Bookmaking and World Building with Pomegranate Press
Taught by Pomengranate Press
Jesse Feinman and guests
︎ https://pomegranatepress.club/
Talks & Workshop
Dates:
Session 1: 4/17, ︎︎︎ 6-9pm
Session 2: 4/24 ︎︎︎ 6-9pm
Session 3: 5/8 ︎︎︎ 6-9pm
Location:
122 Central Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11221
**Please arrive on time, we cannot accommodate participants later than 15 minutes
Bookings are non-refund
Dates:
Session 1: 4/17, ︎︎︎ 6-9pm
Session 2: 4/24 ︎︎︎ 6-9pm
Session 3: 5/8 ︎︎︎ 6-9pm
Location:
122 Central Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11221
**Please arrive on time, we cannot accommodate participants later than 15 minutes
Bookings are non-refund
Tickets Here
The purpose of this course is to attempt to demystify bookmaking from its earliest stage (the idea) and provide insight on how to turn said idea into a completed, living breathing project. As Pomegranate emphasizes work with strong emotional ties to its makers, we'll discuss how to approach channeling these kind of images into succinct publications. This will include discussions on editing, sequencing, designing, titling, branding, and other aspects of publishing that heighten the way an artist's photographs can communicate defined, curious and beautiful messages -- whatever they may be. Included in each presentation will be first hand examples (both successes and failures), unfiltered access into financial transparency, tips on how to work with a wide array of materials, thoughts on curating shows and events, and candid Q&A's to better serve the attendees' curiosities.
What you’ll learn:
In depth understanding of each stage of bookmaking -- from developing a concept (idea), to making the book itself (construction), to having it enter the world as one develops a stronger brand and identity (publishing).
In depth understanding of each stage of bookmaking -- from developing a concept (idea), to making the book itself (construction), to having it enter the world as one develops a stronger brand and identity (publishing).
Who this course is for:
Photographers of any level, or anyone with an interest in photography, independent publishing, and self publishing. No prior experience is required.
Photographers of any level, or anyone with an interest in photography, independent publishing, and self publishing. No prior experience is required.
What you’ll need:
Anything for taking notes is of course recommended. Bringing one's own work (portfolio box, prints, book dummy, etc) is optional but not required as the first three workshops are not intended to exist as peer critiques. More on that soon!
Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of how to approach bookmaking through a lens of both accessibility and emotional vulnerability that emphasizes an unflinching dedication to craftsmanship and thoughtful editing.
Anything for taking notes is of course recommended. Bringing one's own work (portfolio box, prints, book dummy, etc) is optional but not required as the first three workshops are not intended to exist as peer critiques. More on that soon!
Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of how to approach bookmaking through a lens of both accessibility and emotional vulnerability that emphasizes an unflinching dedication to craftsmanship and thoughtful editing.
SESSION 1:
Will focus primarily on design approach, intentionality, and developing narrative structures through the archive of personal images. Using examples from the Pom Press catalogue, attendees will see the inner workings of how a book comes to life from the beginning stages. We will discuss the selection process of images, how to develop a sequence, and ways to convey a personal story through the medium of a book. This session will attempt to illustrate Pom's specific approach to accessible, emotionally-driven publishing and how it applies to the wider world of contemporary bookselling. Participants are welcome to bring examples of their own work and images, but please note this session is NOT a critique and/or portfolio review- and will be structured to highlight already-completed bodies of works as a method of providing insight on how to do so.
GUEST SPEAKER: Marcus Maddox, who will discuss working with Pom and his debut monograph, Hey Lover.
Will focus primarily on design approach, intentionality, and developing narrative structures through the archive of personal images. Using examples from the Pom Press catalogue, attendees will see the inner workings of how a book comes to life from the beginning stages. We will discuss the selection process of images, how to develop a sequence, and ways to convey a personal story through the medium of a book. This session will attempt to illustrate Pom's specific approach to accessible, emotionally-driven publishing and how it applies to the wider world of contemporary bookselling. Participants are welcome to bring examples of their own work and images, but please note this session is NOT a critique and/or portfolio review- and will be structured to highlight already-completed bodies of works as a method of providing insight on how to do so.
GUEST SPEAKER: Marcus Maddox, who will discuss working with Pom and his debut monograph, Hey Lover.
SESSION 2:
Will focus primarily on the different ways to publish a photographic project once completed. One of the most common questions we receive is "How do I publish a book through Pom?" and this presentation will attempt to tackle that-- while going far beyond the outlook and taste of Pom in general (there's so much more besides us!). Insights on how to submit a publication, develop a relationship with a publisher, and find a home for your book will be provided, alongside candid examples of typical financial structures when it comes to working with someone else. This session will be a little more clerical (IE: Tips on how to send work, what to avoid, what to expect in general), but will reveal a bit as to why Pom chooses certain projects and avoids others. Similarly, this will session will hopefully illustrate both the advantages and challenges of self publishing, as well, and how it comes with certain freedoms, liberties, etc. There will be plenty of details on printing and materiality in this session.
