Month: April 2011

Goosed!

Tacoma Wayzgoose 2011 photo by Chandler O'Leary

Holy flying gaggles, but we upped the ante this year!

Tacoma Wayzgoose 2011 photo by Chandler O'Leary

I don’t know if it was the gorgeous sunshine that graced us after literally months of dreary rain—

Tacoma Wayzgoose 2011 photo by Chandler O'Leary

—or Sweet Pea’s extra-awesome 2011 poncho—

Tacoma Wayzgoose 2011 photo by Chandler O'Leary

but this year’s Wayzgoose was larger than life.

(In case you’re curious, that little Sigwalt press is inked up to print “I got goosed in Tacoma!” in an eye-frying safety orange that would make any Ducks Geese Unlimited hunter proud. I mean, come on—we have standards. This is some high-brow entertainment here.)

Anyway, speaking of geese…

"Loosey Goosey" steamroller print by Chandler O'Leary and Jessica Spring

Ta-daaaa!

As you can see, we took our little Dead Feminists theme somewhat loosely this time. And in fact, we’ve dubbed our print Lucy Goosey, so there! There is a bit of a story behind this one, though. We’ve been equal parts amused and annoyed by the recent crafty and pop-cultural trends involving moustaches and putting birds on things—and for months I’ve been threatening to put a moustache on a bird on something, just to prove a point. I don’t know what that point is, exactly, but I figured it was time to put my moustache where my mouth is.

Which reminds me:

Jessica Spring and Chandler O'Leary at Tacoma Wayzgoose 2011

we weren’t kidding about the ‘stache wax. Hey, if you’re going to go, go all out.

Tacoma Wayzgoose 2011 photo by Chandler O'Leary

Jessica seemed perfectly at home while operating heavy machinery and sporting a full-on Wilford Brimley look—

Process photo of "Lucy Goosey" steamroller print by Chandler O'Leary and Jessica Spring

I mostly just looked like Ned Flanders. Good God, but that mustache looks real on me. Sheesh!

Process photo of "Lucy Goosey" steamroller print by Chandler O'Leary and Jessica Spring

That’s okay, though—synchronized inking is serious business, and we don’t mess around.

Process photo of "Lucy Goosey" steamroller print by Chandler O'Leary and Jessica Spring

Many, many thanks to all the supporters, enthusiasts and volunteers who turned out in droves; to Katy Meegan and Mary Holste for snapping ‘stache shots for us;

"Lucy Goosey" steamroller print by Chandler O'Leary and Jessica Spring

to King’s for being the host with the most;

Process photo of "Lucy Goosey" steamroller print by Chandler O'Leary and Jessica Spring

and to the Tacoma Arts Commission for sponsoring our steamroller shenanigans.

So … tell me.

Is it too soon to start cookin’ up next year’s ‘goose?

Gearin’ up the ‘Goose

Process photo of "Loosey Goosey" steamroller print by Chandler O'Leary and Jessica Spring

Jessica and I have locked ourselves in her studio with an armful of Talking Heads records (go, portable turntable!) and some very sharp knives. Don’t worry about us, though—it’s just an annual tradition here in T-town.

That’s because this Sunday is the seventh annual Wayzgoose, that crazy letterpress block party that draws hordes, flocks, gaggles of people to King’s Books for some seriously huge fun. And we’ll be polishing up our street cred with the main event—steamroller printing. We’ll be pounding that pavement come rain or shine (please, pray for shine), so stop by and check it out!

7th Annual Wayzgoose
Sunday, April 17, 2011
11 am to 4 pm, Free!
King’s Books
218 St. Helens Ave., Tacoma, WA

Near the top of a very long list of things I love about Tacoma is the sheer number of people here who know what the heck a Wayzgoose is. If you haven’t experienced ours yet for yourself, you’re in for a treat. Meet a whole host of local and regional artists; shop a huge array of letterpress art and gifts; make your own books and posters; and don’t forget to bring a t-shirt! The D.I.Y. screen printing booth will back by popular demand, and this year, some of the street-printing artists (including yours truly) are going to have bite-sized versions of their steamroller designs ready to be made into t-shirts. I know what I’ll be wearing this weekend.

Speaking of which … Jessica and I don’t want to ruin the surprise, so we’re keeping our design under wraps for now. But let’s just say that this year we’ll be getting our feathers ruffled—

Process photo of "Loosey Goosey" steamroller print by Chandler O'Leary and Jessica Spring

—and breaking out the ‘stache wax.

See you Sunday!