Saturday 10 December 2011

community action center video project

From my inbox, from k8 Hardy:


A.K. Burns and A.L. Steiner's Community Action Center is a 69-minute sociosexual video incorporating the erotics of a community where the personal is not only political, but sexual. This project is a unique contemporary composition, an archive of an intergenerational community built on collaboration, friendship, sex and art. Burns and Steiner worked with artists and performers who created infinitely complex gender and performance roles that are both real and fantastical, set to a soundtrack of music by Chicks on Speed, Effi Briest, Electrelane, Chateau featuring K8 Hardy, Lesbians on Ecstasy, Light Asylum, MEN, Motherland, NGUZUNGUZU, I.U.D. (Lizzi Bougatsos & Sadie Laska), Kinski and Thee Majesty (Genesis P-Orridge), and featuring original compositions by Justin Bond, Nick Hallett & Sam Greenleaf Miller, Ashland Mines & Wu Tsang, Sergei Tcherepnin and Tri-State Area with AV Linton.

K8 Hardy:

Every gay and queer up and down the U.S. should get a chance to see the video Community Action Center. It will rock their world wide open. The artists behind this radical and pornographic art video want to tour up and down and all across the States and hold screenings and discussions exactly where this kind of imagery is completely unavailable. Just because there is so much pornography online does not mean you can see these kind of sexual representations. This is consent and unabashed pleasure and it's not made by straight men or for straight men. This is radical sexual representation and we need to get it out there! It must be seen outside the art world! Not every gay person can fall in step with what straight people think are acceptable and normal (?) and sadly, shame has far reaching and heart-breaking consequences. This video is explicitly about pleasure and queer bodies and shamelessness and outsiders. I truly believe it can be as important as Our Bodies, Ourselves was in the early 70s and it will educate people and give permission to accept perversities, variations of sexualities, and ... aesthetics!

This is important because not only will people see the video, but A.L Steiner and AK Burns will be there to talk and stand there proudly as living examples of gender queers and unabashed feminists. I write this passionately because I remember what it was like living in Fort Worth and meeting loud ass riot grrrls rolling through town and confronting sexist bullshit and the reality of their presence saved my life. I'm not being dramatic. It's true.

Please donate if you can and forward!

http://www.usaprojects.org/project/community_action_center


If successful, this fundraiser will take the project on a nationwide screening tour to rural LGBTQ community support centers around the U.S. and provide all 50 performers, musicians & crew members with fees for their contributions to the project. If you believe in paying artists & performers for their work, supporting feminist projects and/or bringing artwork to rural GLBTQ communities - PLEASE DONATE!

With the amazing support of our extended communities, A.K. Burns + A.L. Steiner's project, Community Action Cetner, has reached close to 50% of thier funding - $11,000! They have only 13 days left to raise the rest AND we now, matching funds are available so your fully tax-deductible donations - and the reward tiers - are doubled- $5=$10, $25=$50...

This money will go directly to support working artists & performers (myself included!), as well as rural GLBTQ communities. And the best part is that with any donation over $13 today, you are eligible for unique artworks as rewards, in exchange for your donations!

By donating, funders can receive original artwork, private VIP screenings and performances. Burns + Steiner must reach their goal of $25K by Dec. 21st to be granted any of the money- it's either all or nothing.

Because of the project's explicit queer sexual content, many institutions organizations and funding bodies could not/will not financially support this fundraising effort- but USA Projects has generously and courageously taken it on.

THANK YOU EVERYONE AND WE NEED TO KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING!!! IF YOU CAN, PLEASE DONATE &/OR SHARE WIDELY- IT TAKES A COMMUNITY!!

http://www.usaprojects.org/project/community_action_center

Friday 9 December 2011

best revenge - san francisco - queer art & discussion festival

My friend Lex Non Scripta, alongside Adrienne Skye Roberts and Caitlin Rose are now officially wrangling for art and ideas for the Queer Cultural Center's National Queer Arts Festival 2012 (San Francisco).
Submissions now welcome.

All the details of the 'Best Revenge' art & discussion series for June 2012, and how to be a part of events, and submit your proposals, can be found here: http://bestrevenge2012.wordpress.com/2011/12/02/best-revenge-call-for-artists-and-proposals/


BEST REVENGE call for artists and proposals

Throughout queer history and our current political landscape, there are many milestones to celebrate. Certainly, the Defense of Marriage Act and the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” are significant struggles fought with the intention of bringing equality to marginalized LGBTQ people. However, embedded within the concept of milestones is a traditional linear model of success that oftentimes alienates queers whose lives, identities and desires exist outside the dominate narrative of equality and progress.

Attempts to assimilate into this dominant society will continue to distract and dissuade the queer community from celebrating itself as a distinctly different, thriving micro-society with a network of values, relationships and political and social views. What must we surrender if we are expected to measure our achievements by how well we fit into a straight, capitalist, racist, colonialist, and classist society? How do we build a future based on self-determination and mutual aid? How do we create rituals to validate and celebrate our individual and collective accomplishments? How are we already engaged in these processes?

