A few small updates ahead of a big reflection
Hello everyone,
I wanted to share a couple of small updates this week. In the next newsletter I’ll be sharing a half year update with some progress against some of the goals I set and the perennial question of ‘am I earning enough money to keep going?’. I don’t know if that’s always interesting to read about, but it’s something that is a big part of what makes the work I’m doing now somewhat complex. So I think about it a lot.
I’ve been working full time the last two weeks and this week as well, so I’m both grateful and a bit sleepy. But a holiday approaches so that’s ok. The substitute teaching work HAS brought a lot of time where I’m babysitting (like now) where I’ve been able to make marketing materials, write emails, etc, so in a way being paid and getting other work done is a-ok. Also the kids are sometimes quite funny.
Ok, a few cheeky updates:
This weekend, on Sunday the 22nd of June, if you’re in Melbourne please stop by Honey Bones Gallery in Brunswick to the zine and literature fair. It’s a smaller (and therefore relaxed, calm, chill) event where I’ll have a Tall Poppy stall with our new book (save on shipping!). I’ll be teaching a workshop in the morning, so come after midday if you want to shoot the shit. There’s a great coffee on the premises and lots of good vibes, come see the studio as well - it’ll be open.
I launched the final workshops for this year ‘self publish in 2026’ this is a 3 day workshop that’s a really in depth look at how to succeed, how to start and is split evenly between creative work and funding/launching/selling. Have a squiz and get in touch if you’re keen.
My now annual trip to Western Australia to run workshops and have a Tall Poppy pop up is now officially confirmed. If you’re in WA and want to come learn about book binding, an intro to publishing or make a longer artist book please read more and sign up here. I’m also running some 1-on-1 mentoring sessions as well, which may suit folks better. We’ve already sold 7 workshop places, how good is that?
We are also having a Tall Poppy Press pop up on August 12th at Kate + Abel in Fremantle, along with a book launch and a bunch of other speakers. More details soon.
Next week I go on the road - this time to France. In Paris we’re launching Tace Steven’s books, partnering with the World Monument Fund to launch at a gallery in Paris. I’m looking forward to it. After that I’m heading to Arles to be at the book fair and sell books.
I’m hoping that, over the two events, I can bring home 4000-5000 - so we’ll see how we go :)
Everyone keeps saying it’ll be really damn hot, so we’ll see if that’s true. If you’re in Arles for the festival please stop by and say hello, I’d love to chat.
We’ve had some early sales of Tace’s book - if you’re hoping to buy one please consider grabbing one ASAP (or come out on Sunday) - it’s just good to ship before I head on a trip. I hate the feeling that someone’s waiting for me to ship them a product but I’m unable to. Possibly no one minds, but I do!
July should bring merch that I’m excited by - plenty to share there soon.
I’ve decided to not exhibit in Broken Hill. I wrote the gallery a long email and their response was really good. However, the year is pretty busy and, in some ways, fairly hard to juggle everything. I just am not sure a week-to-ten days in Broken Hill self-funding an exhibition makes much sense, especially given the miscommunication and problems the gallery and I have been having.
Ultimately I found that having written my big email to you, and my big email to them I sort of didn’t care to keep going any more. If it was some good professional opportunity, or there was reliable income attached I’d have soldiered on, but it just didn’t make sense.
I think that’s it for today. A lot of dot points ahead of next week’s much longer email.
Matt