the worst possibility is not the only possibility
remember the horizon
I’m ecstatic to announce that I will be vending at NYC Feminist Zine Fest on April 6th, this Saturday at Barnard College. I tabled there when it last occurred FIVE years ago in 2019. It will be the first time I’ll vend under my own name and I’m debuting four new zines. Plus I’m bringing my friends Nicole Morning’s and Adam Gnade’s works to sell as well as Hello America Stereo Cassette Tapes & Eternia Press Zines. They’re fantastic writers and I’m honored to table for them. I’m giving away books, zines, and magazines with purchase and free postcards, prints, and ephemera to anyone who stops by.
Here’s what Nicole sent me. A lot of wonderful zines and cool magnets. She can cut deep in such stunning ways. All for $10 or less! You can check out her offerings here.
And here’s what Adam mailed me, his fantastic novels that take place in the same universe and my most favorite work to give away: The Do-It-Yourself Guide to Fighting the Big Motherfuckin’ Sad. All of which you can find at his webstore where he has a great sale now. I also plan on giving free stickers and pins which he made to anyone who buys these works.
Adam is also the founder of Hello America Stereo Cassette: a audio record label for writers, focusing on poetry, memoir, and short fiction that involve literary realism. Just for a sawbuck each and I’ll be giving the author’s pins, pogs, and stickers to those who purchase their tape. I own most of the discography so I can preview for you their tracks if you like. Also Nicole Morning has three tapes! You can head to their bandcamp and buy their tapes, merch, and downloadable tracks.
Plus I have zines from the lovely Eternia Press! Skeletor’s Guide to Self-Care is so so good. Check out their Etsy and follow their Instagram.
I will also be showcasing my WIP Skyview Rolodex. It’s an interactive artwork composed by my protagonist Sky where she collects her bitterness, secrets, and documents her guerilla art. I actually plant the guerilla art in real life and I’ll leave one at Barnard College that day. I will be selling the minizine she made too. I figured since I already made the zine, I should show the rolodex too. I originally submitted the art proposal to Two Cats Gallery but it was declined though they gave me a super encouraging reply. I also created an Instagram and a website but there’s nothing there at the moment, hopefully I’ll have some bare bones before Saturday.
And here are all my own zines I’ll be selling. There’s mega packs and mini packs and individually they range from $1-$10. I used Mixam to print the color ones and they did a fantastic job with great turn around. I highly recommend them.
The zine fest is actually #10 on Time Out's Things to do in NYC this weekend listicle. And that's me lol in the gray and glasses. I miss those unbroken frames hehe.
Mail by 4/7 - sighswoon’s PO Box Call for Surrender
gabi abrão who goes by sighswoon is one of my favorite people to follow on Instagram. She’s a wonderful writer and she has a P.O. Box open call for postcards, envelopes, and parcels on the theme of Surrender. You can check out her website for past submissions. Here’s her open call in full:
You + me + mail system = 3 entities
This is a collaboration between the three of us
Maybe you have a confession or fear that ought to be processed through the mail system… maybe a single sparkle on tracing paper feels like surrender to you… Maybe an indulgent erotic tale… a postcard from a trip with a lost love… a definition, a mantra, a spell, a quiz, a quote, a dream, a wish, an image or two, something visceral and unexplainable but *feels* like surrender…The first iteration of this back in November was a call for mail + offline announcement, and I had no expectations or guidance on it, just pure curiosity and love for the tangible and slow. I found I was most struck by the unique gestures produced by senders and the mailing process, both on purpose and accident. I also experienced euphoria documenting these details and putting a handful of them on a tumblr blog… After this process, I began to feel that the PO BOX + blog together could be some alt mini gallery project, a way for us to make art together… A process out of my dreams tbh … This project can shift and evolve in any direction …
Note :
No rules really, but I do get overwhelmed when someone sends me something super giant or professional seeming. I’m interested in signs of life between the 3 entities^, like, scuffs from transit and stamps and human interaction, your handwriting, last-minute adornments on envelopes, tape, some paper you just had laying around, expressions of your unique choices. In other words, I want everyone to be themselves, as casual as you would be journaling to yourself…
Send envelopes postcards parcels that express “surrender” *** 1920 HILLHURST AVE POBOX #266 LA CA 90027*** before april 7 2024
I’m in the Dearly Beloved Zine!
I’m part of Low’s compilation zine, Dearly Beloved, where we share what we would like to happen when we pass away.
Dearly Beloved is 36 pages of black and white content, including photography, illustration, poetry, essays, collage, and more from 25 artists and writers of diverse gender, sexuality, generation, race, ethnicity, and ability.
Here’s my submission:
It was a lot of fun to make and consider, and eased my worries about my impending death. I really want my funeral to be a gateway to your new favorites, whether it’s zines, books, foods, or drinks. Where you document treasured memories and you’ll later receive a package of how much I care for you. I want our last time together to be truly special and sweet. I really hope I can make this happen, that would be fantastic.
