Seeking inspiration through artistic collaboration.

 Todd Griese has been writing and publishing poetry for over 35 years. He is the editor/publisher of Gandy Dancer Press, a small press that specializes in collaboration with artists. 

 The genesis of Gandy Dancer Press found its beginning in 1984 in the Ojai Valley with a literary magazine to be called Gandy Dancer. The great fire of 1985, along with a strong wind blew a small group of poets and this dream in many directions. Todd Griese ended up in Maui, then Santa Barbara before settling in Ventura County, CA. 

 Gandy Dancer Press rose from the ashes in 2009 with the publication of Todd Griese's collection of poems, SPIRITUAL LINES. Gandy Dancer Press specializes in the publication of artistic broadsides and the collaborative expressions of poetry, art and music. Accomplished artists, such as, Jane Shanahan and Timm Sinclair have brought their varied and many talents in both the fine arts, as well as, graphic arts to produce exceptional conceptions of Griese's poetry. 

Todd Griese has had the honor and privilege to work with legendary drummer, Terry Bozzio (Frank Zappa, Jeff Beck, Missing Persons, U.k.). Terry's accomplished career, as arguably one of the greatest drummers of all time, goes without saying. However, Terry is also, both composer and artist. 

Terry Bozzio and Todd Griese have joined their talents and vision for a unique and dynamic collaboration of art, music and poetics. The debut of of their collaboration and artistic expression was previewed in a live stage act at ARTS ALIVE 2017 on May 27th. 

Todd and Terry's gallery installation A PART OF THE LANDSCAPE/ A PART OF THE HUMAN CONDITION premiered on July 1st, 2017 and ran through the month of July at the Blackboard Gallery, Studio Channel Islands in Camarillo, CA.

 
This show was the world premiere of Terry Bozzio's abstract expressions. The show included art/poetry collaborations (broadsides) from Terry Bozzio and Todd Griese, as well as musical collaboration and poetry.  An Album was produced comprised of Terry's compositions and Todd's poetry entitled, NO WORK, NO FOOD. 

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In 2018, Todd collaborated with the award-winning pastel artist, Daggi Wallace, known for her figurative work, on a broadside entitled, Caught Between Moonbeams.

Gandy Dancer Press also published North Fork, a beautiful letterpress chapbook of Haiku and Tanka in response to the devastation caused by the Thomas Fire and ensuing flood and debris flow. The title “North Fork” refers to the North Fork of Matilija Creak above Ojai, California in the Wheeler Gorge wilderness. Todd Griese worked the winters of 2018 and 2019 on relief efforts to restore highway conditions following the fire and flood damage.

This publication, in conjunction with Norman Clayton’s Classic Letterpress and Gandy Dancer Press, was printed in a limited 300 signed copied run, designed as a community bonding project for the communities affected by the Thomas Fire disaster, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. Five broadsides were also published from this project.

The book release was part of the Trial by Fire Exhibition (November 2018 – January 2019) at the Ojai Valley Museum in Ojai, California and also in January 2019 at the Blackboard Gallery, Studio Channel Islands in Camarillo, California.