Difference between revisions of "Microcosm Publishing"

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[[Image:microcosm.gif|frame|Microcosm Publishing logo]]
 
[[Image:microcosm.gif|frame|Microcosm Publishing logo]]
  
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'''Microcosm Publishing''' is an independent publisher and distributor based out of [[Portland]], OR and [[Bloomington]], IN that distributes [[Zine|zine]]s, books, [[Pamphleteer|pamphlet]]s, stickers, 1" buttons, canvas patches, posters, t-shirts, films, and more. The focus is on publishing zines and books in the hopes that it will add credibility to zine writers and their ethics. Titles attempt to teach self-empowerment to disenfranchised people and to nurture their creative side.  
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{{refimprove|date=June 2010}}
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'''Microcosm Publishing''' is an independent [[publisher]] and [[distributor]] based in [[Portland, Oregon]] and [[Leavenworth, Kansas]]. They distribute ideas through [[zine]]s, [[book]]s, [[pamphlet]]s, [[sticker]]s, [[button]]s, [[Shoulder patch|patch]]es, [[t-shirt]]s, [[poster]]s, [[video]]s, and more. They publish [[zine]] and book works by others in the hopes that it will add credibility to zine writers and their ethics. Their titles attempt to teach [[self empowerment]] to disenfranchised people and to nurture their creative side. Current staff includes Rio Safari, Joe Biel, Nate Beaty, Jessie Duquette, [[Adam Gnade]], Nate Beaty, Danielle Duquette, and Matt Gauck.
  
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== History ==
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==History==
 +
Beginning in 1996 with only [[Joe Biel]] doing part time [[mail order]] out of a bedroom in [[Cleveland, Ohio]], Microcosm moved to Portland, OR in 1999. The operation grew significantly over the years, and in March 2007 moved its mail order operation to [[Bloomington, Indiana]].<ref>[http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ToEVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nPADAAAAIBAJ&pg=4770,3833181&dq=microcosm-publishing&hl=en "Rents up, so 'weird' businesses pull out"], ''[[Eugene Register-Guard]]'', March 17, 2007.</ref><ref>[http://www.heraldtimesonline.com/stories/2007/07/01/column.qp-9306323.sto "Small publisher says bye-bye Portland and hello Bloomington"],  ''[[The Herald-Times]]'' ([[Bloomington, Indiana]]), July 1, 2007 (pay site).</ref><ref>Scott Moore, [http://www.portlandmercury.com/books/microcosm-publishing-moving-to-indiana/Content?oid=273558 "Microcosm Publishing Moving to Indiana"], ''[[The Portland Mercury]]'', March 8, 2007.</ref>
  
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Microcosm Publishing began in 1996 when self-described "hippie pretending to be post-punk" [[Joe Biel]] started the distro and then-record-label as a part-time mailorder out of his bedroom in Cleveland, Ohio. Since then, many Microcosm employees have come and gone, including [[Brainscan]] editor [[Alex Wrekk]], who occasionally helped out for four years before being hired in 2003. She left in 2006, due to personal reasons. The operation has grown significantly over the years and, as of March of 2007, moved its mailorder operation to Bloomington, Indiana. In September 2008, they opened a Portland store at 833 SE Main #107.  
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In 2006, the ''[[Utne Reader]]'' described Microcosm as an "esteemed Portland, Oregon-based publisher and distributor of zines, books, pamphlets, DVDs, and other fun stuff."<ref>[http://www.utne.com/2006-10-01/FromtheStacksOctober272006.aspx "From the Stacks"], ''[[Utne Reader]]'', October 27, 2006.</ref> Microcosm is heralded in the zine community as an entity that, for better or worse, has brought zines into a larger consciousness in the new millennium, after former mainstream interest has largely subsided. They are responsible for many of the recent zine/book hybrid [[aesthetics]] and zines that have fancier covers or design aesthetics such as multiple color screenprints, letterpress, or offset printing. {{Fact|date=December 2007}} There is a particular focus towards images and artwork celebrating bicycles and radical politics. Many of the items offered are not available easily elsewhere on the web or otherwise.{{Fact|date=June 2010}}
  
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There is a particular focus towards images and artwork celebrating bicycles, [[DIY|DIY ethics]], and radical politics. Many of the items offered are not available easily elsewhere on the web or otherwise.
+
Incorporating the tactics of early punk record labels and a [[DIY]] approach, Microcosm uses guerrilla styled tactics for promoting their titles unlike most publishers of equal size. They rarely purchase advertising, and rely more heavily on the people who appreciate their craft independently passing out their catalogs in their respective towns. {{Fact|date=December 2007}}
  
