_____ _______ _____ _____
/\ \ /::\ \ /\ \ /\ \
/::\ \ /::::\ \ /::\ \ /::\ \
/::::\ \ /::::::\ \ /::::\ \ \:::\ \
/::::::\ \ /::::::::\ \ /::::::\ \ \:::\ \
/:::/\:::\ \ /:::/~~\:::\ \ /:::/\:::\ \ \:::\ \
/:::/__\:::\ \ /:::/ \:::\ \ /:::/__\:::\ \ \:::\ \
\:::\ \:::\ \ /:::/ / \:::\ \ /::::\ \:::\ \ /::::\ \
___\:::\ \:::\ \ /:::/____/ \:::\____\ /::::::\ \:::\ \ /::::::\ \
/\ \:::\ \:::\ \ |:::| | |:::| | /:::/\:::\ \:::\ \ /:::/\:::\ \
/::\ \:::\ \:::\____\|:::|____| |:::| |/:::/ \:::\ \:::\____\ /:::/ \:::\____\
\:::\ \:::\ \::/ / \:::\ \ /:::/ / \::/ \:::\ \::/ / /:::/ \::/ /
\:::\ \:::\ \/____/ \:::\ \ /:::/ / \/____/ \:::\ \/____/ /:::/ / \/____/
\:::\ \:::\ \ \:::\ /:::/ / \:::\ \ /:::/ /
\:::\ \:::\____\ \:::\__/:::/ / \:::\____\ /:::/ /
\:::\ /:::/ / \::::::::/ / \::/ / \::/ /
\:::\/:::/ / \::::::/ / \/____/ \/____/
\::::::/ / \::::/ /
\::::/ / \::/____/
\::/ / ~~
\/____/
_____ _____ _____ _____
/\ \ /\ \ /\ \ |\ \
/::\ \ /::\ \ /::\ \ |:\____\
/::::\ \ \:::\ \ \:::\ \ |::| |
/::::::\ \ \:::\ \ \:::\ \ |::| |
/:::/\:::\ \ \:::\ \ \:::\ \ |::| |
/:::/ \:::\ \ \:::\ \ \:::\ \ |::| |
/:::/ \:::\ \ /::::\ \ /::::\ \ |::| |
/:::/ / \:::\ \ ____ /::::::\ \ /::::::\ \ |::|___|______
/:::/ / \:::\ \ /\ \ /:::/\:::\ \ /:::/\:::\ \ /::::::::\ \
/:::/____/ \:::\____\/::\ \/:::/ \:::\____\ /:::/ \:::\____\ /::::::::::\____\
\:::\ \ \::/ /\:::\ /:::/ \::/ / /:::/ \::/ / /:::/~~~~/~~
\:::\ \ \/____/ \:::\/:::/ / \/____/ /:::/ / \/____/ /:::/ /
\:::\ \ \::::::/ / /:::/ / /:::/ /
\:::\ \ \::::/____/ /:::/ / /:::/ /
\:::\ \ \:::\ \ \::/ / \::/ /
\:::\ \ \:::\ \ \/____/ \/____/
\:::\ \ \:::\ \
\:::\____\ \:::\____\
\::/ / \::/ /
\/____/ \/____/
I am pleased to announce the publication of my very first book,
soft city
(柔らかい街).
it is a collection of poetry, musings, photographs, brain thoughts, and sketches from a trip I took to japan in 2019.
these were initially written for the pure act of creative enjoyment itself, with no intention of publication.
but more recently (thanks in part to the urging of a few of my more poetically-inclined friends),
I returned to these ideas and decided to release them into the world simply in order
to celebrate the time I had there and to preserve the memories I made;
my only hope is that bringing this work into the physical realm will help me cherish these memories forever.
the book itself will be printed in two editions: a run of 100 copies in standard trade softcover size
with cover art by the immensely talented
_avtvmn_ [SOLD OUT]; and an artbook-sized run of XX copies in hardcover boards with slipcases,
all hand-stitched and hand-bound in traditional japanese style by the equally talented
lauren paige harper [COMING SOON].
.png)
you can obtain a copy by asking me nicely in person (if you're in NYC), or by purchasing it right here through my website (get in contact with me if you're outside the US and we can work out the cost of shipping).
specs:
- 240 pages.
- 50 B&W photographs.
- hand-numbered and signed.
- published on august 12, 2024 by tower to the sea press in brooklyn, new york.
- printed on FSC-certified paper made from 100% recycled, acid-free, post-consumer fiber.
- printed and bound in the united states of america.
- limited to 100 copies in softcover [SOLD OUT].
- limited to XX copies in hardcover [COMING SOON].
- $20 (or PWYC) + shipping for the softcover.
- $?? (TBD) + shipping for the hardcover artbook.
PURCHASE HERE
VIA PAYPAL / VENMO
blurbs about the book as written by the people in my life:
"absolutely exquisite words -—love reading them."
——Jade Gouvernel, loving girlfriend.
"it's my favorite."
——Conor Emerson, best friend.
"my former roommate wrote a book."
——John Buchta, dear friend of the past 13+ years.
"I just hurt one of my plants again. feeling very japanese. I'm going to read soft city."
——Richard Rogers, Gold Roger/Darkwing.
"a beautiful and adventurous collection of poetry and prose that provides an honest and thoughtful look
at how we interact with the spaces around us, how we shape them, and in turn, how they shape us."
——Samuel Sullivan, childhood friend and fellow author.
"I appear in maybe 1/10 photos I take when I visit a new place. the familiar setting is enough for me to remember;
I don't need my fool ass crowding the frame. Matt here does five better in that practice by forging every experience from a month
in japan——lived, felt, or otherwise——and distilling them into a book of poetry (or 'effigy' as he prefers) and photography.
given the abstract composition and musings of many of these passages, it's impossible to always know exactly what was on the mind
while writing. conveniently, there are copious footnotes that provide context, should one need, and the printed photographs scattered
throughout always appear with perfect timing to ground each leg of his journey with scenery. they're stark, objective portraits
of vistas rural, urban, and in between from tokyo to osaka anad beyond; and the B&W printing is befitting. his highly affected
language invites you to either follow his recollections or form your own bonds with it. tranquil and troubled nights in cocktail
bars, an ashamed sojourn to hiroshima, the flux of feeling leaving and returning to JFK: just a few 'effigies' that will stick with me."
——Ryan Gabos, Sotto Voce.
"it's lovely and it's magic."
——Lou Medina, Cherry Alive Books.
