November 2011
Hold Fast
Posted November 29, 2011 by pete in Downloadable Graphics
Here is a new graphic for you to download. I intended to make this image during the inspiring uprisings in Wisconsin, but never got to it. Then when the Occupy movement reared its head I thought again about making this image...and now, the image finally finished, I hope it can be of use...
Download a high-resolution PDF of this image to print out for yourself by clicking HERE.
JBbTC 86: Boni Paper Books pt.2
Posted November 28, 2011 by jmacphee in Judging Books by Their Covers
Here is part two of my series on the early American paperback experiment known as Boni Paper Book. To read the back story, and see the first four books I looked at, check out last week's post HERE. I love the Sun Way cover to the left, so I started off with that, but I'm going to go through the books just like last week, from first published to last, with the back covers included and as much info as I have.
Justseeds December Sale!
Posted November 28, 2011 by roger_peet in Events
It's that holiday time again, and we're having a sale! From now through the 7th of December you can get 10% off any order made in the Justseeds store. Enter the code "december" in the coupon code box on our shopping cart page to get the discount. Please share widely! Tell your friends, families, co-workers, co-conspirators, and persons unknown. Thanks for all the support you give us- we really appreciate it.
Ada Lovelace portrait and download
Posted November 28, 2011 by shaun in Downloadable Graphics
A friend just sent me this graphic of geek feminism icon Ada Lovelace, credited by Wikipedia as "The World's First Computer Programmer". The portrait was created by Colin Adams, Fred the Oyster, and Ryan Kaldari for the Ada Initiative, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting women in tech. It's scalable and public domain, so feel free to reuse it however you like (many download options here).
12/3: War Is Trauma Opening Reception
Posted November 27, 2011 by jmacphee in Justseeds Collective Projects
This coming Saturday is the New York City release and exhibition of the new Justseeds/IVAW/Booklyn War Is Trauma print portfolio!
Opening reception: Dec. 3, 2011. 7 - 10pm
Booklyn, 37 Greenpoint Ave. 4th Fl., Brooklyn, NY 11222
The show will be up from December 3, 2011 - January 8, 2012
An exhibition of 30 prints including work by Justseeds, IVAW and their allies. War Is Trauma is a portfolio of handmade prints produced by the Justseeds Artists' Cooperative in collaboration with the Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW). For this project over 30 artists from Justseeds, IVAW, and their allies have each created a print to focus public attention towards important issues not being publicly discussed—GI Resistance, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), sexual assault of women in the military, and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). More information HERE.
No REDD Papers, vol. 1
Posted November 25, 2011 by jmacphee in Books & Zines
I recently designed a new pamphlet about the failures of REDD, the UN's current carbon trading scheme. It is called No REDD Papers, vol. 1, was edited by Hallie Boas, with art direction from Justseeds' member Santiago Armengod, and design by me (Josh MacPhee), and it is going to be mass distributed at the upcoming climate conference in Durban, South Africa. A print edition is being produced by Eberhardt Press, and a free downloadable PDF is available HERE. It includes over a dozen articles about the environmental impact of REDD, with illustrations by a half dozen Justseeds artists, including Melanie Cervantes, Erik Ruin, Pete Yahnke, Roger Peet, and Favianna Rodriguez.
IAS Lexicon Series Kickstarter
Posted November 24, 2011 by jmacphee in Books & Zines
I've been having fun designing a new pamphlet series for the Institute for Anarchist Studies called "Lexicon," which consists of short essays by different authors laying out definitions of political terms. The idea is to help create a baseline knowledge amongst people so that we can have more productive political discussions and actions. The idea was born out of the early days of the Occupy movement, going down to Zuccotti Park and participating in political conversations with total strangers that were exhilarating, but also deeply frustrating, largely because of a lack of common understanding of some of the most basic building blocks of political theory.
I've been getting really into creative pattern generation lately, and the covers of this series are a great opportunity to practice that, and have a good time while doing it! We've got the first four pamphlets written, the first three designed, and a handful more in the works already. The IAS just needs a little cash to get them printed (at a movement printer). There's a kickstarter up and running to fund the first 4 in the series, check it out and support it if you can! Check it out HERE.