GUEST SPEAKER: Caroline Tompkins, who will discuss working with Pom and her experience creating her book Bedfellow, with Palm Studios.
Will focus primarily on the different ways to publish a photographic project once completed. One of the most common questions we receive is "How do I publish a book through Pom?" and this presentation will attempt to tackle that-- while going far beyond the outlook and taste of Pom in general (there's so much more besides us!). Insights on how to submit a publication, develop a relationship with a publisher, and find a home for your book will be provided, alongside candid examples of typical financial structures when it comes to working with someone else. This session will be a little more clerical (IE: Tips on how to send work, what to avoid, what to expect in general), but will reveal a bit as to why Pom chooses certain projects and avoids others. Similarly, this will session will hopefully illustrate both the advantages and challenges of self publishing, as well, and how it comes with certain freedoms, liberties, etc. There will be plenty of details on printing and materiality in this session.
GUEST SPEAKER: Caroline Tompkins, who will discuss working with Pom and her experience creating her book Bedfellow, with Palm Studios.
SESSION 3:
Will focus primarily on the experience of books entering the world-- both as artist, maker, and seller. What does running a publishing house really look like? How do you even begin to do that? When working with a wide array of people on a regular basis, how do you maintain voice, identity, and so on? How do you maintain integrity when working under a capitalist regime? This session will intend to shed light on the often less-discussed aspects of bookmaking -- and how to work through challenges and figuring out the logistical pieces that, really, aren't available anywhere and most people keep secret. There will be several first hand examples of Pom's influences and how these were utilized to create a strong brand identity and focus. Will discuss thoughts on merchandising, event curating, and so on.
GUEST SPEAKERS: Christian Michael Filardo and Oliver Shaw (Friend Editions), who discuss working together, existing as an independent creative, and running a multi-faceted publishing house.
Will focus primarily on the experience of books entering the world-- both as artist, maker, and seller. What does running a publishing house really look like? How do you even begin to do that? When working with a wide array of people on a regular basis, how do you maintain voice, identity, and so on? How do you maintain integrity when working under a capitalist regime? This session will intend to shed light on the often less-discussed aspects of bookmaking -- and how to work through challenges and figuring out the logistical pieces that, really, aren't available anywhere and most people keep secret. There will be several first hand examples of Pom's influences and how these were utilized to create a strong brand identity and focus. Will discuss thoughts on merchandising, event curating, and so on.
GUEST SPEAKERS: Christian Michael Filardo and Oliver Shaw (Friend Editions), who discuss working together, existing as an independent creative, and running a multi-faceted publishing house.
Mixed Feelings, issue 2
With guest artist Sophie Douala
@sophiedouala
︎ www.sophiedouala.com
Collective Zine Making Workshop
Group Workshop
Date: March 22th
2025
Date: March 22th
2025
Location:
122 Central Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11221
︎ Start Time: 12-5pm
Mixed Feelings, is a Risograph zine-making workshop and publication, where each participant gets to design one page inspired by a memory. Each participant will design a double letter sized page through collage of various gradients, contributing to a collaborative zine to take home.
This will be the second edition of Mixed Feelings, ideated and taught by Freelance Designer & Visual Artist from Berlin, Sophie Douala.
About the Artist:
Sophie Douala (she/they) is a Berlin based, France raised, Cameroon born artist and creative director specialised in story telling and creative campaigns. In her practice and life, she seeks to explore the interplay between a formal visual language and its cognitive and emotional affect.
This will be the second edition of Mixed Feelings, ideated and taught by Freelance Designer & Visual Artist from Berlin, Sophie Douala.
About the Artist:
Sophie Douala (she/they) is a Berlin based, France raised, Cameroon born artist and creative director specialised in story telling and creative campaigns. In her practice and life, she seeks to explore the interplay between a formal visual language and its cognitive and emotional affect.
What you’ll learn:
Participants will explore how to express themselves and embody or release emotions through the creative practice of collage. Sophie will guide participants through the Risograph process, as well as the principles of composition and layout.
Who this course is for:
Open to all skill levels—no prior experience in design or printing is needed.
What you’ll need:
All material is provided but you're welcome to bring any creative tools or materials you would like to contribute.
Takeaway:
Each participant will leave with their handmade zine and a welcoming gift from the artist.
