Burning Books Press Definitely Superior Art Gallery received an Ontario Arts Council 3 year pilot project fund to create a new publishing house. With the support of this funding the gallery will be able to formalize, expand, and increase the level of professionalism of the existing publishing program. Going by the name burning.books.press, the publishing house will serve hundreds of literary artists in Northwestern Ontario. In keeping with the gallery mandate, the new publishing program further contributes to the recognition and development of multi-disciplinary Northwestern Ontario artists. It will foster the growth and maintenance of the publishing sector in the region. Primarily aimed at literary artists (but also including visual artists, musicians, and spoken word performers), burning.books.press opens up the door to pay artists who will now have the chance to contribute to professional-quality published works. The publications are launched and sold locally at Definitely Superior art Gallery and participating local retail outlets, with further distribution both regionally and nationally. With copies deposited at Library and Archives Canada and showcased at national publishing book festivals our artists will be introduced to greater audiences and their work will be preserved for future generations. Contrary to what might be expected by the name, burning.books.press, the publishing house focuses on that which excites, illuminates, and transforms, like a force of nature. Inspiring contemporary-traditional to experimental writing, as well as visual art, spoken word and music (on accompanying audio cds) are included. The common denominator in burning.books.press publishing program is its willingness and ability to venture in new directions, both editorially and in the areas of promotion, marketing and publicity, while maintaining the highest standards in all that it undertakes. Topics covered will vary depending on the theme and type of publication. Literary styles may include: poetry, short prose (both fiction/non-fiction although not historical non-fiction), ephemera, social theory, short graphic works/novels, visual art (stand alone or combined with writing such as art and graphic design, comics, film+video storyboards, photography, drawing, illustration), and content outside of mainstream media. We welcome contributions from throughout Northwestern Ontario and its diverse communities. How do I find out about Calls for Submission? Calls for submission will be communicated through postings online. To find out what is going on email burningbookspress@tbaytel.net. What does the gallery publish? FUEL. An anthology of creative writing, this new annual publication features contemporary-traditional to experimental writing. The first anthology will be entitled Fuel, in keeping with the theme of the name of our publishing house, burning.books.press. SQUEEZE Zine. Formerly called Core Zine, this publication has increased to 3 issues annually and features both contemporary-experimental writing and visual art. RANDOM ACTS OF POETRY Zine. An annual publication, featuring contemporary-traditional to experimental writing of the spoken word performers and singer-songwriter musicians who participate in the gallery’s annual curated public art project “Random Acts of Poetry”: Thunder Bay Performance Project. Also included is a CD of spoken word, music, and live radio performances that are part of the RAP project. DIE ACTIVE youth Zine. An annual publication whose creation is integrated with the gallery’s summer Die Active youth-led collective. Youth (ages 14-30) are encouraged to submit work and attend free Zine workshops to help create new works. Featured in this unique contemporary/alternative multi-media Zine is visual art, contemporary-traditional to experimental writing, a music CD of youth bands, and hand-made buttons (see our Die Active page for more INFO).