Pepper Spraying Cop
Posted November 22, 2011 by k_c_ in Inspiration
I'm enjoying the memes coming out of the Occupation movement. here's one inspired by the UC Davis officer that used "less than lethal" weapons on students last week.
More at Pepper Spraying Cop.
Queerness as Failure Merit Badges
Posted November 22, 2011 by mary_tremonte
Check out this amazing comic by Olivia Horvath!
Good synergy with the Queer Scout badges but a lot funnier.
JBbTC 85: Boni Paper Books pt.1
Posted November 21, 2011 by jmacphee in Judging Books by Their Covers
Two weekends ago I got a chance to take a short trip to Pittsburgh to get a much needed mini-vacation and visit with fellow Justseeds' members Bec, Icky, Mary, and Shaun. Most people who know me have come to the understanding that I can't go anywhere without a quick scan of the local used bookstores, and Icky and Shaun obliged. In the basement of one shop I found a great mini-collection of old Boni Paper Books.
Boni Paper Books where a brief early experiment in American paperback book publishing. Charles and Albert Boni, New York publishers of reputable hardback books and co-founders of the Modern Library book series, began this experiment in 1929. They teamed up with designer (and Leftist) Rockwell Kent to create a series of well-made and inexpensive paperback books, a novelty at the time (by comparison, Penguin Books—the first large scale paperback publisher in the UK—wasn't founded by Allen Lane until 1935). The books were primarily distributed as a book of the month club, with each new titled published and mailed out to subscribers (who had paid a $5 annual charge) on the 25th of the month.
Radix Media - The Revolution Will Be Printed!
Posted November 21, 2011 by shaun in Posters & Prints
Today we've posted the new Radical Printers Poster Set in the store - a series of five great offset prints highlighting radical luminaries who dedicated their lives to print! The set comes from the burgeoning Radix Media out of Portland, Oregon. Last week, I asked Lantz of Radix if he wouldn't mind writing up a few words about what inspired the project, and what inspires him as a printer. He didn't hesitate for a moment, read more below (and check out other work form Radix on their Etsy page)...
Indigenous Cultural Delegation to Australia
Posted November 20, 2011 by dylanminer in Art & Politics
In late-December and early-January, I will be traveling to Australia as part of an Indigenous delegation attempting to establish an exchange program between Indigenous communities in the Great Lakes (on both sides of the US-Canada border) and our cousins in Australia. The delegation includes Anishinaabeg singers and dancers, Xicano danzantes (my partner and our kids), and a Métis artist (that’s me). If any Justseeds readers are familiar with powwow music, they’ll be happy to know that three of the guys from Grammy-nominated drum group Bear Creek will be in the mix, as well many other rad folks.
11/29: Not if but when: Culture Beyond Oil
Posted November 20, 2011 by jmacphee in Events
For those that have been following the work of Liberate Tate in the UK, you know that they are doing some of the most inventive and challenging cultural activism going on right now, and for those that haven't been following, check them out! They have a big event coming up on 11/29 in London, for a release of their new book project Not if but when: Culture Beyond Oil:
Liberate Tate, Art Not Oil and Platform warmly invite you to a get-together to end oil sponsorship of the arts. Featuring a performance from singer-comedian Mae Martin, contributing artist to the upcoming Tate à Tate audio tour, the evening will be the first opportunity to purchase the freshly stamped limited edition copies of Not if but when: Culture Beyond Oil.Tuesday 29th November
Free Word Centre, 60 Farringdon Road, London, EC1R 3GA10.30am – 6.30pm: Oil daub performance by Ruppe Koselleck
6.30pm – 9.00pm: 'Culture Beyond Oil' launch event (refreshments provided)More info HERE.
Recall Walker LED sign!
Posted November 19, 2011 by nicolas_lampert in Art & Politics
Milwaukee-based Lane Hall is on a mission: improve night time activism. One way: LED signs!
