HELLO
ORIGINS
2026 marks the 40th anniversary of Bend Press. They were “unofficially” born in 1986 with the publication of RIP, a zine featuring punk rock, skateboarding. The name morphed to BEND PRESS with the release of issue #02 later that year. Originally BEnd donned itself “The World’s Smallest Press,” but with the slow bending over the years, we now consider ourselves more of a “World’s Smallest Something.” With a only a staff of 3, co-founders Mel Bend and Andy Jenkins, and myself, we have the enviable luxury of working spontaneously, delving into several creative domains whenever we feel the itch; audio recordings, art exhibitions, comics, creative services and more. Branching out has given us the opportunities to work with, collaborate, and champion, a diverse, multi-media, group of creatives we sometimes call teh B Team.
That last sentence sounded a little pretentious. We aren't. I don't think. This is all so confusing.
- Carl Sanger, Director of Diurnal Drawings and keeper of the imaginary warehouse.
NOTE
When I started this Bend thing in the mid '80s, I had no idea what I was doing, and barely do today in my early '60s. But that's OK. I've come to live with it. Except on the days when I'm curled up into a ball refusing to get out of bed. This morning, however, I awoke, sat up, stretched my arms, back and neck, and felt pretty good. I came down to the Bend Studio and started writing this because the site hasn't been updated in about SIX YEARS. So today, the day I have a shitload of other work, I decide to fiddle with Bend instead.
The Idea of Bend has always been an inspiration to me. It's hard to put a finger on what it is now (similar to my own my own career path). Is it a zine? A book publishing company? Artist platform? A way to sell my own wares? All of the above. If you've followed Bend any time in the last 30 years, thank you. Thank you so much. I can feel it. Stick with me, good things to come.
-Andy Jenkins, Founder, Shipper, Human Resources Supervisor
PS; f you're interested in seeing a gallery of work, check out my work site, Meet Andy Jenkins.
Illustration above by travis millard, from Bend 25, "What Happened"
"These guys think they're hot shit"
© 1986, Bend Press Machine
