There’s a new website up for Popolo Press, run by Kiva Tanya Stimac, who is responsible for so many of Montreal’s beautiful letterpress show posters over the years. Firmly rooted in the ideology and philosophy behind Montreal’s independent scene, Popolo Press’ work is meticulously crafted, locally-bound and offered to the public with a lot of love. I’m looking forward to having the opportunity to work with them in the future.
UPDATE: A great interview with Kiva up on Felt and Wire.
In light of the occupations/demonstrations happening around the world, we’re honoured to present a very special series of events this weekend featuring celebrated political artist Eric Drooker. Since I first started becoming interested in political art and design, Drooker has been a consistent reference, up there with the likes of Barbara Kruger, Jenny Holzer, and Gran Fury. His work draws on a long tradition of political illustration while expressing an aesthetic vision that is uniquely his own. From his many cover illustrations for the New Yorker to the iconic street graphics he has designed for countless social movements, Drooker’s body of work is infused with a sense of urgent humanism balanced by a healthy dose of celebratory menace.
The first event, Artists Against Apartheid XVII takes place this Friday at Sala Rossa, where Drooker will present a musical storytelling performance accompagnied by projections of his work. This event brings together so many great organisations; including Howl Arts!, the Mile End Poets Festival and Tadamon, in support of the Palestinian people’s continuing struggle for self-determination, and in solidarity with the popular uprisings happening across the globe.
As encouraging as the international momentum building around the Occupy Wall Street movement is, it also raises within me a fair amount of skepticism about its efficacy and sincerity. Ironically, the widespread popularity makes me intrinsically question it, as I guess I’m always more comfortable (or at least used to) working from the margins.
I have not attended any of the general assemblies here in Montreal, so my criticism is more instinctive than anything else. The term “Occupy” also rings false in this context, pointing to a history of colonialism that is embedded in our geography. On the flip side, this same instinct pushes me to at least do something in support of the initiative. I’m all for the creation of a critical dialogue around the systemic inequalities in our society, and in conversation with a friend who was at Occupy Wall Street in NY, I was very encouraged by his account of the maturity of the movement there. The cause is just, and the process-oriented consensus model laid down by the NY occupation is certainly inspiring if it can be carried through to other sites.
So, yes, I’m participating and I encourage others to come down on Oct. 15th to Square Victoria and demonstrate. We can’t build this if we don’t take part.
Though I’m in no way affiliated with the organising of the event, I created the above poster to lend my support and solidarity.
Download the 11×17 version here or the 8.5×11 version here.
—Update—
I also created a Decolonize Montreal version of this poster to address the issues I had with terminology and context. You can download it here.
I’m very happy to announce that Capitalism Kills Love has been featured in the latest e-issue of Rattle Magazine (issue e.11). Since 1996, Rattle has established itself as a key site in print and online for the promotion of contemporary poetry and the development of an active community of poets. Read more about the magazine here.
The project is featured in Dan Waber‘s Eye Contact section where he gives a very insightful review of the series and its context as a piece of visual poetry. I’m honoured to have the work read in this light, and given the timing, as the “occupy” movement(s) spread across North America, I hope more and more people take up the challenge that inspired me to create the work. Capitalism Kills Love and love kills capitalism…
Poets are always among the first to go missing in regime changes, because they’re dangerous. The power that poetry has is the judo throw of paradigm shift. Those in Title Case Power are (rightly) afraid of those who are able to wield this less-flashy but ultimately more effective lowercase power. (…) They know how to push the buttons, slide the levers, and twist the dials that make us think we thought of that ourselves. What happens when a poet who is also a graphic designer decides to use his powers for good?
Download Rattle e.11 here
And a loud shout-out to Aram Tanis who provided the original photography for the project!
We’re finally able to announce the upcoming issue of Four Minutes to Midnight (issue 12). In collaboration with Archive Montreal, we’ve decided to dedicate the issue to Expozine, Montreal’s annual small press, comics, and zine fair. This year Expozine celebrates it’s tenth anniversary! The festival has played such a crucial role in the development of Four Minutes; we’ve made many friends and allies and have been inspired and encouraged by so many of the participants over the years, and we wanted to take the opportunity to acknowledge this.
The issue will consist of several articles/interviews and an extended composition of images and texts selected from zines submitted to the Expozine archive over the years. We’ll have a list up soon of our final selections, and if you happen to be on it (you should have received a permissions email), you’ll receive a free copy of the issue at Expozine. We’re very excited to have the opportunity to put this issue together, and look forward to sharing it with everyone in less than 2 months time!
I spotted some really nice gig posters showing up post Pop Montreal on Fairmount the other day, and thought I would share. Enjoy! And yes, they’re snapped on my retro-android camera for nostalgic pleasure. Let me know if you want to see more!