Bat Signals and Floating Tents
Posted November 18, 2011 by nicolas_lampert in Art & Politics
Two great creative actions from NYC to the Bay on the two-month mark of the Occupy Wall Street Movement:
From NYC: The "bat signal project"
Un Grito from the Great Lakes
Posted November 18, 2011 by dylanminer in Events
Un Grito from the Great Lakes: Works by Dylan Miner
Galería América, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN
Hangs through 03 December 2011 (Possibly moving to Crossroads Gallery afterwards)
Last week, I traveled to South Bend, Indiana to create a site-specific painting for my show at Galería América, University of Notre Dame. For those that don’t know, Notre Dame has a wonderful Institute for Latino Studies, which includes two art galleries, one on campus (Galería América) and one in downtown South Bend (Crossroads Gallery). Prof. Gil Cardenas, Director of the Institute, is a huge patron of the arts and a supporter of Latino printmaking. I have known Gil for a few years and was happy when he invited me to do a show in Galería América. Since the show has a short run, it may continue into the new year at Crossroads Gallery.
Animas Perdidas, Fort Lewis College
Posted November 17, 2011 by dylanminer in Events
Animas Perdidas
Art Gallery at Fort Lewis College
Durango, Colorado
Through the end of November
Don't Let ICE Deport a Protestor from the Occupy Movement! Migrants are the 99%
Posted November 17, 2011 by Favianna_Rodriguez in In the News
UPDATE @ 3:02 PM PST: Pancho has just been released!! Thank you to all who supported!!!
Francisco “Pancho” Ramos-Stierle was arrested on Monday as he was sitting in silent, non-violent protest against the deep inequality that pervades our society and affects so many people, including migrants. But what makes Pancho different from so many of the "Occupy" protestors who have been arrested is that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is trying to deport him!
Pancho's information was immediately passed from local police to immigration officials through the Secure Communities (S-COMM) program. So even though the charges against him were dropped, he is in ICE custody now! He was bravely standing up for his community, and now we have to stand up for him. Can you take a moment and sign this petition demanding that ICE release Pancho and cancel his deportation immediately?
11/19: "Which Side Are You On? Book Release
Posted November 17, 2011 by k_c_ in Events
Brooklyn based artist Christopher Cardinale presents slides of his artwork and process for the children's book Which Side Are You On? written by George Ella Lyon.
Saturday November 19th, 1pm
Bluestockings Books
172 Allen Street (btw Stanton & Rivington)
11/18: WW3 Release Party
Posted November 16, 2011 by jmacphee in Events
This Friday check out an art show opening and comic book release party for the brand new World War 3 Illustrated, featuring a comic by Justseeds' very own Molly Fair!!
Tahrir : Liberation from the Mideast to the Midwest
Friday, November 18th, 2011 - 8pm to 11pm
Sixth Street Community Center
638 East Sixth Street (between Avenue B & C), NYC
World War 3 Illustrated, the independent political comix magazine, presents its new issue, dedicated to the Arab Spring and the spirit of world-wide revolt it has inspired, at a gallery opening exhibiting original art and new work made in conjunction with the Occupy Everywhere movement.
Burning Books opens in Buffalo, NY!
Posted November 15, 2011 by shaun in Books & Zines
This past September, a new bookstore and hub for radical events opened up in Buffalo, New York: Burning Books. Hitting the ground running, they've already hosted a whole mess of intriguing and inspiring speakers and films, and if the local press surrounding the new endeavor is any indication, the organizers are building a venue to keep a serious eye on (see more in-depth articles here and here)...
Banners for the Eviction
Posted November 14, 2011 by roger_peet in Art & Politics
Occupy Portland has been uprooted from its two downtown parks, and begins a new phase - whether that means a new location or a new course of action.
Since I returned from Slovenia, I've been working on art projects related to the Occupy phenomenon, designing posters and flyers and graphics.
I met with two colleagues, Katherine Ball and Chelsea Peil, to hatch a plan to create a more powerful graphic presence at the camps, something to complement the piles of damp cardboard covered in sharpie hatching. 
JBbTC 84: The Man Who Was Thursday pt.2
Posted November 14, 2011 by jmacphee in Judging Books by Their Covers
Here is part 2 of the covers of G.K. Chesterton's 1908 anarchist exploitation novel The Man Who Was Thursday. You can see the first 17 covers from last week HERE. This weeks first cover (to the left) is from the 2008 edition from the Crime Classics series of Atlantic Press. Atlantic is a young UK independent publisher, and this series of books is generally gorgeous. White borders, duotone printing, and the simple sans serif publisher/line/series name at the top set the style, and then each one is illustrated uniquely. A little digging online shows the designer of the series is Wallzo. The Thursday cover is fabulous, and really captures the spooky, underground adventure aspects of the novel I was talking about last week.
