Vispo in The World

Repugno Selects is a new blogzine for visual poetry / word art / text objects “” as they intervene in the world. Each issue, Repugno the editor, gives us an interesting collection of graffiti, and things like graffiti to enjoy. His criteria: the visual poetry cannot appear on a page. Instead, the art featured ere is printed on brick walls, tacked onto phone booths, and discovered in alleyways. Repugno calls this kind of stuff “Vispo in the World”. (Vispo, of course, is short for “visual poetry”.) The criteria for Repugno Selects also serves as a good definition of what is meant by “Vispo in the World”. Read on.

I like how language degrades & layers are revealed. I like unreadable graffiti, stencil slogans, wrapped telephone poles. All similar forms of ‘street publishing. This magazine is for documenting poetic work in the public sphere or work given away/left in public. I do not wish to see page-based work for the most part – exceptions are possible – but not that easy to imagine. Visual Poetry for me has to connect to text, readability is not necessary, but language is required (no matter how degraded). Artfulness I appreciate careful technique, a painterly eye, work that doesn’t sacrifice some kind of discipline, but, I also thrive on accidents. The Hand in the Work. So much work is computer-based now that I find myself liking the handmade or hand-assisted works, they’re consistently more real for me. B/W-ish i tend in the direction of black and white and appreciate those who can use just enough color or who let the colors of the materials carry the weight. Monochromes. Sepia. A starkness that has impact. Send Your Work If you think you have work that would work for me, send it.