This was an extremely productive period of writing and experimentation with book design. Bedwetter, the most well known project from this period, was semi-anonymous, so the details of who was involved with the project were available, but designed to be overlooked. The ‘zine’s tag line was “Destroy to Enjoy.” which referenced layouts that frequently required tearing to access the visual or literary content. If I’m able to figure it out, I hope to one day have digital copies of Bedwetter available online, however I haven’t found a format that compares to the experience of ripping through a printed page.

Less well known were the chapbooks that I distributed, often freely and randomly. These books contained no identifying marks, no name, email, copyright – no way to find the author or identify the writing. They ranged from color covers filled with black text on newsprint to coated papers with full color illustrations. I tried to engage the notion of the found moment in photography. Instead of taking a picture, something that would provide sensation to myself and to a small audience, I was leaving offerings that I thought might have a similar impact on the random stranger who finds the book.

christopher@russellarchive.com
Inquiries: Luis De Jesus, Los Angeles
(c) Christopher Russell
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