: 2024 / pages: 96 / size: 8” x 10.25”
High Park 12’s Summer to Remember
The High Park team repeated as provincial champs and travelled to Victoria, BC for the Canadian Little Championships (they finished 5th). This book documents in detail the journey over the summer and celebrates their triumphant and final season in Little League. 42 copies printed.
published: 2025 / pages: 148 / size: 8” x 10.25”
BOOK WITH MATTHEW AS THE EDITOR & DESIGNER
The Big Book of Spacing
Edited by Matthew Blackett & Dylan Reid
The Big Book of Spacing takes the best content from the magazine, website, and books from the last 20 years and gives them a second life. Matthew spent the better part of a year combing through the pages of Spacing selecting the photos, illustrations, and articles from the archives. He conceived the project, did all of the art direction, layout, and production, and led the marketing and promotion of the book.
This book is as gorgeous as it is important, taking vital civic issues and making them sing across the page with brilliant prose and design. Essential for any Torontonians’ bookshelf.”
– Dave Bidini • musician, author, & publisher of the West End Phoenix
published: 2023 / pages: 248 / size: 8.125” x 10.5”
Souvenirs of Toronto Sports
by Matthew Blackett & Wayne Reeves
Matthew and City of Toronto chief curator emeritus Wayne Reeves combed through the City’s collection of over 150,000 artifacts to find items that inspired writers to share stories of the city’s athletic history. Souvenirs of Toronto Sports beautifully showcases over 200 years of local sporting history. As well as art direction and editorial oversight, this book showcases Matthew’s studio photography.
published: 2022 / pages: 144 / size: 5.5” x 8”
Packaged Toronto
by Matthew Blackett, Wayne Reeves, and Alexandra Avdichuk
Matthew teamed up with the City of Toronto’s museum curators to reveal a treasure of trove of early local and Canadian package design from the city’s collection of over 150,000 objects. In Packaged Toronto — through detailed photography and historical essays focused on an under-served period of Canadian design — readers are taken on a journey back in time to the period between 1870-1950 to witness the emergence of the city’s aesthetic. Besides art direction and editorial oversight, this book showcases Matthew’s studio photography.
published: 2021 / pages: 124 / size: 5.5” x 8”
Remnants of Mid-Century Toronto
Photos by Vik Pahwa, edited by Matthew Blackett
Remnants of Mid-Century Toronto is a collection of photos by Vik Pahwa — interspersed with short essays and features by local architects — documenting the sometimes beautiful, sometimes neglected collection of mid-century structures that still stand today, dotting Toronto’s urban landscape. In this unique book edited and art directed by Matthew, readers are taken on a journey that focuses on the buildings that we see in our everyday activities that often blend into the background of collective memories of the city. This book received received the 2022 Lieutenant Governor’s Ontario Heritage Award for Excellence in Conservation.
published: 2020 / pages: 124 / size: 5.5” x 8”
The Signs That Define Toronto
Matthew teamed up with ERA architects Philip Evans and Kurt Kraler, plus 20 other contributors to reveal the history, culture, and stories of the city through its unique signage. The book is packed full of gorgeous historic and vintage photography, accompanied by thoughtful essays on the social and cultural value of the city’s signage. Matthew led the visioning, art direction, and layout of this book.
published: 2022 / pages: 208 / size: 8” x 8”
Toronto 2033
Published in 2018 to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Spacing magazine, Toronto 2033 is a collection of ten short fiction stories from a wide-range of local sci-fi authors. Led by Matthew and book editor Jim Munroe, the authors speculate how the city and its residents will deal with numerous near-future challenges. Matthew conceived the book project idea, designed and art directed the book.
published: 2018 / pages: 108 / size: 8” x 8”
Starting in 2016, Matthew led Spacing into the world of book publishing. He created an offshoot of the magazine, Spacing Books, to provide both visitors and residents of Toronto with a deeper understanding of the city’s rich history because local stories and narratives are often overlooked to the detriment of the city’s collective cultural heritage. The five-book series of guide books uncovered layers of Toronto’s rich yet often overlooked history. Matthew edited and art directed each edition.
50 Objects That Define Toronto
published: 2016 / pages: 116 / size: 5” x 3.75”
Toronto Public Etiquette Guide
published: 2017 / pages: 116 / size: 5” x 3.75”
25 Days That Changed Toronto
published: 2017 / pages: 116 / size: 5” x 3.75”
25 Toronto Transit Secrets
published: 2018 / pages: 116 / size: 5” x 3.75”
50 Toronto Hidden Gems & Curiosities
published: 2018 / pages: 116 / size: 5” x 3.75”