Please arrive on time, we cannot accommodate participants later than 15 minutes
Participants will explore how to express themselves and embody or release emotions through the creative practice of collage. Sophie will guide participants through the Risograph process, as well as the principles of composition and layout.
Who this course is for:
Open to all skill levels—no prior experience in design or printing is needed.
What you’ll need:
All material is provided but you're welcome to bring any creative tools or materials you would like to contribute.
Takeaway:
Each participant will leave with their handmade zine and a welcoming gift from the artist.
Tickets Here
Please arrive on time, we cannot accommodate participants later than 15 minutes
*Limited community tickets available at a discounted rate, please fill out the scholarship application to inquire.
Bookings are non-refundable.
GIRL MATH, QUEER TIME: Graphs, Maps, and Memes in Autobiographical Practices.
A workshop and talk with Maja Demska and Aleksandra Kamińska
@girlsandqueerstothefront
Group Workshop
Date: March 15th, 2025
Date: March 15th, 2025
Location:
122 Central Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11221
︎ Start Time: 1pm
Duration: 3 hrs
In this workshop we’ll explore how to regain control over our data footprint and try to switch between being a passive object of the data economy to a subject using data as a form of life writing. After examining the diagrammatical practices of writers (e.g., Kathy Acker), cartoonists (e.g., Liana Finck, Agnieszka Piksa), and visual artists (e.g., Susanne Treister, Agnieszka Kurant), we'll create our own data-driven autobiographical narratives through a series of exercises.
Ticket Here
What you’ll learn:
You’ll learn new ways of reading and creating autobiographical practices. We’ll examine how personal storytelling can be achieved through diagrams, memes, and other forms not often associated with autobiographies but used by both artists and writers. We’ll study autobiographical acts that go beyond linear and narrative storytelling to learn how one can tell their story, even if they don’t have traditionally understood writing/art “skills.” Ultimately, this workshop will also explore taking control of your own narrative.
Who this course is for:
Anyone over 16 y.o. No skills needed! We will mostly focus on the practices of women and/or queer writers, cartoonists, and visual artists, so the workshop might be especially interesting for people who identify as such or are interested in these activities.
What you’ll need:
No need to bring anything with you unless you have a favorite pen or pencil.
Takeaway:
New tools for reading and creating autobiographical practices, a series of graphs created during the exercises. We’ll also put together a zine that will collect selected works from our meeting.
You’ll learn new ways of reading and creating autobiographical practices. We’ll examine how personal storytelling can be achieved through diagrams, memes, and other forms not often associated with autobiographies but used by both artists and writers. We’ll study autobiographical acts that go beyond linear and narrative storytelling to learn how one can tell their story, even if they don’t have traditionally understood writing/art “skills.” Ultimately, this workshop will also explore taking control of your own narrative.
Who this course is for:
Anyone over 16 y.o. No skills needed! We will mostly focus on the practices of women and/or queer writers, cartoonists, and visual artists, so the workshop might be especially interesting for people who identify as such or are interested in these activities.
What you’ll need:
No need to bring anything with you unless you have a favorite pen or pencil.
Takeaway:
New tools for reading and creating autobiographical practices, a series of graphs created during the exercises. We’ll also put together a zine that will collect selected works from our meeting.
*Limited community tickets available at a discounted rate, please fill out the scholarship application to inquire.
Please arrive on time, we cannot accommodate participants later than 15 minutes.
All materials are provided.
Suitable for newcomers & beyond.
Bookings are non-refundable.
black joy archive v.iii
a project by zoë pulley
irl workshop session
March 1st & 2nd
Submit Here:
https://blackjoyarchive.com
https://blackjoyarchive.com
Sign Up for the in-person (March 1st & 2nd )
Workshop Here
Workshop Here
The first edition of Black Joy Archive was created in the summer of 2020 — an urgent call amidst the global racial reckoning of 2020; asking contributors to reflect on their past histories, stories and personal archives. The second volume of this project was released the summer of 2022, contributors then reflecting on what their “Black joy” meant to them now; entrenched in a consumer American landscape that has transformed this term into low-hanging fruit easily co-opted to signal performative allyship. The third volume of this project is simple —
how will your black joy persevere into our future unknown?
As we enter a new geo-political age that threatens the livelihoods of many, we wonder — what are the methods, objects, knowledge and traditions our communities have held onto and practiced in the face of uncertain pathways forward? And what ways are these methods lighting the path into the vast unknown? More importantly— how can we ensure that our global communities will indeed, persist?
how will your black joy persevere into our future unknown?
As we enter a new geo-political age that threatens the livelihoods of many, we wonder — what are the methods, objects, knowledge and traditions our communities have held onto and practiced in the face of uncertain pathways forward? And what ways are these methods lighting the path into the vast unknown? More importantly— how can we ensure that our global communities will indeed, persist?
black joy archive v.iii invites Black individuals to convene for a two-day workshop to share, ideate and map ideologies in times of uncertainty. We have seen time and time again, that regardless of the terror / pain / contempt / unrest of our social environment, our joy lives on.
