Upheaval Press

In December 2023, I released the first issue of BLASPHEMY—a black-and-white zine rooted in nostalgia, showcasing photographs of San Francisco–style writing from the late 1990s. Inspired by Greg Lamarche’s exhibition Subscription to Mischief, it was the project I had dreamed of making as a teenager. At the time, I had little expectation beyond completing it, checking it off my mental list, and returning to other responsibilities. What I didn’t anticipate was how strongly it would resonate. That inaugural issue quickly found an audience who shared my connection to the era, and the series grew into a run of sold-out releases.

As BLASPHEMY unfolded, I began to imagine its eventual conclusion. There are only so many photographs of San Francisco in the 1990s. Yet the process of creating these zines has been such an honor and such a thrill that I felt compelled to continue the momentum. I began to envision new directions—documenting the Oakland tracks, freight trains of the 1990s, or even collaborating with friends to produce and promote their own zine projects. I am also working to compile the entire BLASPHEMY series into a full-color collected volume.

To give these projects a lasting home, I founded Upheaval Press. My vision is to expand beyond BLASPHEMY, supporting future publications and preserving the energy that first inspired the work.

Thank you for the support and enthusiasm for BLASPHEMY. Watching this project take shape has been deeply rewarding, and I look forward to what’s ahead with Upheaval Press. 

-Richard