Freedom Rider Cantastoria
Posted November 11, 2011 by molly_fair in Art & Politics
Fellow artist and activist Ethan Heitner told me about a great project he is helping with. I asked him to do a guest blogpost about the whole process of making art for the action. Here's what he wrote:
Jewish Voice for Peace asked me to make large images for a solidarity action that will take place on Tuesday, November 15th in New York City and hopefully other cities supporting a new phase of popular struggle in Palestine.On November 15 Palestinian activists are going to assert their right to basic human needs: freedom of movement, access to their holy sites in Jerusalem, equality. In the tradition of the Freedom Riders of the American South, 50 years ago, who faced violent segregationists with the power of their bodies and their presence, they are going to attempt to peacefully board and ride settler buses.
Jewish Voice for Peace wanted to create a toolkit for a creative demonstration that could be held in front of, for example, bus stops around the country. Rabbi Alissa Wise, who is helping organize the actions, explained to me they were thinking about cantastoria, a very old human storytelling tradition of singing a story while gesturing to large illustrations.
Dept. of Space & Land Reclamation interview
Posted November 11, 2011 by jmacphee in Art & Politics
My friend Daniel Tucker is working on a new research project about art and activism called "Never the Same: Conversations About Art Transforming Politics & Community in Chicago & Beyond." Over the summer he did a long interview with Emily Forman and myself (Josh MacPhee) about our involvement in organizing in the overlapping spaces of culture and politics in Chicago in the early 2000s. Most of the interview focuses on a project we did called the Department of Space and Land Reclamation (DSLR), which was was a weekend campaign (April 27, 28, and 29th, in 2001) that attempted "to reclaim all the space, land and visual culture of Chicago back to the people who work for it, live in it and create it." It's a good interview, give it a read HERE. (Image is of original DSLR poster designed by Kevin Dresser, which can be found HERE.)
Artist Talk at the Museum of Contemporary Native Arts
Posted November 10, 2011 by Jesus_Barraza in Art & Politics
This coming weekend we will be visiting Santa Fe, New Mexico with a few presentations and workshops. These are in conjunction with the "Counting Coup" exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Native Art. The poster above was designed for the workshops in Santa Fe at the MOCNA and SFAI this weekend. I wanted to design something about local issues and was told about the campaign to shut down PNM's coal powered plant.
Just a couple facts:
PNM's San Juan coal plant uses 9.3 billion gallons of clean fresh water every year and produces that much toxic water which then contaminates our air, soil and streams.
PNM fights all progressive legislation and regulation (carbon pollution reduction rule, renewable portfolio standard - they wanted to cut it in half during the last legislature, while many other states are moving in the opposite direction - to increase the renewable requirements.)
OWSJ Poster Folio Out Now!
Posted November 10, 2011 by jmacphee in Posters & Prints
A handful of us here in NYC have been hard, hard at work on an all poster edition of the Occupied Wall Street Journal, and it has finally hit the streets! Me and Molly from Justseeds were involved, but the real heavy lifting over the past couple weeks was done by Jesse Goldstein. (Thanks, Jesse!!!) If you are in NYC, head down to Liberty Park and pick up a copy!!
War Dialogues Project & New IVAW Portfolio Preview on Nov.11 (Pittsburgh)
Posted November 10, 2011 by shaun in Events
Join the War Dialogues Project and Justseeds for an Armistice Day Event!
Featuring Stories and Art and Interactive Discussion about war and reconciliation from the perspectives of veterans and refugees living in the Pittsburgh area.
Pre-Release exhibition of War Is Trauma: a Justseeds/I.V.A.W. (Iraq Veterans Against the War) Portfolio featuring prints from over 30 artists, including veterans, on the subject of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and GI Resistance
Friday November 11th
6:00-8:00 Dialogues
8:00-10:00 Opening Reception for War Is Trauma: A Justseeds/I.V.A.W. Portfolio
at Justseeds Distribution HQ (Pittsburgh, PA)
3410 Penn Ave, Second Floor (enter in back on Spring Way)
Free and Open to the Public!