Best Revenge is a collection of queer events including a lecture series, visual art installations and public performances. To acknowledge the queer manifestation of home, Best Revenge will take place in the imperfect and loved environment of queer households and collectives in the Mission District. We are seeking proposals for lectures/skill-shares, performances, films, installations and queer spaces accessible to people of all mobilities.

Monday 5 December 2011

S&S reminder. X-posting-a-go-go!

Dear lovely European people who may be thinking of contributing to Shape & Situate: Posters of Inspirational European Women zine #3.

Just a quick note to say there's just over a month and a half left to send your posters to me for inclusion in the zine (the deadline is January 31 2012). I hope this leaves you enough time.

Huge thanks so far to those who have sent posters, suggestions, requests to be involved, and general enthusiasm for the project. There's still plenty of time to get in touch though, and the zine will only be as good as we collectively make it. Thanks in advance to anybody thinking about getting in touch and getting on board!

For a reminder of the blurb, details are at: http://remember-who-u-are.blogspot.com/2011/09/submissions-for-shape-zine-3-are-now.html
And, feel free to drop me a line with any questions to: m_k_maddisonAThotmailDOTcom

Many thanks, and a premature Happy Holidays!

Melanie xox

Thursday 1 December 2011

bildwechsel advent

A totally awesome Bildwechsel advent calendar has been put together as an online end-of-the-year collection of drawing, photography and videos. It's been put together with the help of 31 international artists and friends of bildwechsel.

I love the fact it won't let you cheat and skip ahead a day or two, meaning that I'm now going to visit everyday to see the great art work. Wonderful!

You can find the advent calendar here: http://bildwechsel.org/jahresendkalender2011

Monday 28 November 2011

consent zine - submission call out

From my inbox from A-K:


Verbal consent has definitely been something that has had a big impact on me and the way I look at relationships, sex and intimacy. Learning good consent has helped me respect my boundaries and the boundaries of my lovers, given me words to discuss things I didn't know how to approach before and tools to continue working with. Such important things!

I feel that there aren't enough zines on consent out there. That's why I'm putting together one, hopefully in time for the Bristol Radical Zine Fest in U.K. in February 2012.

This is a call-out for text and images on consent. Especially your own experiences, but also helpful tips, text you might have seen in other zines, useful resources, good books to read etc.

Please email them to me: princesapirata@wildmail.com

Deadline for submissions: end of January 2012

And please feel free to pass on the info to friends you think might be interested in taking part in the zine!

love and rage,
A-K Pirata

Saturday 26 November 2011

women artists and feminism in the 1980s and now

From my inbox, from Rachael House:


Brixton Calling!

Women Artists, Feminism in the 80s and Now Symposium
Saturday 3 December, Goldsmiths University, Ben Pimlott Building, 10am-5pm
Free, no refreshment provided
For more information contact Althea Greenan: a.greenan@gold.ac.uk
Access: see campus map and for additional info: http://www.gold.ac.uk/find-us/

The symposium is collaboration between The Women’s Art Library and BAG Women (Brixton Art Gallery women artists group) to coincide with Brixton Calling!exhibition at 198 Contemporary Arts and Learning (28 October – 21 December 2012).

Women Artists, Feminism in the 80s and Now is a cross generational symposium that examines the legacy of UK 80s women artists and feminists in the light of current feminist practice and thinking.
The symposium aims to recall 80s Feminist practice, thinking, debates and campaigns and discuss their relevance today for a new generation of women artists and feminists.

The symposium is part of a series of events, held during Brixton Calling! including a 3 day 80s Women Lens Based Media Event (10-12 November 2011, Brixton Village). For more information contact: e-mail: info@198.org.uk

Brixton Calling! (2011) is a collaborative and participatory project, connecting contemporary Brixton to its past through the history of 1980s Brixton Art Gallery & Artists Collective and their archives. Based at the Brixton Art Gallery, 2 women artists groups: Women's Work and Black Women In View, initiated and curated ambitious and powerful exhibitions and led courses, conferences and public events; contributing to local and international political campaigns and debates around Feminist art and aesthetics, sexuality, race and gender.
For Brixton Calling! exhibition, artists Françoise Dupré and Rita Keegan have created an Archives Installation, celebrating the contribution Women Artists and Feminism made to the Brixton Art Gallery. For the project, Dupré and Keegan have reactivated Brixton Art Gallery's network of women artists to form Brixton Calling! BAG Women.