Submit a Photo of a Precious Memory to be painted for the Tender Archive by Alida Wilkinson
Tender Archive is an incredible art project created by Alida Wilkinson: “Last year, as I combed through thousands of photos on my phone, certain images stood out, yearning to emerge from a thumbnail on a tiny screen and become concrete objects. As I rendered my memories in ink, I thought about what it would look like to extend this possibility to my community. Send me a photo that lives on your phone, one that feels like more than a photo. Maybe it captured a significant moment, place, or person. Maybe when you took it, you thought- this should be a painting.” You can see past paintings here and submit your own photo here! I actually sent mine in and it felt wonderful to write about my precious memory. What would yours be?
Poets House in New York City has resumed open hours!
Poets House is finally open to the public after a four years hiatus! “a comfortable, accessible place for poetry—a library and meeting place which invites poets and the public to step into the living tradition of poetry. Poets House seeks to document the wealth and diversity of modern poetry, to stimulate dialogue on issues of poetry in culture, and to cultivate a wider audience for the art.”
FREE to browse, “Among the largest and most comprehensive independent poetry collections available to the public in open stacks anywhere in the country, the Reed Foundation Library at Poets House houses over 70,000 poetry books and related materials, all freely accessible to poets, readers, researchers, and the broader poetry community. The collection includes books, chapbooks, literary journals, special collections, and the Axe-Houghton Multimedia Archive. You can check out our quick tour of the library to learn even more about the materials we hold.”
I loved attending their events and it’s so much fun to read and peruse. You can even donate poetry related material. I can’t wait to visit.
Open Hours
Tuesdays through Fridays from 11am – 7pm
& Saturdays from 11am – 6pm.
Apply by 4/15 - Summer Solstice Group Show in NYC
There’s an open call for a Summer Solstice Group Art show in NYC run by caroline galderisi, on June 21st & June 22nd. All mediums are accepted and you can even sell small artworks there. I plan on applying once I have my Skyview rolodex more robust and there’s still plenty of time til the deadline April 15th. You can even pitch an idea if you haven’t made it yet. I think it would be a lovely way to celebrate my 36th birthday. I’m also happy that I feel confident enough to apply to these art shows when that wasn’t always the case. You can see her IG post and apply through here.
Until the End of May: Dead Letter No. 9 is Free in Brooklyn
There’s a really cool immersive experience at Dead Letter No. 9 which was transformed from a closed mail office that collected undeliverable mail. Now a place to have deeper and more intriguing conversations, you can attend their Spring Open Hours that run from Thursday to Saturday from 4PM til late. I definitely want to go while they’re still open.
“Previous iterations of Dead Letter No. 9 required a ticket for entry. For a limited time only, we are opening the entire space to all guests with no tickets required*. Let's enjoy the warming weather and dig into a spring of cocktails, conversation and connection together.
*Certain special events require tickets. These events can be found on our NIGHTLIFE page.”
If we’re mutuals, let me know if you wanna go with me. I wanna go late afternoon til about 7 or 8. I definitely don’t want to miss out on this. Take a look at their instagram for more.
Til 4/20 Alison Kuo’s You Pick the Moon Show at Field Projects in NYC
This show looks amazing, I definitely want to see it in person and I think it’ll inspire a lot of wonderful art out of me.
“Field Projects is pleased to present You Pick The Moon, a solo exhibition of a new work by Alison Kuo. The central sculpture You Pick The Moon (2024) features an intricate array of ornaments, gems, and trinkets that Kuo saved over the course of several years. Kuo breathes new life into these found objects, transforming them into enchanting characters that feel charmingly cohesive despite their wildly different origins and styles. A glass vase holds two rose quartz rollers transformed into walking sticks. Jewelry boxes appear washed ashore like fresh clams in a pearl-studded froth. Together, they form an apt metaphor for Kuo's ongoing social practice as community-centered and prospering from social bonds, including her work as co-founder of Sisters in Self-Defense. With some imagination and repair, life after trauma is made anew.”
During the exhibition there will be still life drawing sessions where you bring the medium of your choice. They sound wonderful. More details on this post and you can register here.
Wednesdays 7-9PM - Jersey Arts Meetups at Arts Council of Princeton
“Princeton Comic Makers presents: JERSEY ART MEETUPS (JAM), a weekly social event connecting creatives within the greater Central Jersey area through a shared passion for sequential art and new media.
Attendees may use this open workshop space to draw, write, and develop their own artwork, with an opportunity to receive peer review and feedback from other members if desired. Illustrators, animators, writers, and generalists are all welcome to join and discuss their art and career goals, share learning resources, promote current projects, or find friends and collaborators. Together, we aspire to cultivate a local community that keeps artists motivated towards achieving their dreams!
Open to ages 16+ of any skill level interested in any form of narrative art and design (i.e. Animation, Concept Art, Comics, Game Design, Picture Books, etc.)
