Les Figues Press
{{Short description|American non-profit literary press}}
{{Infobox publisher
| image =
| parent =
| status =
| founded = 2005
| founder = Teresa Carmody, Vanessa Place
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| country = United States
| headquarters = Los Angeles, California
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| publications = Books
| topics =
| genre = literary fiction and poetry
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| url = {{URL|http://www.lesfigues.com}}
}}
Les Figues Press is an American non-profit literary press that publishes poetry, prose, visual art, conceptual writing, and translation. Based in Los Angeles, California, the press curates and hosts literary events, readings, performances, and art salons. Les Figues upholds a feminist criticality and editorial vision. Their stated mission is to create aesthetic conversations between readers, writers, and artists{{cite web|url=http://www.wordcraftla.com/blog/submission-sunday-72014.html|title=Submission Sunday 7.20.14|accessdate=2014-08-15}} by publishing innovative/experimental and avant-garde styled work.{{cite web|url=http://counterpathpress.org/not-i-collaboration-constraint-les-figues-press-feature-with-vanessa-place-teresa-carmody-michael-du-plessis-jen-hofer-and-doug-nufer-saturday-april-13-2013-630-p-m|title=Not I: Collaboration & Constraint|accessdate=2014-07-03}}
History
Les Figues Press was founded in January 2005 by Teresa Carmody, Vanessa Place, Pam Ore and Sarah La Borde. In December 2005, the press became incorporated as a nonprofit 501c3 organization.
From 2005 to 2013, the press published the TrenchArt Series. The TrenchArt series was an annual series of four books with a collection of essays. The series was devoted to facilitating conversations about the craft and form of writing.{{cite web|url=http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2013/06/newest-trenchart-logistics-series-includes-books-from-dodie-bellamy-divya-victor-redell-olsen-chris-tysh/|title=Newest TrenchArt: Logistics Series Includes Books From Dodie Bellamy, Divya Victor, Redell Olsen, Chris Tysh|accessdate=2014-08-14}} In 2008, Alta Ifland's collection Voix de Glace/Voice of Ice won the Louis Guillaume Prize for Prose Poems, France{{cite web|url=http://www.gallerymine.com/poetry-and-prose-in-the-mine/|title=MINE reading series|accessdate=2014-08-15}} and in 2012, Jen Hofer's translation of Myriam Moscona's Negro Marfil/Ivory Black won the Harold Morton Landon Translation Award (selected by Pierre Joris),{{cite web|url=http://www.poets.org/academy-american-poets/prizes/harold-morton-landon-translation-award|title=Harold Morton Landon Translation Award|accessdate=2014-08-14}} and the PEN Award for Poetry in Translation (selected by Christian Hawkey).{{cite web|url=http://www.pen.org/literature/2012-pen-award-poetry-translation|title=PEN Award for Poetry in Translation|work=PEN|accessdate=2014-08-14}}
Between 2010 and 2011, the press curated NOT CONTENT, a series of text installations at Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions (LACE). The writers involved included: Divya Victor, Vanessa Place, Douglas Kearney, Amina Cain, Mathew Timmons, Teresa Carmody,{{cite web|url=http://www.welcometolace.org/events/view/not-content-performance-2/|title=Not Content: Performance 2|work=Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions|accessdate=2014-08-14}} Christine Wertheim, Marco Antonio Huerta, and Sawako Nakayasu.{{cite web|url=http://www.welcometolace.org/events/view/not-content-performance-8/|work=Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions|title=Not Content: Performance 8|accessdate=2014-08-14}}
In 2011, the press launched the NOS (not otherwise specified) Book Contest. The NOS contest seeks submissions of poetry, lyrical essays, novellas, and other forms not otherwise specified. Winners receive $1,000 and publication by the press.{{cite web|url=http://sfsucw.tumblr.com/post/94514344690/fourth-annual-les-figues-nos-book-contest|title=Fourth Annual Les Figues NOS Book Contest|accessdate=2014-08-14}} Past winners include: Becca Jensen for Among the Dead: Ah! And Afterward Yes! in 2011 (Selected by Sarah Shun-lien Bynum), Jessica Bozek for The Tales in 2012, (Selected by Sina Queyras), and Colin Winnette for Coyote in 2013 (Selected by Aimee Bender).{{cite web|url=http://www.lesfigues.com/submit/|title=NOS|accessdate=2014-08-01}}
From 2012 to 2013, the press held the first two parts of a three part series named Q.E.D (Quod Erat Demonstrandum) at Schindler House.{{cite web|url=http://jacket2.org/reviews/qed-ii-part-one-presence-absence|title=The presence of absence.|last=Calder|first=Kim|date=2013-03-13|work=Jacket2|accessdate=2014-08-14}} In the series, a writer, an artist, and a critic meet to discuss contemporary issues and conditions of queer art and literature. The questions are drawn from the participants' creative work and philosophies.{{cite web|url=http://www.lesfigues.com/project/q-e-d-ii/|title=QEDii|accessdate=2014-08-14}}
In 2014, the press launched the Global Poetics Series, an annual series dedicated to exploring new forms and theories of innovative poetry and prose around the world. The books in the series include: Frank Smith's Guantanamo, Sawako Nakayasu's The Ants, and Derek Beaulieu's Kern.{{cite web|url=http://www.lesfigues.com/announcing-global-poetics-series-2014-membership/|title=Announcing Global Poetics Series + 2014 Membership|accessdate=2014-08-18}}