Midwestern Press. Independent Bookseller & Publisher

Midwestern Press has its intentions based in exactly what it says: a Midwestern Press.

Midwestern Press is an independent publication press committed to the dissemination and discovery of experimental, experiential, and lucid forms of radical art. We intend to engage with new and abstract ideas, to broaden culture, and to enrich the spirit and environment in which we exist. Specifically for Cincinnati and the surrounding region.

We aim to publish a diverse range of poets and artists on a number of different media, as well as collaborate as much as possible, with any artist, musician, poet or writer willing.

Our motive is to help further build, support, and expand the poetry, art, and music environment in Cincinnati and the surrounding area.

We will be moving into a shop located at 7420 Hamilton Ave. in the Mt. Healthy neighborhood of Cincinnati Ohio, where we will carry an assortment of books from contemporary publishers on theory, art, poetry, as well as comic books, and an assortment of other oddities. Our desire in doing this is that we hope to provide resources for our community. What we want is to create a space in which ideas are exchanged physically, person to person. We will also use this space to host poetry readings, workshops, and art events, with the intent of providing a new platform and space to cultivate local culture.

Risks and challenges

Among many, our main challenge up until this point is that we have maintained a strict rule for ourselves that we will do this without financial backers, loans or grants so that we are not obligated to adhere to any outside motive, or influence.

Up until now, we have funded this entirely out of our own pocket.

We love poetry. We love art. We love the community in which we exist in and refuse to compromise our values for the glimmering lights of elsewhere. This is our home, and this endeavor takes time, it takes passion, and it takes work & persistence.

Everything has been a learning process. This project is funded, ran and motivated by musicians, poets, and artists for musicians, poets, artists and Midwesterners alike.

Currently, we have three forthcoming books; a book of poetry from the poet Thomas Wagster, a book of designs from the tattoo artist Jake Hill, and a book of lectures from the poet Amelia Ferguson.

Every project comes with its own set of challenges and obstacles in which we adapt situationally and we are proud of having the capability to approach these problems with a sense of excitement and malleability. We have no rules, and the possibilities are endless.

We simply want to provide a space where abstract thought, art and poetry have a place to grow and explode/shine. Most importantly, we want to do so in Cincinnati.

We believe that this project is possible and important for our community. And we are excited about the challenges to come, but we cannot do it alone. With your help we believe we can accomplish our goal, continue to nurture, provide and enrich the already thriving environment in which we exist.