shared type
I started as a letterpress printer in a basement shop full of type. I might’ve taken for granted the amount of type I had access to. I worked in other shops, was part of a collective with a beautiful type collection but rarely had any of my own. Most of what I print is a monthly postcard. It originated in type but now I mostly use polymet plates, a hardened, recyclable plastic. It isn’t ideal but it is cost-effective.
When Paper Machine was opening, a lot of people who thought letterpress printing had left the city came by to share stories of their dads and granddad’s print shops. Which is how the Gosserand Superior Printers wood type ended up here. Used for years in the production of posters for local jazz shows, this black owned printshop has been out of business for years, but their woodtype was donated to Paper Machine.
Monica Tyran is a New Orleans artist who write a grant to get the type cleaned and sorted so the modern day letterpress printers of the city could use it. And so we did! When I asked her to collaborate with me, we discussed a few ideas but this one was the obvious winner! We choose a few cuts from 3 different drawers. I inked them up in black and printed them on a little sign press here. I scanned the prints and sent them to Monica who designed the card pretty much as you see it. I ordered polymer plates and she came to the shop a few days before I left for summer vacation to see me print them on my windmill.
Mailed the 3rd week of August since the month before was a little late, from the last stop on my swimfest road trip, here is Keep Writing number 124, asking you to tell me about a collection you have.
a non-binary future
When I asked people for their ideas for what to to do with Keep Writing in the coming years, I did the thing I sometimes do, where I already know the answer I want. I wanted to do something bigger, to expand the circle, to make something that extends part subscribers. What I liked most about the 2018 Summer Census was being able to talk to so many strangers! It’s not a thing I am good at so I like the practice.
I love getting the responses but aside from an online archive and boxes and boxes of postcards in my studio that I occasionally share in a show, I wanted more of Keep Writing to be in the living breathing world rather than the realm of archive. I’ve never wanted to make precious art, even when I was making tiny handbound books and handmade paper sculptures. I want interaction.
So let’s put our words out into the world. This month was the first in a new and occasional experiment of asking you to send a card to someone other than me, and with purpose.
It’s a small step, asking businesses you support to consider making their bathrooms gender neutral—a baby step to ask that a single stall bathroom be for whoever needs it, regardless of gender. Because, seriously, who cares about the gender of the person who used the bathroom before or after you. Bathrooms on airplanes are gender neutral (though build for tiny people). A local bar in New Orleans posts outside the bathroom door the plumbing inside the room—urinal and/or toilet. That’s really the only plumbing we need be concerned with.
Gender neutral bathrooms are a small step towards making every day life a little easier for trans friends . Both Chicago Zine fest and LA Zine fest made their bathrooms gender neutral and while it takes a moment to get used to seeing someone use a urinal when I go to pee, it is not dangerous. Really.
So that’s all I have for now. The tiniest step. I’m working on others. Have ideas? send them my way!
And for a bonus, I can’t stop listening to this album. I know, there are conflicting opinions about Against Me! and yeah, saying she was the first punk to publicly transition overlooks others who came before her (RIP Sarah Kirsch) here’s what I’m listening to driving around this summer.
february is for lovers and ex-lovers
So I’m single. Six months so and I finally almost have told my co-workers. But in February I made a postcard about it. The drawing above is my original ink drawing of my portrait photo for an imaginary analog dating site. Since I drew it I have become marginally more comfortable trying out internet dating, though I am pretty happy living a single life full of friends. And I finally feel like I can give a little energy back. I am working on a zine about dating bur for now here is a list of things you can watch that maybe will bring you a little comfort. they are pretty white -hetero-centric. (I did watch the L word for 2 days while sick and though I appreciate its place in television history, I think I watched too much all at once)
break up movies
how to get over a break up—this netflix original based in Peru ( the original title translates “my life after you”) is great for its scenes of indulgence but what I really love is that there is not a happy ending with a new partner. that was the last thing I wanted to see for awhile.
that said, I like to watch love, actually at least once every holiday season. it is over the top. the story line about the sexy american girls is dumb. but if you are feeling a little stuffed up, it will make you feel things, and yes you will cry alone in the light of the christmas tree with the cat on your lap and who cares. plus emma thompson confronting her maybe cheating husband alan rickman, is pretty great.
lovesick—another international netflix show, this one based in glasgow. four friends retrace their relationships, near marriages, one night stands and finally addressing what they might really fear most. I appreciate the variety of relationships—limited to a hetero spectrum—but with the variety of break ups, there is probably something you can relate to.
inside out—this pixar movie about feelings is a good reminder that 1) all feelings have merit and 2)broccoli on pizza is gross.
the marvelous mrs. maisel—an amazon show about finding independence in the 1950’s—her routines are smart and funny and though the whole show comes from a place of privilege, it is worth watching.
the bisexual—hulu’s original show about a woman ending a 10 year relationship because she realizes she is bisexual does a lot to address the layers of confusion and nuance in her identity. I’ve talked a lot about this with other queer friends who date across the gender spectrum, about feeling invisible to the straight and gay world, about feeling the need to prove your identity, to not want to take up too much space but also to be seen. plus saskia chana is hilarious.
ok that’s all I have for now!
hello 2019--take care of your self
Self care has become a commodity. An excuse to buy something. A reason to pay more for that candle/chocolate/plant.
For New Years, I sent Keep Writing number 116, asking you to do something to take care of yourself in the new year. TO write it down and put it somewhere to remind yourself throughout the year. We can be so hard on ourselves. Self care isn’t overcommitting and then taking a bath, but learning to say no to situations.
