Lunarly Speaking in 2010

by Mike Koppa — last modified 2010-08-09 16:34

This is a quarterly studio update. I used to try to show off some out-of-the-box thinking here (the archive below); now I use this space to give an objective report on what's happening at or around The Heavy Duty Press.

BUCK MOON

The inaugural The Lorem Ipsum Vintage Motorcycle Rally was widely considered a success. We're looking forward to next year, with the possibility of expanding the event with overnight camping in Romance, Wisconsin. Thanks to everyone who rode in to kick off this new driftless annual tradition!

Speaking of traditions, our family vacation to northern Wisconsin, where we live in a tent for seven days, just keeps getting better. A few years ago, after a lifetime of fishing and waterskiing up there, I realized that I should use my vacation for doing the things I like best, but don't have time to do during the rest of the year—things like making collages! I think making collages on vacation has just become another tradition.

We had a really nice visit with Peter and Donna Thomas, the blogging traveling-gypsy-book-artist-duo from Santa Cruz, California. During their visit, they stopped by Driftless Books to record a few book-related tunes featuring Peter on ukelele—"What's a Book?" and "Bookbinding Time in Georgia" (accompanied by Tim Foss on fiddle).

Another very exciting videographic production from The Heavy Duty Press, Mr Koppa Drinks a Zucchini, has also been posted on YouTube for your entertainment.

And lastly, I was diagnosed with Lyme Disease in May. It's good and bad news. Nobody wants to have Lyme Disease, but it's nice to know I'm not just "getting old." I've been through one round of antibiotics, and now I'm on a handful of herbal supplements. I might document my experience on the web some time down the road, but for now, I've decided to just share what I'm doing about it.

PINK MOON

Over the past few moons I've been putting a lot of time into the Forgotten Works Warehouse, a 100-year-old tobacco building in Viroqua, Wisconsin, recently acquired by Mr Eddy Nix, proprietor of Driftless Books. The open-to-the-public retail space is on the ground floor. Mr Nix, myself, and Mr Tim Foss (piano serivce, etc.) have office/studio space on the second floor. Together, with whomever else joins the team, we believe we have what it takes to create the Midwest Center for Slow Media. Somewhere there is a light at the end of this tunnel. It's been a good trip so far, with the primary focus on the bookstore.

Here are a few more photographs from inside Driftless Books. Come visit some time. If you need to google-map it, we're at 518 Walnut Street, Viroqua, Wisconsin, 608-638-BOOK. Open Tuesday-Saturday, 11-7 (sometimes 8) and Sundays noon-4.

As of now, I am offering custom picture framing service (Sundays and by appointment) out of the bookstore. I intend to move the printing press into my studio space and print something before the end of the year.

And yes, Forgotten Works is a reference to Brautigan's book.

Collage Club project is near completion. I haven't seen any postcards in the mail in a while. Still not sure how we'll bind them, if we'll bind them, but will probably wrap up by the end of the year. Maybe even an exhibit at the Forgotten Works.

Also might finally schedule and host Bookdrift at the Forgotten Works in September, but no promises yet.

And finally, if you're in the Beaver Dam area, some of my collages are included in an exhibit titled "Hello Again, Recycled Art" through June 13 at the Sieppel Homestead.

WOLF MOON

Still making progress on 80 collaborative collages with Lisa Chun, Brian Mishoe, and Lynne Mori. Probably going to make them all into one big book.

Invited to two exhibits recently, one in Richland Center at an old folk's home and another in Beaver Dam. Will fill out applications and participate if it all works out that way.

Crux project is back on the back burner because...

...as noted on the front page, I am very busy planning for the move of ALL my studio equipment (including printing press and collage/framing table and accessories and materials and quite possibly this God-forsaken computer) into the Forgotten Works warehouse in Viroqua.

Home improvements remain in progress.

Lots to do plus the anxiety to comes with it. Therefore I need to work more than I need to advertise. For that reason I'm putting about this much effort into this website so I can get on with it.

If you are interested in more regular updates from The Heavy Duty Press, there's always the ol' Facebook page, of which you could become a fan.

The Heavy Duty Press

Sections

Personal tools

Lunarly Speaking in 2010

Archive