For Immediate Release

Contacts: Kathy Barr, (415) 565-0545 ext 13

San Francisco, Calif.—October 18, 2005—The San Francisco Center for the Book hosts "Poets Pulling Prints," an evening of visual and experimental poetry writing with Scott Helmes and Spencer Selby. Join the Center on Friday, October 28th, 2005 at 7:00pm for this free event.

During the evening, Helmes and Selby will explore the artistic construction of poetry that contains visual and textual elements, each of which are essential to a poem. See how poetry is celebrated through a new form of artistic expression.

A letterpress broadside of a poem by each poet will be available. This is an ongoing series funded in part by Poets & Writers.

About L. Scott Helmes
Scott Helmes is a poet, writer, and artist whose work has been published and exhibited worldwide since 1972. He is represented in major museum and writing archives, with his work from 1972-1997 in the Avant Writing Collection at Ohio State University. He has taught at the University of Minnesota, Metropolitan State University, and the Minnesota Center for Book Arts. Through his StampPad Press, Helmes has published and recorded experimental writing since 1985.

About Spencer Selby
Spencer Selby is a writer and artist who published seven poetry books, and three collections of visual work. In 1993 he created www.selbyslist.com which has become an important source of information for innovative writers around the world.

About San Francisco Center for the Book
The San Francisco Center for the Book is a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring and encouraging contemporary interpretations of the book as an art object, as well as preserving the traditional art of book-making. The center provides both a home for Bay Area book artists and a place where the wider community can discover book arts. Our scores of workshops foster learning at all levels: from introductory classes to year long courses, from traditional bookbinding to cutting-edge printing techniques to experimental book art forms. Plus, there's always an exhibition up at the Center, designed to inform and delight visitors. Free public programs abound, too, from poetry readings, to book signings to gallery talks. Visit our Website at www.sfcb.org.

The San Francisco Center for the Book is a 501(C)3 nonprofit educational organization that depends on the involvement and generosity of individuals and on contributions from foundations and government agencies including the National Endowment for the Arts to provide many of its education initiatives, public events and book-arts programming.