Lost Art Press

Goodbye Blue Monday

Posted on by Lost Art Press

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Whenever people work with me at our new headquarters, I give them this warning: This is a glitter zone. You will find glitter in your hair, clothes and (shudder) feces after you work here.

The good news is that our efforts at glitter containment – it’s worse than asbestos – are succeeding. It has been about a week since I deposited a “Sparkle Pony” in the pool, if you catch my drift. And today we began to cover over the dark blue/purple ceiling of the first floor with white primer.

Tomorrow the floor goes in – solid white oak with a vapor/glitter barrier.

Then we start the framing.

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After plying local architect Eric Puryear with tacos and margaritas, he and Megan Fitzpatrick visited the building. All three of us agree that the archway at the back of the front room is awkward and not original to the structure.

Eric put it this way: It was probably put in during the 1930s, 1950s or one of the other periods where exposed brick became fashionable.

We’re keeping the arch, but we’re going to build a wall obscuring it from the front room. Based on my archaeological pokings, I think the back wall of the bar was co-planar to the stairs. So that’s what we’re putting in – along with some vintage doors.

The little nook between the arch and this new wall will be a sharpening area or an office. Still working that out.

OK, kids are hungry. Got to take off the shop apron and put on my cooking one.

— Christopher Schwarz

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P.S. The mantle has the last of the glitter.

Ornament is Now but one of the Follies

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If you wish to have ornament, you must pay specifically for it, and the workman is compelled to produce ornament, as he is to produce other wares. He is compelled to pretend happiness in his work, so that the beauty produced by man’s hand, which was once a solace to his labour, has now become an extra burden to him, and ornament is now but one of the follies of useless toil, and perhaps not the least irksome of its fetters.

— William Morris, “Useful Work v. Useless Toil” (1888)

OK, I’ll go First

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Josiah_WarrenWhen “The Anarchist’s Tool Chest” was released in 2011, I caught flack from people saying I didn’t know squat about anarchism. (It’s interesting to note that none of the assailants were anarchists.)

I know that the word “anarchist” stirs a lot of emotions, and I hesitated for years to use it. But it’s the correct word to describe who I am. Plus I’m old enough that I just don’t give a rat’s $#& what people say about me.

With the release of “The Anarchist’s Design Book,” I know this topic is going to come up again. So before you worry that reading my book is going to make you build bombs, you can do a little bit of reading and find out what North American Anarchism is really about.

In short: Anarchism is a tendency to avoid large organizations – governments, corporations and churches. It is not about violence. It is not about revolution. It is not a form of society that can ever be the majority. But it is, like I said, a tendency to favor the small over the huge. It favors individual over collective action. Self-reliance over consumerism.

Or, as I like to say: “To build rather than buy.”

It’s definitely not God-less. American anarchism has its roots in the foundation of Rhode Island over the principles of religious freedom. Read the entry on Anne Hutchinson at Wikipedia for a look at the pillars of anarchism on this continent.

It’s not anti-capitalist. The founder of American anarchism was Josiah Warren, an early 18th-century businessman and social experimenter. He dabbled in communism and socialism at New Harmony, Ind., before moving back to Cincinnati to found the Cincinnati Time Store. Personal property and the ability to own the fruits of your labor are at the core of aesthetic American anarchism. Read more about Warren here.

Or read his book “Equitable Commerce” at Google Books.

And if you really want to dig in, pick up a copy of “Native American Anarchism” (Loompanics Unlimited, 1983) by Eunice Minette Schuster – preferably at a used or independent bookstore.

Once you get through that reading list, then we’ll be ready to joust.

— Christopher Schwarz

PDF Delivery Allegedly Working Now

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After testing (and retesting), our pdf delivery software appears to be working.

To cut down on any confusion, you will now get your download link in the first order confirmation e-mail. The link for your download is at the bottom of the email (see the image above for what this looks like).

We’re moving all our digital products to this service as I type.

So if you have not received a link for the digital download, please check your original confirmation e-mail and see if it’s there. If not, send an email to help@lostartpress.com. Please give us the name or email you used to place the order so we can find it.

— Christopher Schwarz

Are You Missing Your PDF of ‘The Anarchist’s Design Book?’

Posted on by Lost Art Press

MarriageMarkDue to a software failure some customers who ordered “The Anarchist’s Design Book” have not yet received their pdf of the book.

First off: Apologies. Our store software says it has sent it out to everyone. Our store software is a dirty liar.

If you have placed an order for the book but have not received the pdf, here’s the quick fix: Send an email to help@lostartpress.com. Please give us the name or email you used to place the order so we can find it.

NOTE: If you don’t see your comment below that’s because we have sent you the pdf and removed the comment so spambots won’t get your email. Check your email! Please don’t post your comment over and over and over….. Thanks!

Again, apologies for the problem.

— Christopher Schwarz