Walden Press is a small print shop based in Cardigan, west Wales run by artist and printmaker Spike Gascoigne. Specialising in small runs of hand printed books, zines, prints and textiles, their work is often characterised by Spike’s graphic and geometric visual style, which stems from an interest in sacred geometry and how that relates to the natural world. Walden Press’ books and zines typically explore themes related to this, such as metaphysical concepts and cosmologies. All of their publications are printed entirely in house using a combination of various printmaking techniques, but most commonly, relief printing, letterpress, and screen printing.
The Cosmic Giggle is the press’ latest release. Hand-printed in its entirety, the zine features artwork and writing from a group of artists local to west Wales and beyond. Carrying the spirit of the 60s and of the psychedelic experience, the zine was a labour of love, composed entirely of original letterpressed and screen printed artwork and limited to 500 copies.
Spike organised several talks at Walden Arts in Cardigan (a community art and print space Spike runs with his partner Rosy). Some of the speakers involved in the talks, such as David Luke and The Seed Sistas, submitted articles to be featured in The Cosmic Giggle, which was the catalyst for the whole project coming together.
A zine was the perfect medium for these articles to congregate. Spike tells us; “My favourite thing to make is books, I think because I enjoy the challenge of combining text and image in interesting ways.” He continues; “The format of a book, especially with engaging illustrations, demands attention in a particular way, as you turn the pages you are taken on a journey, when the book is hand printed even more so! The textures, the way the ink sits on the paper, the misprints and even the smell all conjure an atmosphere. I enjoy making books that are quick to read but at the same time dense with information and ideas, with the illustrations embodying and illuminating the text in some way.”
Alongside mesmerising and trippy screen printed imagery, sit words contributed by local artists and writers, and friends and acquaintances from further afield. They range from articles on herbalism, to poetry, musings on a local river, and historical readings into standing stones in West Wales.
Get your copy of The Cosmic Giggle here.
www.waldenpress.co.uk
@waldenpress
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