Reports from the Front Lines of the Class War: Lane Hall on the Occupy the Hood movement
Posted November 10, 2011 by nicolas_lampert in Inspiration
Artist/activist Lane Hall has been reporting weekly on the labor struggles in Milwaukee and the efforts to recall Walker. Below is recent post on the Daily Kos by Hall on the "Occupy the Hood" march last week that focused attention on how Walker's devastating policies prevented the Talgo train manufacturing company from setting up shop in Milwaukee's inner city - a move that would have created hundreds if not thousands of jobs. Hall's writing is telling the story of movement building and the efforts of working people of all races to fight back in Wisconsin. It is inspiring stuff written by a gifted author and a fiery activist.
Occupy Posters: Fight Back—World Wide
Posted November 9, 2011 by santi in Downloadable Graphics
Another graphic for the "Occupy" movement. A reminder that Liberation struggles are happening everywhere around the world.
Ohio Workers Defeat Anti-Union Bill SB 5
Posted November 9, 2011 by nicolas_lampert in Inspiration
Congrats to the working people of Ohio for repealing SB 5, the anti-union legislation that had ended collective bargaining rights for 350,000 public workers in Ohio. Last night voters overwhelmingly defeated the bill 61 percent to 39 percent. Let's hope the momentum carries over to Wisconsin where efforts to recall Gov. Walker are in full swing.
New 2012 Calendar from Certain Days is in!
Posted November 9, 2011 by shaun in Justseeds Collective Projects
We've got the NEW 2012 calendar from the Certain Days collective! As usual, it's filled with great art from Justseeds members (Santiago Armengod, Jesus Barraza, Kevin Caplicki, Josh MacPhee, and Favianna Rodriquez) and many others, as well as some informative essays—get your copy from our webstore HERE. (Apologies if you tried to order this calendar in the last week and were discouraged by absurd shipping charges, everything is clear now...)
2012 Organizers are out
Posted November 7, 2011 by roger_peet in Justseeds Collective Projects
If you missed it last week: the 2012 Justseeds/ Eberhardt Press organizer is out. I'm busy wiring them together as fast as I can, while Charles of Eberhardt stands behind me, sneering cruelly and slapping a cosh in his palm. Get one!
Justseeds-IVAW portfolio preview #2
Posted November 7, 2011 by nicolas_lampert in Justseeds Collective Projects
The Justseeds-IVAW portfolio "War is Trauma" is coming along! Aaron Hughes and I have spent the last two weekends printing like mad and we have one more session to do, plus the covers - letter press yo! The portfolio is stunning with over 30 prints by IVAW artists, Justseeds artists, and our allies. Be on the look out for a preview show this Friday at the Justseeds headquarters in Pittsburgh and shows in Chicago in late November. More details tba. For now...
How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Just Print
Posted November 7, 2011 by molly_fair in Posters & Prints
This is a reflection piece from friend and occuprinter David Spataro:
On Wednesday evening I met Jesse and Josh at a diner a few blocks away from Zuccotti Park. Their hands were marked with the telling sign of a day's printing―ink stains. Less visible, but equally if not more palpable, was their excitement about printing at the occupation. I listened to their stories from the day and eagerly jumped in to their conversation about setting up a permanent print shop. I began busying my mind searching for solutions to printing problems that Jesse and Josh, having just successfully printed, knew were not problems at all.
JBbTC 83: The Man Who Was Thursday pt.1
Posted November 7, 2011 by jmacphee in Judging Books by Their Covers
A couple months ago I was looking around a great local Brooklyn new/used bookshop, Unnameable, and I stumbled on a book cover featuring an cool looking illustration of a riot scene, an illustration that looked really familiar. It was an image by Félix Vallotton, a late 19th century Swiss avant-garde printmaker with deep sympathies towards anarchism. It turns out that the book was a new Penguin edition of GK Chesterton's 1908 thriller The Man Who Was Thursday: A Nightmare (see right).
On the one hand, the image is quite fitting, it is from the period of the book, and could be illustrating a scene straight from its pages. On the other hand, Valloton fell far on the other side of the political fence from Chesterton. While anarchists and police are the subject of the novel, Chesterton shows no sympathies to the rebels. Valloton did quite the opposite, regularly satirizing the police. The placing of the two texts literally on top of each other is a fascinating rewriting of history, both humorous, but also in a way stripping both historical figures/artists of their beliefs, and flattening them out into a period "style."
