Ink of a Different Kind

As a printmaker and book artist, most of the ink that I write about here is rubber-based letterpress ink or the lovely inky smell of books freshly returned from the press. Not today!

This is my new tattoo, courtesy of the very talented Jason Longtin at Deluxe Tattoo in Chicago. I introduce Pallas Athena, the patron of heroic endeavors, the symbol of wisdom in battle, of knowing when to fight the right fight and how to fight it well. Not blind peace, not blind warfare, but justice. She is the symbol of inspiration (she did, after all, emerge from Zeus's head fully formed) and mechanical arts and crafts; as a printmaker and artist, this delights me. She is a feminine symbol of physical strength; as an amateur power lifter and very literal-minded feminist, this delights me.  She is closely associated with the owl; I tip my hat to Chicago with the owl image. This is the owl from the State Street facade of the Harold Washington Library in the loop. Chicago, where I came to embrace my path as an artist. Chicago, where I became more confident in my skin, where I learned (again and again) when to fight the right fight and how to fight it well.

This is Athena, the "martial maid" who prompted Zeus in an argument to say "Great Polypheme, of more than mortal might? Him young Thousa bore (the bright increase of Phorcys, dreaded in the sounds and seas)..."

Also, loaded symbolic meaning aside, I think it is beautiful.

It is not quite finished--shading will take another sitting--but I'm too excited to wait until then to share.

I debated posting about the new ink here as it does not seem directly related to my practice, but it is: it is an arm guard about my artistic practice. Always facing forward: sing, goddess, the rage.

Summer Round-Up

It has finally happened: the high temperatures later this week will dip in to the upper 50s, pumpkin-flavored everythings are available with irritating regularity at coffee shops and bakeries city wide, and citizens everywhere are discovering orphaned gloves and single cough losenges in newly aired-out jackets. Summer is over and fall is settling in!

We here at Monkey-Rope Press are settling back into a long-overdue work flow after a heartily enjoyed summer hiaitus, but that's not to say that we've been without news:

• Earlier this month, Chicagoist and Gapers Block picked up on our CTA Announcement print series. Any and all publicity that hilariously modulated voice acting can get, the happier we are! 
• The first chapter of Monkey-Rope Press's first graphic novel, In the Sounds and Seas, is now available at both Quimby's here in Chicago and at Comix Revolution in Evanston. If those are too local for you, the book is also available on our etsy store.
• Last but by no means least, we printed wedding invitations for beloved pals, fellow nerds and sociology PhD candidates this summer. I offered to print their invitation before I knew what they wanted, and couldn't have been more tickled or excited by their idea. Who needs cherry blossoms and cursive script when you can have gigantic robots destroying the Las Vegas strip?

This brown, cream and metalic-bronze linoleum block print was printed on Cream Cordtone Speckletone French Paper on a Vandercook 4 proof press at Evanston Print and Paper Shop. Unfortunately, Las Vegas was not damaged in the production of this print.

Looking forward into the coming layering seasons, we look forward to adding new prints to our shop page, publishing small experimental comics and settling into Chapter 2 of In the Sounds and Seas. Now it's time to put on a kettle for tea and settle in to business. Happy autumn, one and all!

Renegade Holiday Sale

This Saturday and Sunday, Monkey-Rope Press will be joining Slow Industries & Starshaped Press in a very festive, slightly snarky, hand-set-type-heavy booth at the Chicago Renegade Holiday Sale. We had a blast at the September festival; we hope to see you there!