Based off of a series of interviews with local residents, Why Whycocogmagh? is a portrait of sorts of two neighbouring communities in rural Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. The form and content of the book speak to a very real geographic, economic, and experiential divide as well as the many contradictory experiences felt in and by any one place.

Aislinn Thomas is an artist who works in performance, text, video, and social practices. Her work often demands a certain amount of vulnerability, and frequently has a sense of misplaced enthusiasm or failed gesture. Yet, it persistently suggests curiosity, playfulness and sincerity as valuable and productive categories.