Upcoming Book, Upcoming Tour!

I've finally begun the next stage of work on a book that Microcosm Publishing asked Justseeds to produce this year. I'll be co-editing and wrangling the book with Detroit-based artist and puppeteer Bec Young: I'm handling the text editing and research, while Bec is pulling together all of the graphics and layout. The book (which we are currently seeking a catchy title for) will be something of a primer on radical social justice activists from the Americas, a quick and dirty run through some 80 people you likely didn't learn about in high school. Aimed at "young adults", the book will feature illustrations (which are already looking amazing) by Justseeds artists alongside short summaries of who these people were/are, what they did, and suggestions for further reading. I'm very excited about this project coming together - a couple months back Joe Biel (Microcosm co-founder and organizer) and I had an invigorating conversation about the small, cheap books and zines that had a hand in radicalizing us in our teens, and I'm looking forward to creating a similar "tool" of inspiration for future generations! It's looking like the book will be out this fall, currently I can be found fact-checking research for it at the library.

Speaking of Justseeds, Milwaukee-based artist (and new dad) Brandon Bauer has just started an interview blog. If you have time, check out an online interview with a few folks from Justseeds that he just posted last week. Right out of the gate you can find a healthy smattering of some of the rampant sarcasm we traffic in when we're not being super-serious about political graphics...

Also, in June I will be headed South for a week on the road with filmmaker, creative multi-tasker and all-around charmer Bill Daniel. Besides some general errand running and taking of photos of strange things in Texas, Bill will be screening his beautiful quest of a documentary "Who is Bozo Texino?" at several venues, and I will be looking to stick more coyote tracks into the ground in cities I've never spent much time in (perhaps doing brief presentations on the subject before each screening?). More on that scheme as the tour solidifies...