Another journal

We recently went to Printed Matter’s LA Art Book Fair, which we went to last year and loved, this year not so much. We’re going to try one more time next year on a paid day in hopes that the crush of people doesn’t feel so fire-hazardy and frustrating. Hyperallergenic has some nice photos here.

As usual, I found more things that tickled my brain in the “zine” area that fills up the studio and workspaces building, but there were lots of interesting things to look at. And look only is what I did, no money or space for new books this year, though we did splash out for Sci-fi, Magick, Queer L.A. | Sexual Science and the Imagi-Nation from Inventory Press (which grew from the Sci-Fi, Magick , Queer L.A. archive show at USC), which makes lovely books. Look at this fore-edge!!!

What I did grab lots of were business cards–it’s wild to me, someone who used to do cons, how few places tabling ever have them, or have enough of them–and hooray most didn’t just send me to Instagram. Like, my friends, I want to go buy or look at your stuff, I don’t have Instagram, I’m not going to Zelle you $3 for a zine, please god. Anyway! Some faves in a little link roundup.

Composit Press

(about the press) (their store)

These were gorgeous and simple books, but what caught me was seeing they were based in Corvallis, Oregon. And! On further inspection, were part of OSU?!! Turns out the press is run on a curricular structure, is student-staffed, and is probably giving these kids one of the better hands-on experiences possible about printing.

I did almost go home with We’re Sorry You Applied This Year, from Natalie Krick, which makes sort of black-out poems of rejection letters collected over the course of a year. I may still end up getting it, it’s a real treat and an eternal mood.

Salt and Pepper

(store)

The problem with buying nothing at fairs like this is that you’ll probably never get a chance again. Salt and Pepper doesn’t ship to the United States currently, alas forever.

Also mercurial was exactly why I grabbed their card. I believe they had heavy silver ink printing on some magazines and I will love that style forever and ever. I cannot find the items that grabbed my eye on their site, sadly, but there’s lots of yummy stuff in there.

Special Special

(store)

A super clean design style that also seems like it is true to the designer will always grab me and Special Special has that. Bonus also for having quirky stationary that doesn’t inexplicably piss me off. The sold out Illegal Pad (three columns of lines, grid, dots) is a delight. This tote was not at the show but absolutely rips.

Gong Press

(publications) (store)

I love when a book or object is lovingly and beautifully made and Gong Press creates Objects ™ that are pleasant to touch, and delightful to interact with. What caught my eye particularly was their I Ching Hexagram “bookmark book.” The paper stock of the pages within was lightly waxy, the holes in the cover unique to each, the content perfectly printed.

DIY Solutions

(main site) (store)

Another I can’t find online the work that caught my attention but looking at it now, the Topography of Sleep risograph zine is a delight.

Howling Cactus

(Howling Cactus site) (the site for one its members)

I almost couldn’t find their sites after the show, this was one of those (very cool design, like a little book wit ha quote in it) cards that only had an @ to find somebody by. But the work had such a delicious ephemeral vibe I really did want to find them beyond what I can see of Instagram before it blocks my scroll. And I succeeded!

Once more, I’m not 100% what had me ask for a card, but Love Letters, Fireworks, and Time Travel may well have been it. Collected letters from a time-distant stranger? Beautiful paper choices?!

Colpa Press

(store & site)

The only thing that saved me from buying a riso print of a still from a horror movie from this table was that I am incredibly picky. But boy, did I enjoy paging through them hungrily. I love typologies and collections (rave flyers), I love spiral bound books that don’t feel like they’ve chosen that binding to be trendy, I love horror and weird stuff.

Sadly, I learned once I got home that Colpa is an event-only vendor currently but their site says they’re “working on building out the USED section of our site” which has me at 100% eyes emoji.

Figure Bound

(store)

I love a good or notable business card and Figure Bound had ones that were the kind of bookmarks that slide over the top of a page. Delightful!!! Also just a really pleasant site to browse. The paper choices are delicious, the printing clean, the content good and the prices exquisite (you can make good artist books and not make them all $60!). Trees of America was particularly fun. I’m showing a screencap here so you can see the cute thing the menu does as you scroll on the site (tips to the vertical).

And that’s it! I also enjoyed the area set aside for Riso Studio Arts, which has locations in Portland (Oregon) and Los Angeles both. Riso will get me eventually, I’m sure. I’m soft for all fibre arts and printing types and will slowly collect them all as I continue onward.