Red Bat Press-- NEWS

5/30/06 Melissa Anders of Red Head Press sent this amazing red bat painting in the mail. (Click image to Enlarge)

5/14/06 Poodletopia coming soon to Portland! The Velveteria Museum is unveiling a velvet painting show on Poodles starting next week. Quite appropriate since it's the Year of the Poodle. Also of note: Today's Sunday Oregonian has excellent feature of Carl & Caren, curators for the museum called "Velvet Passions: no regrets" by Inara Verzemnieks. And if you still haven't picked up your Year of the Poodle postcard -- pick one up in style after you visit the exhibit since the Red Bat Press limited edition poodle prints will be available at Velveteria during the show run.

5/13/06 My Neighbor Danielle slipped this photocopy of a Japanese Meiji period print in my mailslot of these anthropomorphized bunnies on bikes (with human hands!). She found it at work, and knows nothing else. I'd love to see this work in color. Viva la Bunny on the Bike! (Click image to Enlarge)

5/5/06 New Shop: You'll now find Red Bat Press Postcards & bird notecards at lemontree - a small funky giftshop in the Hollywood district. It's next to the Laurelwood Brewery & eatery at 1724 NE 40th. The owner Pam Youngjoo Park saw my work at Last Thursday. She is hoping to get a few new local designers in her shop and do ongoing 1st Wednesday trunkshows.

5/5/06 BikeCraft will return at the Multnomah County Bike Fair on June 24th. Stay tuned for more info. The faire was so successful in December for holiday shoppers, organizer Jonathan Maus of Bike Portland.org is planning to put on a mini version at the annual outdoor bike celebration.

5/4/06 The 3rd Bunny on a Bike Ride gathered over 125 riders! See the Photos & read the full ride report. Also I've scanned in all the paper press, including the great Oregonian Living article by John Foyston. (Photo: Shawna & Ian, courtesy of Dat Nguyen - Click to enlarge). Next year's ride: April 8th!

5/2/06 Check out this cool Red Bat art I bought at Crafty Wonderland. This lovely 4 x 4 painting by Levi Pitters has a Red Bat with batons! Is he a fighting ninja bat or does he play the drums? - either way I love it. And a steal at $4! In fact I didn't even commission this 8 year old to make this for me, but according to his mom Cathy Pitters of Bossa Nova Baby, Levi wouldn't let anyone buy it since he was saving it for Carye Bye. Levi is quite the artist - have you seen his Peewee Herman with big ears? Anyway I hope to put an online Red Bat art gallery sometime in the near future to showcase art like this, as well as traditional Chinese art. While I'm waiting until July or August for the next Crafty Wonderland sale - you can find Levi's amazing art there at the next sale on May 14!

5/1/06 It Looks like Red Bat Press is going to New York City! On June 17 & 18 in Brooklyn the annual Renegade Craft Fair takes place - 200 Designers and Artists from all over the country will be represented - Wow! NeverTwice , an online handmade in Portland emporium run mainly by Meredith Butner, will be travelling to New York for the event and bringing along some of Red Bat Press's best sellers. Also Portland SuperCrafty will be there. If you live in NYC or know people there pass it on, and check out this year's multitude of vendors online.

4/28/06 Last Thursday was a blast. The first real outdoor street selling of the season happened on 4/27 - I set up across from Bernies on the east end of NE Alberta. So many old friends came to visit as well as new ones. One such newbie was very excited about my Bridge series - quite a compliment since he used to operate the drawbridges! He doesn't anymore as he likes to keep a regular schedule - getting called at 3 am to open a drawbridge could get tiresome after awhile.

I plan to go out regularly for Last Thursday this summer - in fact I think it's going to be my 5th summer out there - WOW!

