A 3D digital rendering of a handwritten note with cursive writing.

Art & Culture from the Midwest

Writing, Publishing, Art, Bookselling, Events, Other Midwestern Miscellany

Impeded Stream is the creative work of Nicholas Rynerson and Treasure Tatum: distinctly Midwestern art, publishing, writing, bookselling, events, design, film.

Contact us at nick@bolt-cutter.com & treasure@bolt-cutter.com

Here’s what we’ve been up to lately:

Seasons: A Year of Midwestern Life

SEASONS: A YEAR OF MIDWESTERN LIFE is an exploration of the rhythms of life in a normal, overlooked place. This work of poetry and prose was written by Impeded Stream co-founder Nicholas Rynerson, published fully by Impeded Stream, with art from Illinois-native fine artist Grace Mertens. Limited first edition printed on green linen over board hardcover features five distinct dust jackets. SOLD OUT. Second Edition coming in late 2026.

A stack of multiple copies of the book 'Seasons' by N.M. Rynerson on a red round table.
A collection of five books titled 'Seasons' by N. M. Rynerson, standing upright on a wooden surface with a glass decorative jar to the left.
A green hardcover book titled 'Seasons' resting on a wooden table.
A wooden table holds a small stack of books and a blue notebook. The top book is titled "Seasons: A Year of Midwestern Life" with poems by Nicholas Martin Ryerson, and has a black and white illustration on the cover.

The Upstairs Bookshop

We love books so much we opened a little seasonal bookshop in Lexington, Illinois above Lexington Social. We’re open for events and the holiday market and the occasional Saturday. And you can always head upstairs after your meal at Social and purchase a book, record, or film on the honor system (PayPal & Venmo). Stay tuned for updates on upcoming book sales.

A cozy living room with wooden furnishings, bookshelves filled with books, and a dark wood sideboard, illuminated by natural light from a nearby window.
A cozy interior room with a wooden bookshelf filled with books, a wooden chair, a table with books, a large table lamp, and a window letting in natural light.
A man sitting on a chair in a cozy, book-filled room with wooden floors and white shiplap walls, looking directly at the camera.
Bookshelves filled with books in a cozy room decorated with white paper snowflakes and a framed black-and-white photograph of a lighthouse, with a wooden floor.

The Duncan Manor Review

Written and designed by Nicholas Rynerson, printed locally in Central Illinois. This zine is a fresh and full look at the history, culture, and stories surrounding Duncan Manor - the famous stately Italianate manor visible form Route 66 and Interstate 55 near Normal, Illinois. You can buy a copy at DuncanManorHouse.com!

Buy a Copy
Open magazine showing pages about ghosts of Duncan Manor, with a quote: "As anyone who lives in an old house can attest, you learn to live with the ghosts." On a wooden surface.
A magazine titled 'Duncan Manor Review' placed on a bookshelf, featuring a cover photo of a woman holding a child, with a man and a woman smiling nearby, and a background of a brick building.
Open magazine with an article titled "A REAL MIDWESTERN COMMUNITY" on a wooden surface. The article discusses the community and history of Duncan Manor in Central Illinois, and features images of plants and a group of people.
A person holding a magazine titled "The Duncan Manor Review" in front of a historic brick building with large windows and a clear blue sky.

Bookselling

Online, in-person, events. We can’t stop buying books, so we do our best to sell some, too. If you want to buy books contact Nick@Bolt-Cutter.com for personal library curation, brokerage, and used book sales. We do events, pop-ups, and, of course, in-person sales at the Upstairs Bookshop.

Bookselling & Buying Inquiries
Bookshelf with a painting of a river landscape in the background, a book titled 'A World Lost' by Wendell Berry, framed photos, small decorative items including a pine cone, a bowl with cotton balls, and a string of fairy lights.
A person with dark sunglasses and a beard holding a stack of classic science fiction books, including titles by Frank Herbert and J.R.R. Tolkien, standing in front of a bookshelf filled with various books.
A large stack of books on a wooden table, with some books placed on top of each other and others leaning. The books vary in size, color, and condition, with some titles partially visible.
Bookshelf with various books on multiple shelves, wooden wall in the background.

Lexington, Ill. - Lexington History Project & Travel Atlas

We live in Lexington, Illinois. Population 1,800. And we love Lexington, Illinois. Impeded Stream has partnered with the city of Lexington on an ongoing Historical project, website design and development, and a vintage style travel atlas. All written, designed, imagined by the Impeded Stream collective.

Collage of images and text panels promoting Lexington, Illinois, with historical landmarks, local businesses, and community information.
Sign describing Lexington's Main Street history and recent updates, featuring a QR code for more information, surrounded by small shrubs and a tree, with parked cars and residential houses in the background.
A red and beige informational sign with an arrow pointing right, indicating the way to Main Street in Lexington, Alabama. The sign provides details about Lexington's Main Street business district and encourages learning more about local businesses and restaurants.
A folded travel map and guide for Lexington, Illinois, highlighting local shops, local life, local history, local food, and businesses on West Main Street. The map includes photos, descriptions, and a street layout with marked locations.

Film & Publishing

We have expensive experience in film directing, writing, and production. If you need a video created, reach out and we’ll partner with you to create a moving visual experience for the screen, social media, or something in between.


We also can handle the publishing process for books, magazines, apparel, signs, posters, banners, and other print materials end-to-end.

A person wearing a red and black plaid shirt and a yellow hat with headphones, operating a professional camera on a tripod in an art studio, with mountain-themed paintings in the background.
Camera equipment set up on a tripod inside a room with bookshelves, framed artwork, and a leather armchair.
Behind the scenes of a professional photography or video shoot, featuring black curtains, large studio lights, crew members, and equipment.
A table covered with multiple copies of the book 'Seasons' by N. M. Ryerson, along with decorative items like a candelabra, eggs, and a small teapot.

Art & Design

Everything should be beautiful. If you need written or visual art created for anything, reach out to us instead of opting for AI slop. We’ll connect you with the right artist (either Nicholas Rynerson or one of our many working artist friends) to help you create something lasting, human, and beautiful.

An art workspace with a watercolor painting of a tree stump with greenery, a watercolor palette, a sketchbook, a book titled 'Wordsworth Daffodils and other poems,' a black Sharpie pen, a paintbrush, a ceramic mug, a small circular wooden platform, and an orange lighter.
Close-up of two people walking outdoors, wearing casual clothing, with one wearing a shirt that says 'Impeded Stream' and a graphic of leaves, and the other wearing a shirt with a flower design under a plaid jacket, during cloudy weather.
Open book titled 'Seasons: A Year of Midwestern Life' with poem illustrations and other papers on a wooden table.
A collage of 16 logos and images, including event posters, city and university logos, a wolf illustration, a black and white photo of a man drinking coffee, and various emblems related to organizations and places.

Bolt Cutter & Impeded Stream

Bolt Cutter is Impeded Stream. Impeded Stream is not exactly Bolt Cutter. It’s all kind of the same. Bolt Cutter is Nicholas Rynerson and Treasure Tatum’s professional moniker. We’ve worked with clients as Bolt Cutter across various industries and project types since 2021. Werner Herzog once said “carry bolt cutters everywhere.”, so we do.

We are currently taking projects and are open to collaborations of all sizes. If you want to know more about Impeded Stream or want to work together, please send an email to treasure@bolt-cutter.com or nick@bolt-cutter.com. The world isn’t going to make itself less ugly on its own.

Contact Impeded Stream