Printing Poetry @ the Arm: July 12 & 19

I pinged this via the Member News feed the other day,* but in case you missed it there, here's the scoop from Kyle Schlesinger:

PRINTING POETRY: A Workshop for Poets and Visual Artists at The Arm Letterpress Studio


On July 12th and 19th, Dan Morris and I will be teaching a two-day letterpress workshop together at The Arm Letterpress Studio in Brooklyn, NY. You'll learn the basics of typography, composition and have the opportunity to print a broadside that features your own text and image on the Vandercook proof press. Come alone or with a collaborator. No previous experience necessary. All materials provided. More details available here. The Arm is a young, grassroots organization for poets, artists, and aspiring printers located near the G and L trains in Williamsburg.

Awesome, no?

Kyle also notes that "the Arm also has presses available for rent (lowest price in town) should you wish to come in for the day and do your own thing." They also offer one-on-one instruction if you're new to letterpress (or even if you're not--machines are different and usually have unique, shall we say, personalities.)

And peek at their Flickr stream for pics of the presses, the gallery, and past events.

* If you're not subscribed to the DIY Member News Feed or regularly checking the dark blue sidebar to your right, you are missing most of the news on this here blog. Hint hint!

Spudnik Press: Printmaking & book arts in Chicago

Spudnik Press is a comprehensive cooperative artist studio dedicated to encouraging new talent in fine art printmaking in an alternative art space. Open to all levels of printmakers, Spudnik Press provides common studio space capable of printing traditional as well as photographic litho, relief, and silkscreen prints. Additionally, Spudnik Press fosters a greater public awareness and understanding of prints and art-making in general by offering demonstrations, workshop, critiques, and gallery shows.

No site feed that I can find, so bookmark their site & check back frequently, or join their mailing list here.

And if you're in the area, catch the Poetry & Prints #2 Show, June 27:

An informal reading meets an informal print show
Saturday June 27, 2008 at 7:30 PM

Poetry and Prints #2 will feature the poetry of 3 east coast writers, each of whom is a small press editor/publisher, and all of whose presses remain important satellites of the small press community. Click here for more info about these three writers, Dana Ward, Jess Mynes, and Michael Carr.

Their work will be presented alongside a smattering of work printed at Spudnik Press during the first year of Spudnik Press’ existence.

The definitions of DIY

Our friend Scott Pierce of Effing Press is right--that the approach to DIY here is a little different or more open than it might be elsewhere. I think we've even talked about that before. Essentially, this blog is interested in poetry books produced by poets themselves (the micropresses featured here are usually one-person outfits, maybe a couple) outside the mainstream publishing houses. Because I think that's where the most exciting poetry is being published. That's lots of territory and healthy activity, and the focus definitely shifts around a bit. I realize the POD stuff isn't of interest to everybody here. That's cool.

Do see the comments to "Resistance Is Futile" below, for his and others' opinions.

My political/philosophical approach is that individual poets should become more involved in the publication of their own work, instead of sitting around waiting for somebody else, particularly the trade industry, to do it for them. I have personally found great satisfaction in making books (by whatever method) & I know it erases some of the usual frustrations and disappointments of being a poet. (Note: I am not disappointed to be a poet! You know what I mean, yes?) I think every poet should try self-publishing at least once or twice--or publish someone else's work--whether it's in a handmade chapbook or a POD edition. I think the experience clears up a lot of misunderstandings about what it means to have a book, and how these objects (on which way too much social/professional importance is placed, really) are made and how they get to readers. I *am* an optimist, and would like nothing better than for poets to focus more on the poems than the struggle to publish them. Doing It Yourself makes that possible.

Not everybody who wants to make poetry books has the same skill sets, and not everybody who wants to read poetry books has the same biases. There are many different ways to publish poetry on a small scale. Even though the POD/digital printing/distribution networks maybe be industries themselves, and as Scott points out do not give a hoot about poetry either, their lack of caring is not a limitation for poetry as it is in the trade publishing industry. (Bonus: POD networks also don't masquerade as cultural institutions.)

I don't see any need for one mode of publishing to be thought of as superior to the other--they're two entirely different things. (I'll be doing two editions of each Bloof book: one digitally printed and one handmade and maybe partially letterpress, for that reason.)

PS: John Tranter (of Jacket) has written to me backchannel about POD binding choices. He's given me permission to post his comments, and I'll do that sometime in the next couple of days.

3 new book arts resources

The San Francisco Center for the Book offers shows and readings in their galleries and classes in letterpress printing, printmaking, book binding, box making, etc.--you can even make a personal Tarot deck. If you're in the Bay Area, this list of local suppliers and resources may prove handy.

Blue Barnhouse doesn't seem to offer classes, but they will take on custom projects and also offer exhibits in their gallery. Their greeting card collection demonstrates that not all letterpressed stationery need be "classic" or "precious" or even "tasteful," ahem. They've also got an online store, so you can order letterpress goodies even if you're not local. Rocking.

When you're done with those, go poke around Book Arts Web.

New to the resource links: The Rope-a-Dope Collaborative

The Rope-a-Dope Collaborative is a printing co-op located in The Distillery in South Boston, MA. We are painters, writers, printmakers, book artists and graphic designers with one thing in common: a Vandercook SP20.

Check out their new site for examples of prints and bookarts projects.