Category Archives: Print Crush

Print Crush

Reading Frenzy

Portland's Independent Press Emporium

Much more than a simple dispensary of books, Reading Frenzy is a call to action. This modestly-sized storefront simultaneously functions as an art gallery, event space, literary watering hole, zine distribution point, indie publisher, friend to free speech, and an inspiration to many. Defying the odds, it has persevered for nearly sixteen years. No doubt this can be credited to a large degree to the intelligence and tenacity of its owner Chloe Eudaly. As the store kicked off its 500 friends of Reading Frenzy Kickstarter campaign this summer, I had the pleasure of learning more from Chloe about the past, present, and future of this Portland icon.

Read on! Get inspired! And please get involved! It just takes a few clicks to support an important cultural establishment and pillar of the independent publishing community.

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Print Crush

DKNG makes a poster

The Los Angeles-based creative duo walks us through the process of creating a screen printed poster.

DKNG is Dan Kuhlken and Nathan Goldman, a pair of creative dudes whose projects range from screen printed posters to web design to giant wooden installations. We met them at the Renegade Craft Fair in San Francisco and were immediately drawn to their bright, bold work. As part of their diverse and expansive portfolio of client work, Dan and Nathan have been resident poster artists at Hollywood’s famous Troubadour since 2007.

Dan was kind enough to share the duo’s process of a poster they recently completed for the band Phish. Read on for a step-by-step walk through what it takes to create a fabulous screen printed poster.

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Print Crush

Sparkplug Lights up!

The scene at Sparkplug HQ

I ventured out to deep Southeast Portland last week to see what I could learn about Dylan William’s Sparkplug Comic Books. I’ve known about Sparkplug for a while, always happily surprised when I pick up a new book and his logo is on the back. He produces a steady flow of books, as well as distributes others. He runs his business out of a shop called the Bad Apple in Southeast Portland, next door to the always delightful Guapo Comics. Here’s a little of what I found out.

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Print Crush

Levi’s Print Workshop

Time to work!

Just to further prove that interest in the art of print is alive and kicking, Levi’s opened the doors this week to their new Valencia Street printing workshop in San Francisco. Slated to operate for eight weeks in the temporary (but beautifully set-up) 3,000 square foot storefront, it offers hands-on training in letterpress and silkscreen printing, as well as many print and literary oriented events. The first of what hopefully will be many workshops, Levi’s is focusing on craft and craftspeople, as well as bringing together community through the act of creating. Read More »

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Print Crush

Evelin Kasikov’s Printing with Thread

CMYK printing merges with thread

What do you get when you mix the printing process with needlework?…”Printed Matter” a design project by Evelin Kasikov that merges hand craft with modern typography by using CMYK colored thread to make modern cross-stitched alphabets.

By carefully mimicking offset printing’s screen angles and halftone patterns, Evelin recreates the printing process with thread on paper.

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Print Crush

Container Corps

Container Corps HQ

Container Corps is powered by Gary Robbins, a print master and publication wonder. Located in a tiny storefront in North Portland, Container Corps has been quietly making moves in the local publishing world, generating new publications and experimental printing projects. When we caught up with Gary to hear his thoughts on starting Container Corps, we had no idea we’d be so moved by his responses. His eloquent, thoughtful explanation of his intentions with his creative publishing project got us jazzed. If entities like Container Corps are the future of print, we’re all going to be okay.

Read below for an interview with Gary. We’re impressed. We think you will be too.

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Print Crush

Monograph Bookwerks

An interior shot of Monograph Bookwerks, courtesy John Brodie

Portland finally gets an art bookstore.

John Brodie and Blair Saxon-Hill opened the doors of Monograph Bookwerks last month in Northeast Portland’s Alberta Arts District. Dealing in fine art books and objects, Monograph embraces a model of intimate, focused bookselling that has been on the decline with the success of big-box chain bookstores and hyper-affordable online sources. Monograph brings artist’s monographs to the people, strengthening Portland’s cultural fabric by providing exposure to publications and fine art objects in an accessible setting.

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Print Crush

One Man Job: Banner Year Press

Fadge, the first release from BT Livermore's Banner Year Press

BT Livermore is a pretty impressive artist. Not just for his passion, integrity, or artistic merit, but for his sheer business power. He’s equal parts entrepreneur and cartoonist. BT has been self-publishing zines and comics for years now and has never seen a reason to relinquish any of the labor to others because he can simply do it the most efficiently and precisely himself. He is now a master at DIY screen printing and book binding. He hopes to offer up these skills to others under his new venture, Banner Year Press.

I met up with BT across the street from his studio at Backspace to chat about his work.

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Print Crush

The Book Bike

Gabriel Levinson at work in Chicago. Photo courtesy The Book Bike.

Gabriel Levinson is a peddler of used books — correction, make that a “pedaler” of used books. Levinson is the founder and operator of The Book Bike, a custom-built tricycle stocked with 200 pounds of books and zines. Each Saturday, Levinson pedals his bike-library to Chicago’s city parks where he gives the materials away for free to anyone who wants them. No money changes hands at the Book Bike, if you want you got it no strings attached. The goals of the project are to support independent literature —by purchasing all of its materials at independent bookstores and presses— and to promote indie publishers by getting them into people’s hands. Since the project began in 2008, The Book Bike has placed over 3000 new and used books with readers.

Find out where The Book Bike will be next at bookbike.org

Photo: The Book Bike flickr.

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