Shout Down Gov. Walker
Posted November 6, 2011 by nicolas_lampert in In the News
Check out this recent action in Chicago where Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker got an unexpected greeting by audience members that he did not expect to be in attendance --the working class. Let's hope that Walker continues to get berated everywhere he goes for the rest of his life, and let's ensure that he is recalled in Wisconsin in 2012 and never holds a public office again.
Polish Posters!
Posted November 5, 2011 by jmacphee
Molly found this great site with about 200 Polish film poster images. Polish film posters from the 50s-80s are one of the most impressive vehicles more modern graphic design, particularly the generation of subtly (to overtly) political messages within the otherwise conventional world of film poster production. Check out all the posters on this page posted by the design firm "agrayspace" HERE.
The Sussiya Book of Embroidered Local Knowledge
Posted November 4, 2011 by jmacphee in Art & Politics
My friend Aviv from Barcelona is trying to fund a cool new project called The Sussiya Book of Embroidered Local Knowledge. According to Aviv, they will be spending a couple months in the South Mount Hebron area of Palestine, "documenting all of this culture (past and present) using a collaborative method we call real-time documentary embroidery. Basically, it involved sitting around and embroidering with whoever is interested and letting the conversation evolve naturally. We usually do this in public, everyone is invited. We embroider what we see and what we hear, leaving behind a document, a textile representation of the experience we all shared." They will be working with local groups and organizations, and this seems a really unique and interesting way to conceptualize the intersections of cultural and solidarity work. More on the project is HERE, please help them out if you can!
Occupy the Boardroom
Posted November 3, 2011 by jmacphee in In the News
A creative action here in New York pulled together by Occupy the Boardroom.
Prints Gone Wild 11/4 & 11/5
Posted November 3, 2011 by molly_fair in Events
Hey it's time again for PRINTS GONE WILD- the super affordable art fair for prints. Justseeds will be there selling our wares, so come check us out.
Friday Nov. 4th, 6pm-midnight
Saturday Nov. 5, 12pm-6pm
at Secret Project Robot
389 Melrose St., Brooklyn, NY
located between Flushing and Knickerboxer Aves, a few blocks from the Morgan Ave. L train stop
Oakland General Strike posters
Posted November 2, 2011 by nicolas_lampert in Posters & Prints
Don't Mourn-Organize!
Foreclose on the 1%
Posted November 2, 2011 by Jesus_Barraza in Downloadable Graphics
A new 8.5 x 11 downloadable poster available. Click HERE to download.
This poster was developed for the bank actions happening this week in Oakland to show my solidarity with all those who are challenging the Big Banks to demand a moratorium on foreclosures and to stop its investments in detention centers and dirty energy and to hold them accountable for their role in causing our economic crisis.
Downloadable: In Solidarity with the Zapatista Communities
Posted November 2, 2011 by santi in Downloadable Graphics
This is a poster that I recently made to bring attention to the current situation in Southeast Mexico in the state of Chiapas, and the ongoing hunger strike that members of the EZLN's La Otra Campana have embarked on for more than 30 days now.
The hunger strike's demands are for Justice, an end to assassinations, forced relocation, repression, forced disappearances and incarcerations.
For further info visit HERE.
The Mythological Quarter
Posted November 1, 2011 by mary_tremonte in Art & Politics
Shaun Slifer and I recently had the great pleasure of visiting Brett Bloom and Bonnie Fortune in Copenhagen. They organized an exhibit of the Justseeds Resourced Portfolio and related prints at YNKB, a really amazing collectively organized arts space that happens to be right next door to Brett & Bonnie's apartment. I hope to do some more posts about our time in Europe over the next few weeks, but for now I want to urge you to check out their blog: The Mythological Quarter.
Recent entries include an interview with Kerianne Quick, about her Source Matters series, the Resourced show at YNKB, and Brett's recent public signage project, Giving Harbor, about immigration in Denmark, installed in the harbor---all topics that we encountered during our week's stay. There are also heaps of downloadable pdf's and links to other sites of interest.This blog is rich with new content often, check it out!