4/25/06 Is it still April? It's been quite a month so far for the Red Bat! We've made it through two big art sales: Crafty Wonderland (4/9) & Buckman Art Show & Sale(4/21 & 22), and the Bunny on a Bike Ride (4/16) mid-month gathered over 125 Bunnies on Bikes parading on Easter Sunday - a ride report and photos coming soon. All month-long the local Portland papers helped me advertise the ride. I even got an Oregonian Living feature article. All to be posted soon of course! I also presented a wood-cut print hands-on demo in New Seasons Seven Corners on 4/9. Shoppers were delighted to make their own Bunny Print to put in an Egg Surprise. Also two new cards this month - Portland: City of Roses (new version) & Burnside Bridge. Look for those to be online shortly. It has been so wonderful to connect with many of you in a variety of ways this lovely Spring! And perhaps I'll be out with all the new work on Last Thursday 4/27.

4/6/06 April's issue of PDX Magazine, free around Portland - I got mine at Reading Frenzy (SW Oak at 9th) - has a nice plug for the 3rd Annual Bunny on a Bike Ride with a printed photograph on page 9. This glossy mag is quite impressive for not being around too long - the writing is good, and the staff highlights quirky and classic Portland.

4/5/06 Today the Ballad of the Bunny on a Bike debuted on the KBOO Radio Bike Show in Portland. Sung and composed by Wes Kempfer of the Trash Mountain Boys. The song made references to just about every Red Bat Press postcard and card currently for sale, and was composed for the upcoming 3rd Annual Bunny on a Bike Ride in Portland. We'll get all the lyrics up soon, but here's a sneak preview:

Bunny on a bike
Bunny on a bike
Bunny on a bicycle
Blue blue mermaid
Scuba Tuba
Riding with the Micycles
As they come upon the Broadway Bridge
Bath Tub Diver's standing at the water's edge
And he says come on in, the water's fine
And we'll have us a real fun time

3/24/06 The Friends of the Library Shop inside of the glorious Central Library (801 SW 10th) in downtown Portland is carrying Red Bat bridge & bike character cards, and blank bird books. The shop while tiny, packs in a lot of neat gift things along with books & cards. Stop by on your next visit.

3/19/06 A new indoor art & craft sale debuts on Sunday, April 9th at Doug Fir. Crafty Wonderland is being organized by Cathy Pitters & Torie Nguyen of Super Crafty. There has been a great need for a cool monthly craft fair in Portland and these ladies have stepped up to do just that -- Not only will there be 40 + independent vendors, the Church of Craft and DIY Lounge will have fun projects. Admission to the sale is free and it will occur every 2nd Sunday from 11 - 4 pm at Doug Fir (830 E Burnside). Red Bat Press will be at the debut event.

3/18/06 Yesterday, the amount of stores in the Portland area that (will) carry Red Bat Press Postcards doubled. How you ask? The local natural grocery chain,New Seasons Market is ordering cards for their home department in all but one of their 7 shops. The Stores are located in the Sellwood, Arbor Lodge, Concordia, Seven Corners, & Raleigh Hills neighborhoods of Portland. And soon a shop will be open in Lake Oswego. Stay tuned!

3/17/06 Art Show & Demo: For the third year in the row, Carye Bye of Red Bat Press will be one of the 100 participating artists in the Buckman Art Show & Sale on April 21 & 22. This is a great sale - the kids make some of the best art! Along with the sale, the school has set up a demo at New Seasons Seven Corners Market (1954 E Division, Portland) to cross promote the event. On Friday April 14 from 1 - 3 stop by the shop to make your own "Egg Surprises" that will contain a easter-themed relief print made by you and hosted by Buckman Artist Carye Bye!

3/16/06 The 3rd Annual Bunny on a Bike Ride is only one month a way on April 16th. A mixed media poster (photocopy, letterpress, and hand painted) is being posted around town. The model is artist Hilary Pfeifer who just happened to have a bunny suit since she has an art biz called Bunny with a Tool Belt. She is posing by the Steel Bridge in the poster since this year's theme is Bunnies on the Bridges. Only 40 of the posters were made.

