Another New Calligraphy


We design, handmake, and promote the works of local musicians and writers while preserving a DIY culture of smallness.		Another New Calligraphy publishes limited-edition books and CDs by Chicago-area artists. Our products are finely-crafted by writers and musicians, and then lovingly designed and handmade by us in our Chicago apartment. We also help promote and support local, independent literature and music through our regular event, Pish Posh.


		From the salons of Versailles to the Kingston soundclashes, from hoedowns in the Ozarks to Greenwich Village happenings, kindred artists have always gravitated towards one another to share fits of passion and expression. With Pish Posh, ANC brings its own wingding to Chicago by capturing worthy writers and musicians in our net and releasing them into one room where they can flutter near light bulbs and bounce off windows to reveal their true genius (or at least be entertaining for a few hours).

		At Pish Posh writers read and musicians play, and you’re invited to witness all the grandeur with your own eyes. Each event is documented by a special artifact, PCM Grapheme, that you can purchase for a low-low price and take home with you, so that you will always remember the fleeting brilliance you witnessed during this magical afternoon.

		Shepherd’s Check is a series of 12 microzines that demonstrate how the small and quiet can pierce the white noise of everyday life to create a gleaming voice of honesty and strength. Each microzine features 10 writings that are no more than 99 characters long. The writings belong to no particular genre or form. The only criteria are simplicity and thoughtfulness. Through Shepherd’s Check, we hope that readers will be affected by the way a minimal amount of space can impart an infinite amount of meaning. Available by subscription only, Shepherd’s Check arrives at your door once a month for a year and delivers surprises of language and life to the palm of your hand. To the many splendid writers who took part in bringing Shepherd's Check to life: thank you!


We believe that nothing can replace the satisfaction of holding something beautiful in your hands.		Another New Calligraphy is a nonprofit project that helps musicians and writers establish and maintain an effective visual and tactile presence in an ever-increasingly virtual world, all while building an artistic community with a powerful, unifying identity. Our hope is that by making an artist’s album or manuscript visually recognizable, we can help their art stand out in the American media overload. Operating outside the realm of traditional record labels and publishing houses allows us to work under a new model based on the simple acts of creating and sharing. ANC lives light, small, and local. We believe that creating art in mass quantities lessens its value and cheapens its spirit. ANC is also touchy-feely. We believe that nothing can replace the satisfaction of holding something beautiful in your hands. We like technology, but we like pretty things better.


We hope that whenever you hold an ANC product in your hands, you will reflect on the time, effort, and love that went into making it, and smile.		Why handmade? We enjoy making things with our hands. We enjoy holding things with our hands. We like to slow things down. We want each book or CD that goes from our home to yours to be a little piece of art. We hope that whenever you hold an ANC product in your hands, you will reflect on the time, effort, and love that went into making it, and smile. Why local? We treasure simple, community-based living. We prefer shaking hands, eye contact, and the occasional hug to wasting time, energy, and money. We were bred here, and we love here, and here is where we should be. Why limited edition? We are excited by special things. We salivate over a numbered object. We think smallness is adorable. We have limited resources and get frequent hand cramps. Will you publish my novel? Possibly. We prefer to publish shorter works, but if your novel is one of the most spectacular things we’ve ever read, we’ll be willing to put the extra time, money, and effort into turning it into a beautiful book. As a rule, we don’t necessarily like descriptors such as “novel” or “novella” or “long short story.” We like good writing. Will you sell me a digital album? No. That’s great that you are actually willing to pay for a computer file, but we think that’s pretty ridiculous. We’ll sell you something you can touch and smell and hug when you go to bed at night. Will you let my friend design my book/CD cover? No. Part of our mission is to “build an artistic community with a powerful, unifying identity.” We can’t do this if our products are designed by a diverse array of individuals outside of ANC. We’re sure you’re friend is a wonderful artist, and he can probably design you a beautiful book or album. If that’s the case, you probably don’t need us, anyway. What are you waiting for?