theretherenow.

Hi. My name is Travis Shaffer --> but you might only know me as theretherenow This has been my artist persona for the last 8 years. My last solo exhibition was now more than 6 years ago - I used to be an artist who does pieces --> now only an artist who makes books theretherenow began as a curatorial program housed in a project gallery i co-ran with then colleague @n_b_ . I down-play theretherenow as the practice of an individual often by using the aspirational "we". Sometimes that "we" actually references studio assistants, grad students, colleagues, collaborators. But functionally, theretherenow is a person as much as a press. For better or worse, I touch every piece of paper that makes its way into theretherenow books. So, I figure it is time for an introduction -- I have been making artist books since 2008 - mostly ED RUSCHA knock-offs. I joined @artistsbookscooperative in 2010 I published my first book using RISO in 2016 with @anewnothing @mrnatward @benalper . The RISO was printed for me by @issuepress . I got a small grant for a riso that same year and immediately printed a color chart. I bought a white drum hoping it would be ideal for my personal project -- WHITE WORK -- a deadpan and cynical visual study of the aesthetics of white(ness). That didn't really work since white ink is transparent. In 2017/8 my family commited to this place long-term (wife and photographer @angtakesphotos and kid .. and eventually COVID dog who is crazy) I published THERE, THERE and much more... and started doing fairs as Theretherenow @detroitartbookfair @printedmatter_artbookfairs @offprint_projects etc. I upgraded from 2 MZs to what is now my MIDWEST RISO EMPIRE @therisoroom where we have 26 Color Drums (not all working :) and 3 printers. I became a tenured Professor of Visual Studies at @mizzou_svs in Columbia, MIssouri last year and am investing my energy into growing MFA support for PUBLISHING as PRACTICE students and building an interdisciplinary publishing lab.. I started [color/shift] in 2020 and launched CMYKinda* shortly after. Someday I will finish it - ish. #risograph #cmykinda #risoprint #risoprinting

@therisoroom is getting a facelift... why shouldn't I? Turns out GPT aided virtual try-on (prompt AI to put you in the clothes you are shopping for) also makes you a much more handsome version of yourself... I've been picking out plywood furniture-designs, brightly-colored powder-coated cabinets and shelving for THE PUBLISHING LAB and using photoshop and AI to help see what will work while we wait for wall repair, new paint, and new flooring. …. Thought i'd try the same thing on myself as I think about some big wardrobe changes... i.e. next school year's sock color and a new signature uniform that is bike commute friendly. IYKYK.

🙏 to @aaronhegert and the students/faculty @ttusoa for a lovely day on campus. I made this a quick 2clr print in MOSS & TOMATO 🍅

The first public exhibition of THE COLOR STUDIES (from color/shift) opens tomorrow at WASHU's Weitman Gallery. I will be giving a Lecture on Friday the 17th @ 5:00pm in Bixby 104, Printmaking Crit Space --> with a reception immediately following. Special thanks to gallery director @kyleeisom ! While the printing for the project is still underway, I am excited to be sharing the work in person for the first time. I have two other exhibition venues lined up for Fall of '26 and Winter of '27 and likely more to come after that. Thankful for the artist's who have lent their work to this project (including those patient ones whose prints are still in progress).

Come say hi to @larissakamei who is headed to @multipleformats to table for PUBLIC HOUSE @mizzou_svs — I sent an array of color/shift prints and there will be books from our program including our MFA COHORT…

My first Lighting Course, as a student at the criminally defunct Art Institute of Pittsburgh, was to photograph a 2 x 4 using a large format camera. We had two chances to place each visible plane in a neighboring zone... When I started teaching the studio course @mu.photo.lab I re-imagined the assignment as a bootcamp to lighting control, ratios, & metering. These demo images depict the fabricated 1' x 1' x 1' cube (paint-matched to the table and drop). [1] Faux Metallic [2] Zone 4,5,6 [3] High Key [4] Low Key [5,6] Match 2 Sides

1,000 ISBNs in the BANK for PUBLIC HOUSE. @therisoroom is moving to a new facility - with it we have registered an official imprint and will be sharing information about possible collaborations and call or proposals ... #risography #risograph

👽 Moon Day in the lighting studio at @mizzou_svs

Back on the Substack Horse... A quick post on building custom .icc profiles via PS for the purpose of Batch color editing. #photography

Putting in demo time for our studio photography course with this colonizer — excited for another semester. @mizzou_svs

After a decade of small progress with equipment and facilities ... I am really excited to share that @therisoroom is going to be moving out of plywood-clad 130sqft into a dedicated space called "THE PUBLISHING LABORATORY" The official approval of the location is tentative (pending approval to move a vandercook and other letterpress stuff) but we otherwise have the approval to re-located into a 1400 sqft space and have a significant budget to build out the space in RISO-COLOR GOODNESS! ... more soon ...

Join faculty from MUSVS for a zoom information session about the 2026 call for applicants @ the MFA program at the University of Missouri School of Visual Studies -- I will be there to share information about our #risography lab; #photography lab and cohort of photo/print/publishing graduate students and facilities. MUSVS MFA - is a three-year fully-funded intensive studio program - WE PAY YOU --> all accepted students receive a 19,000 usd stipend, a full-tuition waiver, subsidized health care - Candidates will serve in assistantships supporting facilities, faculty, or undergraduate teaching. - has facilities in drawing, painting, printmaking and publishing, fibers, ceramics, RISO, photography, video art, and installation\interdisciplinary practices Applications Due -- 18 JAN 2026 INFO SESSION -- 2 JAN 2026 >>> Zoom Meeting Details <<< Jan 2 @ 2pm Central Time Zone with a selection of faculty and current MFA candidates. We will be sharing details about the program and application process and answering any questions. https://umsystem.zoom.us/j/6068501819 zoom ID: 606 850 1819 #MFA #mizzou #artschool #gradschool #risograph #risography #printedmatter #artistbooks #bookarts #letterpress @collegebookart @spenational @spe_midwest