−
Microcosm is heralded in the zine community as an entity that, for better or worse, has brought zines into a larger consciousness in the new millennium, after former mainstream interest has largely subsided. They are also responsible for many of the recent zine/book hybrid aesthetics and zines that have fancier covers or design aesthetics such as multiple color screenprints, letterpress, or offset printing.
+
In September 2008, Microcosm opened a new retail store in the [[Buckman, Portland, Oregon|Buckman]] neighborhood of [[Neighborhoods of Portland, Oregon#Southeast|southeast Portland]]. There was a noticeable shift in the type of reading material offered, since most stock is "hurts" and "remainders" sold at half retail price or less.<ref>Alison Hallett, [http://www.portlandmercury.com/books/microcosm-comes-home/Content?oid=924723 "Microcosm Comes Home: Microcosm Publishing opens a new Portland storefront"], ''[[The Portland Mercury]]'', October 23, 2008.</ref> In May 2010 the store grew for a third time and moved in with Printed Matter Screenprinting and Eberhardt Press in a new building in southeast Portland at 636 SE 11th Ave.
  
−
Incorporating the tactics of early [[punk]] record labels and a very DIY approach, Microcosm uses tactics that are more guerilla styled for promoting their titles than most publishers of equal size. They rarely purchase advertising, and rely more heavily on the people who appreciate their craft independently passing out their catalogs in their respective towns.
+
In July 2011, Microcosm closed its Bloomington, Indiana office and opened a new distro/mailorder location in Lansing, Kansas.<ref>http://microcosmpublishing.com/blogifesto/2011/07/country-grammar-a-microcosm-publishing-kansas-staff-diary-1</ref> One month later, Lansing staffer Jessie Duquette (aka "Jessie Duke"), an employee since 2006, became co-owner of Microcosm.<ref>http://microcosmpublishing.com/about</ref>
  
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Microcosm is sometimes equated as the "Wal Mart of Zines" due to the vast selection and customer service that it offers. Due to Wal Mart's poor human rights record and complete inability to build a decent public image for themselves - Microcosm would probably be more accurately called "The Target of Zines", although a few former employees have no problem with the Wal Mart association.
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For nearly sixteen years, Microcosm has remained truly independent of any outside management or funding and has suffered the corresponding financial hardships. Management decisions are made internally in meetings where full time staff collective members have an equal vote. <ref>http://www.sheepless.org/magazine/features/microcosm-publishing-pairs-do-it-yourself-aesthetic-do-it-together-ethic</ref>
  
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Microcosm offered custom buttons as a service from 1998-2006. Custom stickers were also offered from 2001-2006. Custom patches and t-shirt printing was also offered briefly in 2002-2003.
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Microcosm Publishing was formerly a record label, and released records by [[Flotation Walls]], [[An Albatross|Bedford]], Organic, [[Cripple Kid]], The Unknown, The Roswells, Little Dipper, Rock, Star.
  
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Microcosm Publishing was formerly a record label, and released records by Flotation Walls, Bedford, Organic, Cripple Kid, The Unknown, The Roswells, Little Dipper, Rock, Star.
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==Books , Videos, and Zines==
 +
Published Titles include:
 +
{{col-begin}}
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{{col-break}}
  
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Currently Microcosm has picked up it's largest publishing schedule ever - managing about a dozen publishing projects at any given time - including rebirthing the 2007 Zine Yearbook.
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*''Things are Meaning Less''
 +
*''Make Your Place: Affordable, sustainable nesting skills
 +
*''Flow Chronicles''
 +
*''Stolen Sharpie Revolution''
 +
*''On Subbing''
 +
*''Brainscan''
 +
*''The CIA Makes Science Fiction Unexciting''
 +
*''$100 & A T-Shirt''
 +
*''Applicant''
 +
*''Green Zine''
 +
*''Journalsong''
 +
*''Secret Files of Cap'n Sissy''
 +
*''Hot Damn & Hell Yeah / Dirty South''
 +
{{col-break}}
 +
*''Xtra Tuf''
 +
*''Support Zine''
 +
*''Doris anthology''
 +
*''Making Stuff and Doing Things''
 +
*''Indestructible''
 +
*''Sounds of Your Name''
 +
*''Please Don't Feed the Bears''
 +
*''Cantankerous Titles & Obscure Ephemera''
 +
*''Zinester's Guide to Portland''
 +
*''Dreamwhip''
 +
*''Perfect Mix Tape Segue''
 +
{{col-break}}
 +
*''Homeland Insecurity''
 +
*''Coffeeshop Crushes''
 +
*''Snakepit: My Life in a Jugular Vein''
 +
*''Bipedal, By Pedal''
 +
*''Invincible Summer: An Anthology''
 +
*''Invincible Summer: An Anthology, Vol II''
 +
*''[[My Brain Hurts (comic)|My Brain Hurts]] #1-5''
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*''DIY Screenprinting #1-3''
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*''Distance Makes The Heart Grow Sick''
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*''Constant Rider Omnibus''
 +
*''Chainbreaker Bike Book''
 +
*''I Hate This Part of Texas #7 / Keep Loving, Keep Fighting #7''
 +
*''Still We Ride''
 +
*''X Ray Visions''
 +
*''Welcome to the Dahl House''
 +
*''Mostly True''
 +
*''Dwelling Portably '80-89''
 +
*''Brainfag Forever''
 +
*''Make a Zine''
 +
*''Notes from Underground''
 +
*''Zine Yearbook #9''
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{{col-end}}
  
