It's Summer

At least in theory. Here's a bunch of stuff I've been meaning to make public.

Somebody interviewed me. Cool! Thanks to the good folks at the new print culture blog Bangback for a chance to blather. I'm psyched about their blog.



New in the shop are the wonderful offerings of my friend Rafael's cassette label, Eggy Records. Just look at those tapes. You know they have to sound good. He puts out stuff from Portland bands like Mattress, The Woolen Men, Orca Team and stuff I don't even know where its from like Street Gnar and Jovovontaes. And an amazing tape from the 70's by Turkish singer-songwriter Selda Bağcan. $5 a pop people.



There's a fresh batch of xylobooks available in the shop and on the website. This time around the species are (from left to right) Oregon Bigleaf Maple, Eastern Walnut, Western Walnut, Douglas Fir, Oregon White Oak, and Cherry. As always, the wood is reclaimed and sustainably harvested to begin with. You can also get em at Canoe downtown, Paper-Ya if you're in Vancouver BC, and a fancy resort called Bardessono in southern California. Strange but true.

The Disappearing Book

Damn, April turned out to be a busy month at Container Corps. Thanks to everyone who came to our release party for The Disappearing Book this past thursday.It was, according to the Mercury, one of the two things to do on thursday night! Here's some photos. And a special thanks to Ninkasi Brewing for providing the sweet sweet beer with which we toasted the release.

If This Is You, Please Don't Sue

We had our opening for Nick Abraham's book release and art show at the gallery last night. It was our first of many such events, and it went great! Thanks to everyone who made it out to the shop. The show will be up until late April, so come by and check out the awesome original drawings by Nick, and see the zine we made together.

We're also really excited about next month's release, The Disappearing Book. We're making it in collaboration with amazing artist Melody Owen. In it, a group of artists working in all sorts of disciplines respond to a species of animal that is on the verge of extinction.

Here's some new posters we printed, and will soon be polluting your visual landscape. We wanted to make some public service announcements. In tiny letters at the bottom, they say "Container Corps is an arts press and gallery. Accepting submissions for artists books, literature, and other projects" so they're also a call for submissions.

We believe publication should be more accessible to up-and-coming artists and authors working in the avant garde edges of culture. By operating as a press in the medieval sense (one shop housing editorial, design, printing and binding), we are able to avoid the inefficiencies of corporate publishing and produce truly radical publications. Anyone and everyone interested in arts publications is welcome to submit drawings, paintings, portfolios, stories, photographs, designs, and other project ideas.

Firepower

So I was looking around on ebay for a machine to speed up saddle stitching at the shop. I found a nice-looking little foot pedal electric stapler going for cheap. I put in my high bid (more than I wanted to spend, but ebay always does that to me) and I lost in the last possible second. This always happens to me. Flood of adrenaline, then a big spiraling letdown. I hate ebay.

Just as I was equating this ebay loss with the failure of my business and my eventual homelessness, jordan called up and, in one of those miracles he's often conjuring, told me there was a nice looking saddle sticher on Craigslist for 20 bucks. I was skeptical. I took a look, and boy oh boy, I was floored! The kind folks over at Pinball Publishing were offloading the most bad-ass piece heavy artillery in the war against loose pages. A vintage Acme Model 706 heavy-duty saddleback stitcher. 100 pounds of cast iron, foot pedaled, book stapling dominance. Zines quiver in its shadow. And the best part? Pinball parted with it for free. What are the chances? Thanks Pinball! Thanks Jordan! Thanks Adam, for the ride!

Thanks

Just a brief and belated note to say thanks to everyone who made it out to the opening last month. It was a last minute switch-up to have the party before the holidays, so I really appreciate everyone making time to come see the shop, hang out, and raise a glass. See, you know its an art gallery because of the Trader Joe's cheese and 2 dollar charles. I had been waiting to post this until I found some photos of the night, but, it seems like no photos exist. It shall live on only in our memories. Maybe it never even happened.

I had a vague plan to make a speech at some point in the night (DORKY) but, thankfully, I never got a good chance. So I'd also thank some people and institutions without whom Container Corps would never have happened. First and foremost, I want to thank Paula Savoca and her family for trusting me with the equipment that made this whole thing possible. Thanks to the Celebration Foundation, the Regional Arts and Culture Council, and MercyCorps NW for helping me with much needed funding. Thanks to Jordan for countless hours helping me get the space fixed up and also endless supplies of moral support. Thanks to Lizi for lending me her car pretty much whenever I ask. And finally to all my family and friends for putting up with my endless yattering about this project, thank you much.

Publication Fair

The Publication Studio and the Ace Hotel Portland are putting on a publication fair this Sunday, December 20 at the Cleaners. I am honored that Container Corps was invited to participate. Come down and see what we've been working on for the past months. And say hello to Jordan and Joanna, my helpers for the day and the best friends I could ask for. I'm really bummed that I can't make it but you'll have a good time anyway.