The rise of the small-press is upon us and resources are bountiful for the creative-driven enterprise that wants to focus on new methods of presenting poetry. I’m always on the look-out for presses that explore the use of image and poetry together in a provocative way, such as the strange and undefinable new press: WONDER. Self-proclaimed publishers of “artists books, ephemera, pamphlets, and glossies,” and edited by Ben Fama and Andrew Durbin, their first book Mall Witch (Ben Fama, 2012) is a refreshing and complex collection of poems, that looks like an inversion of internet publishing/print books/art catalogue.
And right now they are having their first annual book prize for a full-length collection, in a contest judged by poet Macgregor Card. (open until may 15! Submit now!)
The tumblr site for Wonder is an intricate part of their oeuvre--featuring the likes of Kevin Killian, Cecilia Corrigan, James Yeh, Thom Donovan, and Hildebrand Pam Dick. Forthcoming is a four-part text by Insert Blanc Press editor Mathew Timmons, an LA-based publisher of Joseph Mosconi, Kate Durbin, Vanessa Place, Harold Abramovitz, and others.
I’ve found Wonder to be shrouded in a light pink air of mystery. It’s truly exciting to see what unfolds. Not the least, their strange and wonderful Crush parties (which were called "the first pure works of Poetry 2.0" here.) This summer they will be throwing a final “summer ball” for the publishing organization CLMP called SUMMER CRUSH. Friday, June 7 at La Sala in Williamsburg. There'll be a cocktail hour reading featuring Rob Fitterman, Wonder-muse Kate Durbin, Max Steele, and more authors TBA. After that, there'll be a big dance party.
So what is a Crush party? The editors ask people to send them the name of their secret crush, which they then post on a website….(it’s thrilling--maybe creepy--if you see your name up there). People can start sending their crush, to their brazenly named email account: [email protected], but the site won't go live for a few more weeks. As this is the final installment of our Crush Party series, it’s really something special, and most of all, it’s something very fun and playful. Which is something we all need. The parties themselves have been legendary (move over Mme Verdurin!) often making pamphlets or beautiful cards to have at the event, including one titled ♥ This Will End In Tears ♥.
Someone better submit my name…
Bianca Stone is a poet and visual artist. She is the author of the poetry collections Someone Else’s...
Read Full Biography