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Decisions at Microcosm are made as a group by current staffing employees. Current staff includes Adam Gnade, Matt Gauck, Jessie Duke, E Chris Lynch, Sparky Taylor, Steven Stothard, Nate Beaty, and Joe Biel.
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==References==
 +
{{Reflist}}
  
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== Projects ==
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===Bibliography===
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*{{cite journal |last1=Reid |first1=Calvin |date= November 25, 2011|title= The ‘Underground’ Drives Sales at Microcosm |journal=''[[Publishers Weekly]]'' |publisher= |doi= |url= http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/49638-the--underground--drives-sales-at-microcosm.html|accessdate=December 1, 2011 }}
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==External links==
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*[http://www.microcosmpublishing.com Official Site]
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*[http://microcosmpdx.tumblr.com Blog for Portland storefront]
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[[Category:Small press publishers|Microcosm Publishing]]
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[[Category:Book publishing companies of Oregon]]
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[[Category:Companies based in Portland, Oregon]]
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[[Category:Privately held companies based in Oregon]]
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[[Category:Publishing companies established in 1996]]
  
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* [[Chainbreaker]] Bike Book
 
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* [[I Hate This Part of Texas]] / [[Keep Loving Keep Fighting]]
 
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* [[Mostly True]]: The Story of Bozo Texino
 
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* [[$100 & A T-Shirt]]
 
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* [[Making Stuff & Doing Things]]
 
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* [[On Subbing]]
 
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* [[We'll Never Have Paris]] #4
 
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* [[Stolen Sharpie Revolution]]
 
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* [[Flow Chronicles]]
 
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* [[The CIA Makes Science Fiction Unexciting]]
 
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* [[Brainscan]] #19 and 20
 
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* [[Things are Meaning Less]]
 
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* [[Xtra Tuf]] #5
 
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* [[Coffeeshop Crushes]]
 
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* [[Homeland Insecurity]]
 
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* [[Invincible Summer]] Anthology
 
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* [[My Brain Hurts]] #1-5 Collection
 
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* [[Distance Makes The Heart Grow Sick]]
 
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* [[The Constant Rider]] Omnibus (Second Edition)
 
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* [[DIY Screenprinting]]
 
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* [[Bipedal, By Pedal]]
 
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* [[Snakepit|Snakepit 2: My Life in a Jugular Vein]]
 
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* [[Secret Files of Cap'n Sissy]]
 
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* [[I Hate This Part of Texas]]
 
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* [[Dreamwhip]] #14
 
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* [[Doris]] Anthology 1991-2001, #23
 
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* [[Support]]
 
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* [[Cantankerous]] Titles & Obscure Ephemera, Vol 1 DVD
 
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* [[Green Zine]] #14
 
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* [[Indestructible]]
 
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* [[Best of Intentions]]
 
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* [[You Can Work Any 100 Hours Per Week You Want (In Your Underwear!!)]]
 
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* [[Applicant]]
 
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* [[Please Don't Feed the Bears]]
 
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* [[Sounds of Your Name]]
 
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* [[Hot Damn & Hell Yeah]]/[[Dirty South]]
 
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* [[Journalsong]]
 
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* [[The Zinester's Guide to Portland]]
 
  
 
== External Link ==
 
== External Link ==

Revision as of 18:47, 6 February 2012

File:Microcosm.gif
Microcosm Publishing logo

Template:Refimprove Microcosm Publishing is an independent publisher and distributor based in Portland, Oregon and Leavenworth, Kansas. They distribute ideas through zines, books, pamphlets, stickers, buttons, patches, t-shirts, posters, videos, and more. They publish zine and book works by others in the hopes that it will add credibility to zine writers and their ethics. Their titles attempt to teach self empowerment to disenfranchised people and to nurture their creative side. Current staff includes Rio Safari, Joe Biel, Nate Beaty, Jessie Duquette, Adam Gnade, Nate Beaty, Danielle Duquette, and Matt Gauck.

