Waysgoose 2009!

Waysgoose 2009 was another rousing time for families, artists, printers, and steamrollers. The fifth annual printer's party held each spring at the bookstore brought in artists and printers to show their wares and show people how its done in hands-on exhibits. Kids and well, everyone, love to roll their own prints. For a second straight year a steamroller was used to create 3 by 4 foot prints outside the store and the weather held off long enough to allow for some magnificent printmaking. Some of the large prints will be auctioned off later this fall and the proceeds donated to Tacoma Public Schools libraries. We thank everyone who showed up and participated in this Waygoose, and we hope to see you at the auction, and at next year's Waygoose!

We also thank Kevin Freitas who showed up and took some pictures, we were far too busy to get the camera steady. Here are more photos from his webpage:

Alice Paul and Ordinary Equality

"There is nothing complicated about ordinary equality."—Alice Paul

The newest broadside of the "Dead Feminist" series from Chandler O'Leary of Anagram Press and Jessica Springs of Springtide Press has arrived.

Here's info from the Anagram Press webpage -

"Printed from hand-lettered original typography and hand-drawn illustrations and patterns (in fact, everything was done by hand, the hard way!). This piece is a collaboration between Chandler O'Leary of Anagram Press and Jessica Spring of Springtide Press, who think everyone deserves an equal slice of wedding cake.

The wedding cake illustration is inspired by the architecture of San Francisco, epicenter of the battle over Proposition 8 in California. "Prop Cake" made its debut at the 2009 Codex International Book Fair in Berkeley, just in time for Valentine's Day.

The poster was printed on an antique Vandercook Universal One press. Each piece is printed on archival, 100% rag, recycled paper, and signed by both artists. Edition size: 108. Paper size: 10 x 18 inches.

Colophon reads: Alice Stokes Paul (1885-1977) continued the work of the suffragists, and helped form the National Woman's Party to demand equal rights. The NWP engaged in militant demonstrations and the first picketing of the White House; these "Silent Sentinels" were mobbed and imprisoned, then force-fed while attempting a hunger strike. Public and media support for their cause grew and by 1920, women secured the vote. Alice Paul continued to work on their behalf, writing the original Equal Rights Amendment in 1923."

This is a great limited hand press series by two of our favorite artists. Well worth coming in and taking a look.

Eleanor Roosevelt and the Seeds of Victory

The second broadside of a series celebrating feminists has arrived. The broadside, illustrated by Chandler O'Leary of Anagram Press and printed by Jessica Spring of Springtide Press, features Eleanor Roosevelt. Printed in an edition of 76 copies and signed by both this is another beautiful print by these artists.

From the text of the broadside: "Anna Eleanor Roosevelt (1884 - 1962) transformed the role of the first lady in the White House, where she served from 1933 - 45. In an effort to cultivate self-sufficiency and patriotism, she planted a Victory Garden on the White House lawn. Spurred in part by the first lady's example, more than 20 million Americans had home gardens and grew 40% of the country's produce during World War II. Today, amid rising food prices, climate change, and the finite supply of fossil fuels, we encourage the next first lady, Michelle Obama, to follow in Eleanor Roosevelt's footsteps and set an example for sustainability and hope once more - beginning on the White House lawn."

Chestnuts and Elizabeth Cady Stanton

We've recieved a beautiful new broadside from Jessica Spring of Springtide Press and Chandler O'Leary of Anagram Press. Illustrated by O'Leary and printed by Spring in recognition of a woman's right and responsibility to vote. 44 copies (in recgonition of the upcoming election of the 44th president of the United States) were printed by hand at Springtide. A quote from Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who wrote many of the speeches for Susan B. Anthony, graces the broadside, "Come, come my conservative friend wipe the dew off your spectacles and see the world moving."
If only the election process could be as well done as work like this.

Here at Kings Books we always know when autumn has hit full bore. We know by the chestnut tree across the street and from the throngs of local citizens wielding thier brooms and extendable poles slapping at the tree and knocking down the chestnuts to make that Japanese delicacy Ku Ri. That's really taking the local food movement to heart I'd say.

Illuminated Manuscript, Modern Interpretations

"In the 8th Century, near what are now Scotland and England, Benedictine monastic scribes created a Bible that today is one of the longest surviving monumental manuscripts in the Western world.
Nearly 1,300 years later, renowned calligrapher Donald Jackson approached the Benedictine monks of Saint John’s University and Abbey in Collegeville, Minnesota, with his life-long dream: to create the first handwritten, illuminated bible commissioned since the invention of the printing press. The Saint John’s Bible uses ancient materials and techniques to create a contemporary masterpiece that brings the Word of God to life for the contemporary world."

Coming to Tacoma Art Museum is this remarkable document, The St. John's Bible, the first illuminated bible since the invention of the printing press. And it's not small feat.  More than 1,000 vellum pages measuring 2 by 3 ft. Done by artists the world over using ancient techniques and modern interpretations this is a monumental effort.  

We're also looking forward to the talk by Beautiful Angle co-founder Lance Kagey “Typography through World History”, 7 p.m. July 17. It should be a great event for the Puget Sound region.

Paper Science, Core Structures

From The Popular Edge, a pop-up books art site, comes an interesting look at Matt Schlian and his paper engineering project with the University of Michigan as they look at protein mis-folding of Alzheimer’s disease which Schlian works into paper models. Beautiful paper scuptures from a terrible disease.

"The root cause of Alzheimer’s disease is protein mis-folding. The modular arrangements in which protein strands are formed, break down and incorrectly fold. This causes a chain reaction of erroneous folding. My approach to understanding this is hands on; the microscopic folds can be mapped on a human scale out of paper and used as a basis for sculpture."