On a related note, don’t miss Ben Metcalf’s deviously satirical piece at Harper’s: Why I Pay My Taxes. Also, there’s an article in the current issue of the Brooklyn Rail called Paying for War that provides some sympathetic coverage of our group.

Luckily I won’t be moving on the exact same day as the bookfair this year, so I can actually attend. If you’re in NYC this Saturday definitely check it out, it should be awesome. There’ll be much, much more than just books. From the website:

The Second Annual NYC Anarchist Bookfair (2008) will host a one-day exposition of books, zines, pamphlets, art, film/video, and other cultural and very political productions of the anarchist scene worldwide, on Saturday, April 12, 2008 at Judson Memorial Church in Manhattan. The Bookfair will also feature two days of workshops and presentations on Saturday, April 12, and Sunday, April 13, 2008.

The Second Annual NYC Anarchist Bookfair will feature over 40 tables as well as an art gallery. Panels, presentations, workshops, and skill shares will provide further opportunities to learn more and share your own experience and creativity. You know you should attend the 2st NYC Anarchist Bookfair if … * You’re an anarchist publisher, zinester, film/videographer, artist * You’re a member of the worldwide anarchist community * You’re an anarchist based in NYC and looking to connect with other anarchists here * You’re anarcho-curious and looking to find out more about the contemporary anarchist movement, its ideas, ethics, activism or just to find out more about the community.

// top image is from last year’s fair, courtesy of bluecinema’s flickr page.

I wonder how well these things really work? They say 99% accurate, but . . . So, for those of you still hanging around waiting for me to check in on my blog once and a while, posts will most likely become even more infrequent, as my attention diverges even further away from this blog. I’m hoping to have some new artwork to announce soon (that will possibly even see the light outside my studio??) — I’m working on it (and no, I’m not using ‘artwork’ as a metaphor for human reproduction, although, if the above photo is any indication, it looks like there’s going to be a little bit of that around here as well).

The Friends of the Greenpoint Library are still looking for a few more Greenpoint artists to donate a small artwork (max size 11×14 inches) for a benefit for said library to be held next Saturday, September 15th, from 11am to 2:30pm. Artworks will be sold for $25 (and all artists must currently live or work in Greenpoint).

So, considering the crowds of hipsters walking around my neighborhood carrying Pearl Paint bags, it shouldn’t be a problem to round up a hundred or so artists from Greenpoint with a small artwork to spare for the benefit of their local community. It’s also a good way for aspiring artworlders to get their work seen by the bigwigs, as awesome blogger (and Mother-Teresa-hatin’) James Wagner, Barry Hoggard (from Artcal.net and bloggy), as well as Leah Stuhltrager, director of Dam Stuhltrager Gallery, will be among the jurors deciding upon a $100 prize. Full details here.

I’ll be including something myself, although I’ve yet to decide exactly what. I sent them a JPG of the painting/collage from which the banner image for this blog was taken, but I think I’d rather do something new that tackles a more local issue. It will probably be about gentrification, since my daily walk to work includes passing no less than 5 noisy construction sites scurrying to produce even more luxury condos, completely unaffordable for the vast majority of people who already live in Greenpoint.

On the activist front, there are a ton of anti-war activities being organized for the next month or so. I’ll be at the Times Square military recruiter station tomorrow along with other members of the War Resisters League. In the afternoon, we’ll be joined by the radical tunes of Rude Mechanical Orchestra. Stop by if you get the chance. Saturday is the kickoff of a week-long action called Operation No Recruits, for which various NYC anti-war organizations have teamed up in an effort to occupy the area surrounding the Times Square recruiter station from 9-5 for an entire week.

Other local and semi-local events coming up include:

Sept. 15 — ANSWER coalition in Washington DC

Sept. 21 — Iraq Moratorium (black armbands, etc.)

Sept. 25 — Bush at United Nations, Demonstrations

Sept. 29 — Troops Out Now, Washington DC

Oct. 27 — United for Peace and Justice, regional actions

Who says there’s no anti-war movement? Now get out in the streets!

[on a side note, could someone please tell millionaire lawmakers to stop playing the lottery. I mean, seriously.]

If you’re in New York this weekend, be sure to check out the First Annual (and first ever) NYC Anarchist Book Fair. Even if you don’t identify with non-hierarchical politics, there’s fun to be had for everyone (e.g., a friend of mine says that she once purchased a Vagina Coloring Book at a similar event elsewhere). They promise to have over 60 tables (groups, book presses, zines, infoshops, etc.) and 12 workshops throughout the weekend, as well as food and free childcare (including some creative/radical programs for kids).

The gritty details:

1st Annual, 1st Ever NYC Anarchist Book Fair

When: Sat., April 14, 2007, 11am-7pm

Where: Judson Memorial Church, 55 Washington Square South, Manhattan

There’s also a film festival on Friday, an after-party at the Creek/Cave in LIC on Saturday, and more events on Sunday. Check out the website for more info.