TOAD NEWS: issue 6 pre-orders, release party & exhibit, and artsfest
Whew. Sorry, joplintoad.com, for neglecting you. If you’re a rare soul who checks here rather than hopping onto social media… well, first of all, good for you.. you’re probably mentally healthier than we are. But we do apologize for our radio silence on the site; it’s been a crazy season. We plan to keep things refreshed more regularly in the future, with regular updates and a new set of features to coincide with our upcoming issue 6.
Here’s a quick set of headlines in the meantime, to catch you up on all things toad:
Joplin Toad issue 6 release party & exhibit opening: Sept 15
The Joplin Toad celebrates it's 6th issue and accompanying exhibit with the opening of "1987 VHS: art from Issue 6 artists" at Bookhouse Cinema.
The casual reception will be hosted in the main pub space at Bookhouse on September 15th, from 6:30 to 8pm. Check out the new artwork display, meet the artists and toad team, grab a drink or meal from the bookhouse kitchen, and be one of the very first to purchase the newest issue of Joplin's indie arts magazine!
Can’t catch the opening night? That’s ok. The exhibit will be up at bookhouse all the way through October.
image of our last art show, “Nicxibit”, which featured Nic Cage themed artwork collected from one of our monthly challenges.
ISSUE 6 official release: Sept 16 (pre-orders open Sept 8)
issue design by Kayla Monteleone: cover illustration by Luke Smith
Inspired by our own childhoods, and, I’m sure, the subconscious but powerful influences of the “Stranger Things” phenomena, we crafted the theme “VHS 1987” for issue 6. Our key phrases in taking submissions and considering designs were:
dark suburbia
After school
outer space
We tapped into the vibes of the films we grew up on, from John Hughes to John Carpenter; and received a delightful set of submissions to compliment the vision dreamed up by Matt Otey (humor editor) and Kayla Monteleone (art director and designer).
This is the first issue in which we actually had to turn down a fair amount of submissions. While it saddens us to do so and we really do wish we could fit it all in, it’s also hugely encouraging to receive such an array of work from talented Joplin area folks.
We hope you enjoy it.
Available around town Sept 16: available for pre-order on our online store, Sept 8
Artsfest: Sept 16/17
In theme with our new issue, our booth at Joplin Artsfest will be themed as a 1980s video store. In addition to 80s classic (and absolute not classic) VHS for sale, we’ll of course have our new magazines, our old magazines, new merch items, and so much wonderful art from our local contributors.
If you’ve never attended Artsfest… it’s a delightful collection of Joplin art, hosted by the DJA’s Empire Market.
Here’s a clip from the ad currently being shown at Bookhouse Cinema:
video clip from an advertisement promoting The Toad video booth at the 2022 Joplin Artsfest. Made by Bookhouse Cinema’s Alex Dickey.
The event runs from 5-9pm on the 16th, and from 10am to 3pm on the 17th. And here’s where you can find us once you’re there:
Tiny Toad Press: Release of “Fox World” by F.C. Shultz
The Joplin Toad is proud to announce the first project from “Tiny Toad Press”, a new branch of our platform that publishes small literary projects through tiny book printing.
”Fox World” is a tiny book of Joplin oriented nature poems, inspired by small run 80s & 90s chapbooks, and written by our own poetry editor F.C. Shultz. Our foray into publishing is the brainchild of mr Shultz. We look forward to accepting more submissions in coming months for additional small run projects and will announce when those submissions open.
”Fox World,”, priced at a modest $5, will be available at the aforementioned events- our issue 6 exhibit and release party, and at artsfest. In addition, we plan to have the book available on our site store and at more booths over the fall!
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That’s all for now, toads. Stay tuned. Much, much more on the way.