The first session will entail us collectively writing and creating images that will be part of v.iii of this project. In session two, each contributor will learn how to scan their makings from the previous session and print with the risograph machine. All writing and images created will then be incorporated into the final version of this publication, which will be released in the summer of 2025.
The first session will entail us collectively writing and creating images that will be part of v.iii of this project. In session two, each contributor will learn how to scan their makings from the previous session and print with the risograph machine. All writing and images created will then be incorporated into the final version of this publication, which will be released in the summer of 2025.
THE WORKSHOP:
Who this course is for:
Black individuals interested in narrative, archives and DIY publishing.
What you’ll need:
bring items, books, excerpts and whatever else that feels like a guiding light towards your joy. This could be a saying you’ve always believed in, a manifesto text, photographs that remind you of a story of perseverance, an idea illustrated in written word or image, etc. In addition, in art-making tools you like to use (markers, crayons, instax cameras, ribbons, hole punchers, glitter, tapes, etc.)
Black individuals interested in narrative, archives and DIY publishing.
What you’ll need:
bring items, books, excerpts and whatever else that feels like a guiding light towards your joy. This could be a saying you’ve always believed in, a manifesto text, photographs that remind you of a story of perseverance, an idea illustrated in written word or image, etc. In addition, in art-making tools you like to use (markers, crayons, instax cameras, ribbons, hole punchers, glitter, tapes, etc.)
Takeaway :
(what will participants leave with): each contributor will leave with risoprint copies of the images we create. Additionally, each contributor will receive a copy of v.iii once released. They will also each be welcomed to join and share their work at the launch event in the summer of 2025.
(what will participants leave with): each contributor will leave with risoprint copies of the images we create. Additionally, each contributor will receive a copy of v.iii once released. They will also each be welcomed to join and share their work at the launch event in the summer of 2025.
Group Workshop
Date: February 15, 2025
Date: February 15, 2025
Location:
122 Central Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11221
︎ Start Time: 1pm
Duration: 4 hrs
What is a poster? How do you make one? And why?
Join Hector Mosko, a graphic designer based in Lyon, France, for a hands-on workshop that takes you through the process of creating a bold, unique poster printed in Risograph. This workshop takes an analog approach to graphic design and will guide you through three key stages of poster creation: concept development, composition, and printing.
Join Hector Mosko, a graphic designer based in Lyon, France, for a hands-on workshop that takes you through the process of creating a bold, unique poster printed in Risograph. This workshop takes an analog approach to graphic design and will guide you through three key stages of poster creation: concept development, composition, and printing.
- In the first part of the workshop, Hector will share insights into his art practice and his obsession with collecting visual inspirations from decay and posters on the street. He’ll introduce you to new ways of thinking about design, offering fresh perspectives on the creative process. Through his stories and examples, you’ll learn how to approach design with curiosity, experimenting with different viewpoints to shape your own unique style.
- Next, you'll dive into the hands-on, gritty part of the process—sketching and composing your poster. Participants will learn how to create an abstract composition using purely manual techniques. This phase focuses on breaking down your preconceived ideas of what a poster “should” look like. You’ll explore how to deconstruct and reconstruct your design using analog methods, pushing beyond the boundaries of commercial graphic design to embrace creativity and experimentation. Through inking, transferring, drawing, and layering textures, you’ll learn how to compose a visual that feels unique and free from digital constraints.
- Ultimately, participants will learn the technical side of graphic design production to prepare their images for Riso printing. Using the layers you’ve created, you’ll scan, adjust, and print each one—layer by layer, color by color—without the use of a computer. You’ll work with two vibrant Riso colors, learning how to layer and align them for maximum impact. The result will be a one-of-a-kind, multi-layered poster that captures both your creative process and the hands-on techniques of graphic design.
By the end of this workshop, you’ll have experienced every step of the design process—from conceptualizing and sketching your idea to producing a finished printed piece. Whether you're new to graphic design or looking to refine your skills, this workshop will give you a deeper understanding of the craft, while allowing you to create a tangible, analog work of art.
Best for:
Suitable for both beginners with no graphic design background as well as those with an established graphic design practice
Takeaway:
You will leave the class with 10 copies of your 2 color poster.
All materials included.
Please arrive on time, we cannot accommodate participants later than 15 minutes.
*Limited community tickets available at a discounted rate, please fill out the scholarship application to inquire.
All materials are provided.
Suitable for newcomers & beyond.
Bookings are non-refundable.