One of my goals when founding my little press/design studio Ghost Rabbit, was to explore some of the ways poetry is presented. As a graphic designer and visual artist, I kept finding that poetry so often just dies on the page, that we're still presenting poetry as very dry, very static words on a page. I understand the need for the content to stand on it's own, and to be good work; however, we live in a visual, wired world. The visual language of how words work on a page/screen are hard wired into our brains as we use different technologies. In short, small black letters crawling neatly across an off white page like so many trained ants just doesn't work anymore.
So, the first volume of PIC for Ghost Rabbit is actually fairly simple. I only came up with one definite rule -- no typesetting. This volume will have nothing typed, no fonts, kerning, nada. You may well ask then how do you publish a volume of poetry with no typing - well get creative.
The title has a bit of a double meaning, PIC as in the common media term for picture, and Poetry in Context. This is in effect a photography/poetry collaboration. We're looking for conceptual visual uses of words and poetry.
For example: Have a piece on transience? why not write it in the condensation of your shower door? A comment on commercial beauty? - maybe lipstick on a nightclub mirror. A satire on traditional values? needlepoint?
That's the challenge, present the work in a way that enhances and communicates the piece effectively.
In brainstorming with friends a few things came up.
1) You can take the photograph, or work with a photographer friend as a collaboration.
2) There really are no limits on length but the final pages are approximately 8.5 x 11, so think about legibility. Short and sweet is probably the way to go.
3) It doesn't have to be a single photograph, but still needs to fit on the 8.5 x 11 page. You will be presenting a single image, but you can assemble many images into one work.
4) No Photoshop, sorry, for this exercise we wanted to keep it pure. However, definitely be creative with lighting and filters.
5) Color, we encourage use of color, the final magazine will be full color. If you absolutely feel the piece has to be in moody B&W, I'll pout but consider it.
6) Deadline: August 1st. Send images as at least 300 dpi images at 8.5 x 11. Send up to 3 submissions, we will take up to two per poet. If you feel really strongly that you have a strong double spread piece, that will count as two works.
7) The final piece will be avaialbe on magcloud, I will get a free copy to every contributor.
