Profiles Thu Oct 16 2008

Chicago Publishers Gallery

This weekend marked the opening of the Chicago Publishers Gallery at the Chicago Cultural Center. The first of its kind, the Publishers Gallery showcases an impressive collection of books and periodicals from over 100 local publishers, giving equal attention to well-known publishers, such as the University of Chicago Press, to independent presses, such as Rose Metal Press, to zines, trade publications, comic books and children's literature. Tucked away in two corners of the Cultural Center, the Gallery displays its more than 1500 selections neatly on shelves and tables lit by the soft glow of desk lamps, creating a feeling of a comfortable, book-loving home rather than a stark, sterile museum gallery. While materials cannot be taken out of the Gallery area, there are chairs available to aid in browsing and all of the displayed titles are available for purchase online and through local booksellers.

The vision of the Gallery is to bring much-deserved attention to our city's literary contributions. "Together we're going to make Chicago publishers known throughout the world," said Lois Weisberg, Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs. "Publishing may not be as celebrated as some of the other industries, but it is more than worthy of our support."

On a panel of local authors and publishers at the Gallery's press opening, Rick Kogan, Audrey Niffenegger, Haki Madhubuti, Jonathan Messinger, and Dominique Raccah discussed the importance of keeping the literary arts alive. "The book isn't going anywhere," said Messinger of Featherproof Books and Time Out Chicago. "Most of literature goes online, but books will always be like vinyl. Most people listen to iPods now, but you still have people who collect vinyl." Niffenegger, author of The Time Traveler's Wife and faculty at Columbia College's Center for Book and Paper Arts agreed: "You can't say the book is going away. You cannot take the Kindle and read it in the bathtub."

Founder and CEO of Sourcebooks, Inc., Raccah praised Chicago's publishing industry for encouraging local writers. "There has never been a better time to be a writer today," she said. "There are so many ways to get your book out...self-publishing, micropresses, indie presses, zines...a lot of different ways to get to your readers. And it's all about the readers."

Tribune columnist and author Kogan and Third World Press publisher Madhubuti lamented the decline of importance placed on books. "In your home there must be a library," Madhubuti stressed. "Books are critical. Life-giving, life-saving information can only be found in two or three places. Libraries are one of them." Kogan agreed, remembering libraries as remarkable places that he visited as a child. "This event is a wonderful thing - it gives a moment of respect to publishing," Kogan said as he bemoaned the loss of books sections in the Tribune and the Sun-Times. "There is nothing like a small child being empowered by words."

The Chicago Cultural Center is open everyday, except for holidays, and admission to the Publishers Gallery is free. For a brief look at the Gallery, you can peruse their website and learn about some of the book publishers, periodicals, and web publications that make Chicago the rich literary community that it is. The Gallery is an inspiring and eye-opening collection and offers an introduction to the wealth of talent the city possesses. It will certainly do well to complete Weisberg's vision of giving Chicago publishing the attention it deserves.

- Veronica Bond | Comments (0)

News Mon Feb 18 2008

Profiling Venkatesh

The Guardian profiles the University of Chicago's Sudhir Venkatesh, whose memoir Gang Leader for a Day details his experience as a graduate student researching gangs in the Robert Taylor Homes. Venkatesh reveals why he's the "black sheep of [his] discipline," describes his research method of "hanging out," and talks about why he feels guilt but not regret.

- Veronica Bond | Comments (0)

Profiles Thu Feb 14 2008

Adam Langer on Bat Segundo

Installment #175 of the Bat Segundo show features local author Adam Langer talking about his latest work, Ellington Boulevard, as well as his writing methods, classical music, Candide and "dissertations with bad titles," among many other things. Click on the bat to download the mp3.

- Veronica Bond | Comments (0)

Profiles Tue Mar 06 2007

Beasts! Found in Chicago!

by Kara Luger

There are many things to be afraid of in this world: sickness, global warming, the next Britney Spears freakout. Although Beasts! is a monster of a compendium, featuring nearly 100 of the frightening and lamentable critters, it is luckily the least of your worries.

Lovingly curated by Jacob Covey, the book features artists from various fields — graphic novelists, children's books illustrators, fine artists, rock poster-makers, skate graphics guys, etc. — who were assembled to give lend their visage. A brief bio accompanies each beast, so the book is informational as well as, you know, cool.

In celebration of the book's release, a whole slew of Chicago-area contributors will be on-hand to sign copies of Beasts!, including Dan Grzeca, Jason Robards, The Little Friends of Printmaking, Anders Nilsen, Julie Murphy and Justin B. Williams. The shindig goes down at 7pm on Friday, March 9, at Quimby's, 1854 W. North Ave.

I spoke with JW and Melissa Buchanan of The Little Friends of Printmaking about the travails of their adopted beast, the unfortunate Hundred-Handed Giant.

Kara Luger: How did you choose which beast to do?
The Little Friends of Printmaking: We picked it from a big long list. It was like a nine-page document with little descriptions. We tried to read it and respond as fast as possible because we felt like it was a race. Stephan Britt had already taken the troll, so we were like, "Oh, snap."

I think it's a good way to get artists to participate in a book: to create competitive pandemonium, and to have them fight to the death over who gets to doodle a Bigfoot.

KL: What did you find attractive or interesting about the Hundred-Handed Giant?

LFOP: We narrowed it down to about five different monsters, but we ended up choosing the Hundred-Handed Giant because it would be the most fun to draw. We read somewhere that they were kind of stupid, which is endearing.

KL: Your beast doesn't seem as fearsome as he is misunderstood.
LFOP: I think that he's a functional illiterate and he has a hard time controlling his rage. The existence of the Internet is an enormous insult to him because he can't read it. Also, he can't go to the movies because he is always naked. So definitely, he's misunderstood.

KL: The beasts in the book are typically mythological/folkloric in nature (i.e. non-modern). What is a modern beast you'd like to portray?
LFOP: We really want to do a drawing of a labradoodle, which is half-lion, half-suicide bomber and covered in sh*t.

KL: What's on the horizon for Little Friends?
LFOP: The sweet embrace of death. For you Chicago people, we're going to be in We're Rollin',They're Hatin', a show during VersionFest7 that also features the likes of Cody Hudson and Paper Rad. Otherwise, some toys and the usual.

- Alice Maggio

Profiles Tue Jan 23 2007

Interview with Jeffrey Brown

And, speaking of local comics artists, The Pulse has a quick interview with Jeffrey Brown about his forthcoming collection, Feeble Attempts.

- Alice Maggio

Profiles Thu Jul 27 2006

Elizabeth Crane

GB's own John Hospodka has three questions for local author Elizabeth Crane today in Airbags.

- Alice Maggio

Profiles Wed Jul 26 2006

Gruen Interview at Powells

Author Sara Gruen may be a native Canadian, but she currently resides in Chicago's northwest suburbs. She has been getting lots of attention for her newest book, Water for Elephants (Algonquin Books, 2006), a love story set in a circus during the Depression. Dave Weich recently spoke with the author, and you can read the full interview at Powells.com. NPR also featured the novel in its "Summer Reading 2006" feature where you can read an excerpt from the book.

- Alice Maggio

Profiles Thu Jul 20 2006

But Who's Going to Write the Slash?

The Sun-Times has a nice little article on local author Mark Richard Zubro whose mystery series leaves little to the imagination. At least, in terms of his detectives' sexual orientations, that is. Zubro's latest book is the 11th in his series and while his gay male leading detectives are more than just partners in crime, the first book in the series was picked up without rejection. The question you have to wonder is how prevalent this is becoming in other genres and how many rejections it'll take before these start appearing on the big screen.

- Veronica Bond