The Holloway Press launches two new books to mark 15th anniversary
The publication of two beautiful new collections of text and art will help mark the 15th anniversary of specialist publisher The Holloway Press.

The Holloway Press was founded in 1994 by University of Auckland Associate Professor of English Peter Simpson, who retired at the beginning of this year. As its newly appointed part-time director, Peter is committed to expanding the activities of the press, which is known for producing unique, limited edition works.

The forthcoming collections are no exception. Fishworks combines nine original drawings by Max Gimblett with nine poems by Alan Loney, who was himself the co-founder and first printer of The Holloway Press. Alan’s reputation as one of the most skilled printers and designers in Australasia is well known; what is perhaps less recognised is his talent as a poet. Peter Simpson describes the poems in Fishworks as “multi-layered, subtle and complex” and notes that they were written in response to nine paintings by Max Gimblett that explore the theme of fish and the moon. The drawings included in the book are responses by Gimblett to Loney’s poems.

The 80 copies of Fishworks include a Foreword by New York poet/artist/critic John Yau and will be published in two versions: standard (50 copies) and deluxe (30 copies). Each copy of the deluxe edition features an original Gimblett painting and comes in a purpose-made sleeve.

Following Fishworks, The Holloway Press will publish another unique collection of text and images. The Fruits Of comprises texts, poetry and prose by University of Auckland Associate Professor of English Murray Edmond and photographs by Joanna Forsberg. Together, they tell an anachronistic version of the Eros and Psyche story. The book's interplay of the texts with Joanna Forsberg's photographic images is integrated into the roller-coaster love story of Eros and Psyche.

University of Auckland Associate Professor of English and poet Lisa Samuels offers the following praise: “In The Fruits Of, the beloved’s body is brought into the same room as ripe vegetables, surreal stories, symbol-rich poems, eroticised philosophy, and the truth of images. The shared lush imaginings of Edmond and Forsberg centre the book; its gorgeous collaborations feel like organic myth.”

The Fruits Of has been made so that it unfolds out from a box binding to become a series of sheets which combine text, image and typography. Each folding sheet has its own independent life as well as being part of the whole creation.

“Over the next year or two The Holloway Press plans to publish books by Len Lye, Leo Bensemann, James K. Baxter, John Pule and Gregory O’Brien. Like Fishworks and The Fruits Of, each will contain the combination of text and image which has come to characterise the Press’ publications” says Peter Simpson. “Because the books are hand printed, use the best materials, often include original art, and are published in small editions, they are costly to make and therefore to buy, especially in an economic recession, but they should last for ever and will always hold their value.”

Fishworks will be launched by Roger Parsons at 2pm on Saturday 23 May at Gow Langsford Gallery (Lorne Street, Auckland).

The Fruits Of will be launched by Emeritus Professor Roger Horrocks at 5.30pm on Friday 5 June, at the Gus Fisher Gallery (74 Shortland Street, Auckland).

Both books will be discounted up to publication day. For more information visit http://www.hollowaypress.auckland.ac.nz/ or email p.simpson@auckland.ac.nz.