Group meets weekly on Wednesdays from 7pm to 9pm. Casual attendance is accepted!
Bringing own materials is highly encouraged. Some basic materials are provided – paper, pencils, etc. – but please bring any tools necessary to help you create (i.e. drawing tablets, sketchbooks, etc.)”
I went once and it was wonderful. The people were so nice. I definitely want to go again. Let me know if you’ll be attending. More details at the link.
Due 4/14 Field Projects Open Call for Zines and Artist Books
Field Projects is hosting “their first-ever Zine and Artist Book Open Call! All artists are invited to submit their work for consideration in our group exhibition. All submissions will be considered for the Exhibition and the accompanying Online Exhibition. Simultaneously, Field Projects Panel will be considering the submissions for future Solo Shows, Art Fairs, Group Shows, Off-site Exhibitions, feature on our social media and our studio visit program (NY Artists). About 85% of the artists we have shown at Field Project are discovered through the open call process. Believe in the PROCESS!”
You can submit up to five works for a $10 fee. You can be located anywhere to apply. I wanna go for it. Good luck!
5/11-5/12 Climate Emergency Reading Room and Community Altar at the Seattle Art Book Fair
Amazing, there will be a Climate Emergency Room & Community Altar in May at the Seattle Art Book Fair. You can participate from anywhere in the world. I wish I could go in person. Take a look below at the wonderful Anemone substack for more info, I highly recommend following them.
JSTOR Recommendations
Momentary ambiances: psychogeography in action by A. E. Souzis
Footprints document the ephemeral: our movement, up and down, telling one fundamental story: that humans had been there. The power of that symbol lies in this comfort (or danger), whether they were there a hundred years or just two minutes ago. Fascinated by this totem, I developed the project A Million Footprints, in which passers-by on the street trace and personalize the outline of their footprints, in order to document a collective mass of people in a public space through a physical representation of their presence.
Really cool projects to involve strangers, it makes me want to develop my own. I really wish Souzis shared more but maybe she did elsewhere. Maybe I can do this through Sky or something else entirely. I have to remember that there is longevity in my artmaking and writing, hopefully haha. But I definitely want to try to be more open and optimistic of where my creativity and ingenuity can take me.
Theatre as Installation: Ann Hamilton and the Accretions of a Gesture by Clark Lunberry
The echoing room smells faintly of smoke, and approaching the seated woman from across the open space walking upon the matted hair, our feet entangled in the long strands - we see her holding a small electrical instrument in her hand, gripped like a pen, as she burns lines of language from out of the book. Patiently and with a kind of single-minded concentration, she lays the hot wire across three or four words at a time and they instantly burn to blacky an acrid smoke rising off the paper; leaving a series of charred, parallel lines to fill the pages. Writing in reverse, unreading the book; beyond erasure, language's incineration. Finishing one page, she turns to the next, starting again at the top and slowly moving down.
We walk around her, watching and listening, as she (without lifting her eyes) goes on about her business, working her way through the book, one page after the next, the words going up in smoke.
Lunberry writes like a dream which must be how these fantastic installations feel. I wonder if there are any currently running? I definitely want to experience this in person and I’m curious how to make such endeavors my own.
Zines: A Personal History by Elizabeth O’Brien
Zines are distributed by hand and by mail, one at a time and in batches. They are given out on the street right outside of the copy shop where they were printed moments before, still warm and reeking of copier ink. They fly by night in plain mailing envelopes, parcel post; they travel by hand in lots of four or seven or ten to indy bookstores where they are sold on consignment; they get tossed into free bins and traded at zine fairs and bartered for other zines and cigarettes and swigs from bottles. They get recopied from copies when the originals are lost, the words becoming less distinct at the edges with each printing, fuzzier and fuzzier until they are no longer legible. There is always a sense of possibility with a zine. Where will it go? Who will read it?
Once I got a letter from a girl named Amy in Great Britain; she loved my zine, she said. She was running a zine fair soon, could she distribute some copies?
Sure, I wrote back. No problem.
A few weeks later her zine, Shove, came in the mail for me
I greatly enjoyed reading this and I’m thinking of what my own zine history would look like. It’s such good and utterly honest writing. I definitely want to make more zines and go for more zine fests. I’m worried that Saturday will be a bust but I’m working really hard and I know I can make my table so special. I tend to think in Catastrophe which does not reflect reality at all, only rarely and even then it ends up working super well for me. Way better than the original unfucked up route hehe. It’s hard for me to think things will go wonderfully, I’m a big worrywart. But I’m questioning that mindset more and more and it’s actually working hehe.
Please feel free to share this, especially anyone who would go to the NYC Feminist Zine Fest. Come say hi and reassure me that I’m okay haha ugh. I just got confirmation that I’m getting a full table which gives me great room for all these zines and tapes I’m selling. Saturday will be lovely and I’ll get to support such incredible artists and writers.
Hope you have a sweet weekend ahead. Take care
eileen