chthonic press

art made with curiosity, community, and sincerity

chthonic—pronounced ka-thonic—comes from “earth” in greek. it refers to gods underground (or, in more contemporary times, summons up images of cthulhu and cosmic horror). it is also the interlocking root systems beneath our feet that bring nourishment to the trees stretching far above our heads. 

the blackberry bushes at my grandparents’ ran thick and wild, smelling sweet and sticky in the summer. my grandfather burned them to stop their rampage. at one point he pulled out a nine foot root that he hung above his porch. still the fruit covered the hills, providing shade and protection for the deer and the rabbits. come august we spent hours in the sun pricking our fingers on the thorns and sucking the sweet purple juice from them. 

those roots offered life, nutrients, community, protection, and resilience. i can hope to do half as much through art.