3/3/06 McClain's Printmaking Supply's new 2006 Catalog is out with a whole new group of relief print artists in the gallery - including one print from me - Chinatown. All of my wood-cuting supplies come from McClain's. And though they are physically located just a few miles from me, they are mail order only, so there is no shop to visit. Check out their amazing catalog & online gallery.

3/1/06 It's Year of the Poodle! In celebration, Red Bat Press has printed a Limited Edition (100) Postcard. Each is hand-signed and numbered. Order or reserve yours today! The poodle is based off a special plastic 'mascot' poodle from my last Seattle Trip.

2/28/06 The Bike Character Postcards are finally online (Go to Art Postcards in the Shop). Originally they debuted at BikeCraft in December. Catty Cruiser and Dog Racer have been recarved and reprinted since then. The new versions have bigger heads and more personality just like Bunny on a Bike. This Saturday at Bicycle Transportation Alliance's Alice B. Toeclips Awards & Auction (in Portland), a couple sets of the bike character postcards and a Bunny on a Bike tee shirt will be in the auction. This is the third year that Red Bat Press has participated

2/10/06 Free Valentine Sticker to cyclists! On Valentine's Day, Tuesday 2/14 stop by Shift to Bikes Mocktails on Hawthorne Bridge in Portland from 4:30 - 6:30 pm. We'll have fizzy non-alcoholic drinks, snacks, and random acts of bike love. Find us on the southern sidewalk, eastern end near the path down to the esplandade. I'll be there handing out the Velo (bike) love.

2/1/06 I have a print/drawing in the 8th Annual Reading Frenzy Valentine's Invitational -- this year benefiting SCRAP. The show opens First Thursday, Feb 2, 2006 with a reception from 6 - 9 pm with refreshments. Come see the work of 3 dozen artists including moi during the month of Februrary. Go to Reading Frenzy online for address & hours. My piece is based on the old Love Tester in the arcade.

1/31/06 Oh My what a busy January - well not at the press, I was on vacation in Minnesota & Los Angeles. I also spent one day teaching Old-time Printing to the entire Groner Elementary School in Hillsboro as part of their Ben Franklin Days. I have to say I'm so glad I'm an old time printer as computers are always getting out of date... like mine! I had my Mac upgraded this past month, and it's no fun at all -- as I have to get used to all the changes, and am constantly dealing with bugs and problems. Ah Viva la Letterpress where it stays the same! But the computer helps me maintain this website and produce display graphics, so we will just have to learn to get along. Ah!

1/8/06 Bike Prints soon to be hung at Bike Gallery store fitting rooms. Thanks to employee, Elizabeth, who after seeing the bike postcards at BikeCraft in December, bought a few to display at her shop. So next time you want to try on some padded bike shorts or a fitted jacket, go to Bike Gallery Hollywood (5329 NE Sandy) or Division 10950 SE Division), for a fitting room turned art gallery!

1/7/06 New Shop! The very cool Ivy Studio (800 E Burnside) next to the Jupiter Hotel. In the Studio's Modern Market amongst the swanky designer tees, posters, & home furnishings, you'll find a selection of Red Press Cards. There was talk of some future collaborations to get more of my wood-cut designs on clothing, etc. I'll keep you posted.

1/5/06 As Promised, Here is the photo of my wood-cut and bird card (click to enlarge)that was printed in the Oregonian's Craft Article "Portland's Handmade Revolution" 12/18/05. The Photo is by Tortsten Kjellstrand. In fact, earlier in the week, I met up with Torsten who took photos of me as I prepped for BikeCraft (printing, painting cards, loading my bike with my card rack, etc) as he worked on his photo essay for the handmade article. Unfortunately none of those photos made it into the paper, but I had a good time having my own personal photographer all day. The wood-cut didn't really translate all that well in print, but I'm still honored to have my work pictured in the local paper.