History

Beginning in 1996 with only Joe Biel doing part time mail order out of a bedroom in Cleveland, Ohio, Microcosm moved to Portland, OR in 1999. The operation grew significantly over the years, and in March 2007 moved its mail order operation to Bloomington, Indiana.<ref>"Rents up, so 'weird' businesses pull out", Eugene Register-Guard, March 17, 2007.</ref><ref>"Small publisher says bye-bye Portland and hello Bloomington", The Herald-Times (Bloomington, Indiana), July 1, 2007 (pay site).</ref><ref>Scott Moore, "Microcosm Publishing Moving to Indiana", The Portland Mercury, March 8, 2007.</ref>

In 2006, the Utne Reader described Microcosm as an "esteemed Portland, Oregon-based publisher and distributor of zines, books, pamphlets, DVDs, and other fun stuff."<ref>"From the Stacks", Utne Reader, October 27, 2006.</ref> Microcosm is heralded in the zine community as an entity that, for better or worse, has brought zines into a larger consciousness in the new millennium, after former mainstream interest has largely subsided. They are responsible for many of the recent zine/book hybrid aesthetics and zines that have fancier covers or design aesthetics such as multiple color screenprints, letterpress, or offset printing. Template:Fact There is a particular focus towards images and artwork celebrating bicycles and radical politics. Many of the items offered are not available easily elsewhere on the web or otherwise.Template:Fact

Incorporating the tactics of early punk record labels and a DIY approach, Microcosm uses guerrilla styled tactics for promoting their titles unlike most publishers of equal size. They rarely purchase advertising, and rely more heavily on the people who appreciate their craft independently passing out their catalogs in their respective towns. Template:Fact

In September 2008, Microcosm opened a new retail store in the Buckman neighborhood of southeast Portland. There was a noticeable shift in the type of reading material offered, since most stock is "hurts" and "remainders" sold at half retail price or less.<ref>Alison Hallett, "Microcosm Comes Home: Microcosm Publishing opens a new Portland storefront", The Portland Mercury, October 23, 2008.</ref> In May 2010 the store grew for a third time and moved in with Printed Matter Screenprinting and Eberhardt Press in a new building in southeast Portland at 636 SE 11th Ave.

In July 2011, Microcosm closed its Bloomington, Indiana office and opened a new distro/mailorder location in Lansing, Kansas.<ref>http://microcosmpublishing.com/blogifesto/2011/07/country-grammar-a-microcosm-publishing-kansas-staff-diary-1</ref> One month later, Lansing staffer Jessie Duquette (aka "Jessie Duke"), an employee since 2006, became co-owner of Microcosm.<ref>http://microcosmpublishing.com/about</ref>

For nearly sixteen years, Microcosm has remained truly independent of any outside management or funding and has suffered the corresponding financial hardships. Management decisions are made internally in meetings where full time staff collective members have an equal vote. <ref>http://www.sheepless.org/magazine/features/microcosm-publishing-pairs-do-it-yourself-aesthetic-do-it-together-ethic</ref>

Microcosm Publishing was formerly a record label, and released records by Flotation Walls, Bedford, Organic, Cripple Kid, The Unknown, The Roswells, Little Dipper, Rock, Star.

Books , Videos, and Zines

Published Titles include: Template:Col-begin Template:Col-break

  • Things are Meaning Less
  • Make Your Place: Affordable, sustainable nesting skills
  • Flow Chronicles
  • Stolen Sharpie Revolution
  • On Subbing
  • Brainscan
  • The CIA Makes Science Fiction Unexciting
  • $100 & A T-Shirt
  • Applicant
  • Green Zine
  • Journalsong
  • Secret Files of Cap'n Sissy
  • Hot Damn & Hell Yeah / Dirty South

Template:Col-break

  • Xtra Tuf
  • Support Zine
  • Doris anthology
  • Making Stuff and Doing Things
  • Indestructible
  • Sounds of Your Name
  • Please Don't Feed the Bears
  • Cantankerous Titles & Obscure Ephemera
  • Zinester's Guide to Portland
  • Dreamwhip
  • Perfect Mix Tape Segue

Template:Col-break

  • Homeland Insecurity
  • Coffeeshop Crushes
  • Snakepit: My Life in a Jugular Vein
  • Bipedal, By Pedal
  • Invincible Summer: An Anthology
  • Invincible Summer: An Anthology, Vol II
  • My Brain Hurts #1-5
  • DIY Screenprinting #1-3
  • Distance Makes The Heart Grow Sick
  • Constant Rider Omnibus
  • Chainbreaker Bike Book
  • I Hate This Part of Texas #7 / Keep Loving, Keep Fighting #7
  • Still We Ride
  • X Ray Visions
  • Welcome to the Dahl House
  • Mostly True
  • Dwelling Portably '80-89
  • Brainfag Forever
  • Make a Zine
  • Notes from Underground
  • Zine Yearbook #9

Template:Col-end

References

Please delete. Was copy of reflist template at wikipedia, but part of result is error "Unknown extension tag "references"".

Bibliography

External links


External Link

Microcosm Publishing website

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