And just as a bonus, I printed this on some soft cotton lettra I had around the studio, giving the lovely impression you can see above. It is too much to suggest it looks like words singing in snow?
color of the year
In January I sent Keep Writing number 117, printed with my two favorite colors—teal and a warm pink that is very close to Pantone’s color of the year for 2019—Living Coral. I did not know this when I decided to paint my bedroom walls this vibrant color—I have been looking for the perfect pink for months, purchasing a oft thrift store hoodie and a warmer shade of lipstick on the hottest July day.
Maybe you didn’t know there is a pantone of the year. Maybe you don’t know what Stephen Merrit was talking about when he wrote about “pantone 292.” Maybe you are not a printer or a designer and don’t know about the glorious pantone books—imagine a collection of paint chips in more hues and tints you can imagine. It is a guide for those of use trying to convey color to others. It is a vocabulary of color. So when you say to me you want a warm pink ink for your business card you can tell me a pantone number and know we are talking about the same thing.
This was one of one of my responses lately—you can see an archive of responses at www.keepwritingpostcards.com/tumblr.com
saying goodbye to 2018
2018 started steady and headed into full on simeotaneous ups and downs. Here’s a short list of what helps me maintain footing as the year ebbs.
Walks on the levee at dusk. Or at the park. This is a photo I took on the winter solstice with the sun setting and the full moon rising on the bank of the Mississippi.
Lonesome Leash live in New Orleans: Walt, aka Lonesome Leash came through New Orleans twice, once inspiring direction for my summer project, and once offering comfort through a new album, Delicate Art. Seeing him perform at Tigermen Den in candlelight was soothing at a time of upheaval and long hours at work
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Moving Forward: I just re-discovered my copy of Faythe Levine’s monograph for Haystack School, Moving Forward. A letter to friends, a celebration of queer art, a search for direction, an affirmation of the work we do, I’ve nearly cried every time I look through it.
Swimming. I turned 41 and swam in at least 3 different bodies of water with a few close friends. Will I ever leave the country again, with so many springs left to be discovered in a day’s drive?
Paper Machine: the building where my press and my studio are housed (that’s my window in the middle!), I can’t tell you how great it is to work for yourself, surrounded by others who are doing similar work and want to talk about it. Also where I celebrated the 10th anniversary of Keep Writing with a gallery show and the headquarters for the Summer Census.
music. Only in the past few weeks have I rediscovered music that isn’t made by my friends. It turns out i like poppy music. Want proof? I made this playlist ! You can listen too!
Holidays with friends. This is from a boat parade on Lundi Gras. My friends understand dressing up, sharing adventure and giving you plenty of space to be yourself.
sending you light and love in the new year!
10 years! Let's Party.
Thursday November 15, 2018
6-9 pm
Paper Machine 6330 St Claude
It’s happening! Keep Writing is turning 10 and we are having a party to celebrate! Cake, my favorite winter drink, music from Melissa Guion, flowers from Pistil + Stamen. Let’s have drinks and talk in person!
There will be postcards from the past 10 years on display, including responses, so you can sift through and read my mail. All 1200 responses to the Summer Census will be on the walls and the results will be written up in a zine—Where You From #6.
So come be social with letter writing introverts! The postcards will be up all month in the gallery, open Monday -Friday 9-4 if you can’t make it to the celebration. See you there!
Stay in touch—follow the facebook event!
BE HERE NOW with Caroline Paquita
For August's Keep Writing postcard, artist and illustrator Carline Paquita wants to ask you a few questions about how you use your cellphone. Founder of Pegacorn Press, her feminist queer publications deal with the trends of society and forces opposing the expected flow. She sent me the illustrations for this card and I designed it, including choosing to print a pink and purple split fountain on slick stardream paper, making for a glittery card that was tricky to print.
Here are my answers to her questions about ways I limit screen time.
- My phone lives at my desk. At night, and as much as I can during the day, including when I leave to teach a class.
- FB is for business only. I never installed the app, I removed messenger and my private profile is not public and I have no friends. I make batch posts once every 2 weeks for events for my business.
- IG is mostly business. This is where I struggle. I am starting to post and check only once a day because even with no personal profile and a limited number of people I follow I still mindlessly scroll sometimes.
- Timers for everything. This is a trick that works for me for staying focused when I do computer work but I have started doing it in the studio too. I set a 30 minute timer, stretch after every 30, and work on one project for those 30 minutes. Sometimes it is simple like "I will clean up my desk for the next 30 minutes." Sometimes it is just a timer to not check my phone and work on whatever I am drawing for 3o minutes. Usually I leave myself 5 minutes every hour for email and IG but even that seems like too much. Sometimes I set a shorter timer if I need to finish up something.
- Limited notifications & do not disturb . My screen only shows that I have a text and from who.
- My phone is a mini-computer. After numerous incidents and unrepairable devices, I have started treating my phone like the tiny computer it is. I do not carry it in my pocket. I have a phone that is slim and easy to hold (bigger ones are too easy to drop). I try not to walk and look at the screen ever. I leave it inside or at home when I am with friends, unless I am riding home alone at night.
I tried going back to a flip phone last summer. I originally had a version of the pink flip phone that Caroline mentions. My died the day I moved to Oakland. I've been through a few phones since then. I tried going back to the flip phone, the one I had was so slow I stopped answering messages. And since I still used my phone for work, I had an internet only device. It was more time consuming than just having a reliable smartphone.
That's where I am at. I am trying out this once-a-day IG check. I'll let you know how it goes. You can post IG from your computer with a few tricks, so maybe I'll try that.
Im also working on driving less. My studio is over a bridge and a little far or me to bike every day but I know how much better I feel so I will try. I'm always making small changes to work towards a better healthier me. Slowly. Slowly.
Want to get a card with a question for you an answer every month? Subscribe to the Keep Writing Project.
Want to see all the responses I receive to Caroline's questions? Check out this.
