Happy Birthday, Shigeyoshi and Shizuko

from the February 5, 1934 Seattle Post-Intelligence, "School Claims Twin Record with 11 Pairs" Shig and Shiz are at the very bottom, ten years old (bless their cotton socks!)

day of infamy

My 84 and a half year old friend (and former JA internee), Kiku, called last night to talk to me about my use of the word "internment camp" instead of "concentration camp" in my lecture at the library. I can see the argument either way, but have yet to be totally convinced to the use of concentration camp. Anyone up to swaying me either direction?

The library display I curated of Japanese American resources at the Olin Library, Mills College, is up now. I need to go by one more time to fuss with the signage, but by in large, I am happy with what I pulled together with the help of librarian Nancy McKay.

Shig! lecture at the San Francisco Main Public Library

 "No, I'm not a Chinese-American. I'm an American Eskimo." Hastily departed matron from Duluth: "How interesting!" Furious deadbeat, after having been turned out of City Lights Bookstore for bothering everybody by spare-changing, "Who that fat Chinaman think he is anyway?" 

This large, thick, imposing person of the small feet, the spiky black beard like a fence around his aloofness, he of the aplomb, this is Shigeyoshi Murao, known far and wide as "Shig". He is manager and part-owner, with Lawrence Ferlinghetti, of the bookstore; he has been there from the beginning."

— from Common Soldiers by Janet Richards

the 2009 calendars are here!

At long long last, I have crawled out from under my annual private letterpress hibernation and emerged with the 2009 "Edges of Bounty" letterpress linoleum calendar. The entire project is based on a miraculous book entitled "Edges of Bounty" that was published earlier this year by Heyday Books, written by William Emery, featuring the magnificent photographs of Scott Squire.

It is a California Central Valley, food themed calendar with thirteen original linoleum blocks, printed on delectable Canson papers in delectable hues. All quotations throughout the calendar are borrowed liberally from William's essays, set in Bell MT typeface, which were printed from polymer plates. Calendars are $45 each; $3 per calendar for shipping. 8" x 12.5" trim size, limited edition of 100 calendars.

Hoorah! Hoorah! Hoorah!

I will be tabling at a few holiday fairs over the next few weeks, selling calendars in person:

21 Grand/Art Murmur in Downtown Oakland:

Friday December 5th, 7-10 p.m.

San Francisco Center for the Book Holiday Fair

Friday (6-8) and Saturday (12-5), December 12th

Root Division Holiday Fair

Saturday, December 12th, 7-10 p.m.

Or just get in touch- I can swaddle up these muffins in no time and deliver them piping hot to your very own door!