TO BLOG IS THE THING

It's been far too long since the last blog. So there's a new commitment here, to blog on a weekly basis. Posts may sometimes be short & sweet, but there will be a consistency that has been lacking for awhile. I will go back and forth on these blog entries, sometimes updating on Chax Press activities, sometimes writing about books or art or poetry in one way or another.

This time, a few updates.

1.
We have three brand new books at Chax Press. Two are on our web site, one very limited handmade book is still being painted & bound, but several copies are available, and more will be soon. These are

a. In Felt Treeling, by Michael Cross. This was a lovely book to work on, in terms of reading mss., design, working with Michael Cross. Read more about it on the Chax web pages.

b. The Book of Frank, by CAConrad. One of the most lively, moving, and "frank" books ever from Chax Press. It's difficult to put down once you start reading it. More on the Chax pages.

c. Salt, My Love: A Ballad, by Patrick Pritchett. This is a handmade book that feels like skin, love, salt. 15 copies in boxes made by Priscilla Spitler. 70 copies paper covers. The handmade paper covers are by St. Armand handmade papers in Montreal, and they almost feel alive in their crackling texture. Each book is printed in 2 colors and also hand-painted throughout by Cynthia Miller. The paintings are part by pochoir technique, whereby paint is brushed on over stencils. For more information on this one, please email Chax Press at chax@theriver.com.

2.
We have fully settled into our studio at 411 N 7th Ave Ste 103, Tucson, AZ 85705. Well, maybe some things are still in boxes, but we are working full-speed on all projects and on press development issues. We had an open studio event here in November and will have another March 14 and 15, 2009, from 11am until 5pm. We have also held two events in the Small Planet Sessions series here, whereby a Chax Press writer offers a reading and is engaged in conversation with the audience. The first such event featured John Tritica and Tim Peterson. The second featured Jeanne Heuving, just a few weeks ago. We plan to continue this series on a 4-times-per-year basis, with the next reading to occur in May 2009. Stay posted!

3. We held our second-ever Painted Poem broadside auction event, titled LETTERS & NUMBERS, at Bluefin Seafood Bistro in Tucson, on January 24. Broadsides of poems by Chax Press poets were hand-painted by Tucson visual artists and auctioned by the lively & eloquent Paul Fisher. In addition, several other artworks were auctioned at the event. A fine time was definitely had by all present. See the Chax web site for more information.

4. Among other things coming up for Chax, I will give the keynote address, on "The Aesthetics of the Small Press" at a conference at the State Univ. of New York at Buffalo, on April 19 & 20, 2009. The conference will focus on presses directed by poets, and on presses whose work crosses the disciplinary boundaries of "literature" and "book arts." Other presses/poets present there include Kyle Schlesinger of Cuneiform Press, Brenda Iijima of Portable Press at Yo-Yo Labs, and Anna Moschovakis of Ugly Duckling Press. Along with other poets involved, I will also be giving a poetry reading at this event. The previous day, August 18, I will be giving a reading in the Segue Poetry Series, in New York City, at the Bowery Poetry Club.