Symposium Question and Themes
Debates about 80s feminist art often raise contradictory but relevant questions: 80s feminist art practice has been forgotten, parodied, emptied out of content, re-enacted, has produced paralyzing reverence and ongoing tension between past and present generations.
The symposium’s running question is:

Drawing from 80s Feminist aesthetics, ethics and practice, how can we today develop a critical and relevant feminist art practice?
It will be addressed by ‘young’ and ‘old’ feminists through panel and group discussions and a concluding plenary session.
Two interconnected themes have been identified:
· Body Politics (performativity, identity formation, race, sexuality)
· Public sphere (community engagement, education, places)

Symposium Format
Symposium’s Mistress of Ceremony: Rita Keegan, Brixton Calling! co curator
10am: Registration
10.15: Welcoming introduction by Rita Keegan
10.30am-10.45am: Introduction by Althea Greenan, Women’s Art Library curator
10.45-11.15am Introduo Rebecca Snow, Brixton Calling! volunteer and Françoise Dupré, Brixton Calling! project co-manager/curator
11.15am-12.45pm: Panel discussion
11.15am-12.15pm: Panel presentations (15 minutes each)
Artists Rosy Martin, Roxane Permar, Shanti Thomas, reflect individually upon 80s feminist engagement with Body Politics and the Public Sphere.
Catherine Grant addresses the tension and problematic about re-visiting 80s feminist art practice in the light of today feminism.
12.15pm-12.45pm: Panel discussion, moving debate forward for the afternoon sessions
12.45pm-1.30 Lunch
1.30pm-2.15pm: 3 group discussions responding to morning panel discussions to be lead by a younger generation of feminists including: Oriana Fox, Diana Georgiou, Rachael House, Rebecca Snow + more
Topics for the 3 groups: Body Politics, Education and third one to be identified on the day in response to the morning discussion
2.15-2.30: Break
2.30pm- 3.30pm: Group reports and panel discussion
3.30pm-3.45pm: Break
3.45-4.15pm: Bringing together by Rebecca Fortnum
4.15-5pm: audience response
5pm: end of symposium

Brixton Calling! 28 October-21 December 2011, 198 Contemporary Arts and Learning, London

where to find a copy of shape & situate #2 zine

I thought it may be worth bumping this information up the blog in case anybody is looking to buy a zine as a winter/christmas gift this year. Feminist history posters make a great stocking filler ;)

Shape & Situate is a self-published zine of posters made by artists and DIY creative folk within Europe, each poster highlighting the (often hidden) history and lives of radical inspirational women and collectives from Europe, as a way of connecting us with the past, the present, and to help us to make sure that there will be a future which contains such creative and pioneering female action and activity. The zine aims to activate feminist cultural memory, to inspire in the present and to visually bring women’s social and political history to life.

Posters include: Selina di Girolamo, Ari Up, Poly Styrene, Durbahn/Bildwechsel, Joana Vasconcelos, Angela Carter, Monica Sjoo, Jocelyn Bell Burnell, Bunnies On Strike, Louise Michel, Granuaile, Susan Golombok, Nana Mouskouri, Claire Fontaine, The Women of Bletchley Park, Jayaben Desai, Liz Ely, Olave Baden Powel, BJ, Breyer P Orridge, Sophie Blanchard, Stella Vine, Sheila Rowbotham, Florence Nightingale.

Artists/Contributors: Erica Smith, Rachael House, Melanie Maddison, Michelle Mendonca, Anna Knowles, Verity Hall, Kathryn Taylor, Nina Nijsten, Peter Willis, Emily Aoibheann, Ed Webb-Ingall, Cara Corden, Patrick Staff, R Clout, Kathleen Teadrinker, Marylou Anderson, Flo Brooks, Charlotte Cooper, Cendrine Rovini, Gladys Badhands, James Clayton, and John Davison.

28 pages (23 posters)
A5 size zine.
Black and white illustrations throughout.
Printed on recycled 100gsm paper. Covers printed on 200gsm paper.


Available from:

*Folksy: (http://www.folksy.com/shops/COTL)

*Etsy (http://www.etsy.com/shop/COTL?ref=pr_shop)

*Marching Stars (UK) (http://www.marchingstars.co.uk)

*Ricochet! Ricochet! (UK)

*Dead Trees & Dye (UK) (http://www.deadtreesanddye.com)

*Cherry Bomb (New Zealand) (http://www.cherrybombcomics.co.nz)

*Space Station 65 (UK) (http://www.spacestationsixtyfive.com)

*Ms Valerie Park Distro (USA) (http://msvalerieparkdistro.com)
Online listing at: http://msvalerieparkdistro.com/zines/various-melanie-maddison-shape-situate-2-posters-of-inspirational-european-women

*News From Nowhere (Radical & Community Bookshop, Liverpool, UK. http://www.newsfromnowhere.org.uk)

*lmnop shop (Brighton, UK. http://www.lmnopshop.com)

*Justseeds (USA, http://justseeds.org) Online listings can be found at: http://www.justseeds.org/other_artists/04shapesit02.html and http://www.justseeds.org/other_artists/04shapesit01.html

*Natterjack Press (UK, http://www.natterjackpress.co.uk)

*Vertiline In Love (Sheffield, UK, http://vertilineinlove.com)

*Princesa Pirata distro (UK) (http://princesapiratadistro.wordpress.com)

///

The zine can also be found in the following zine libraries: *London College of Communication Zine Library, *Salford Zine Library, *Rotherham Zine Library, *Canny Little Library (Newcastle)

zine submissions wanted for trans adolescence zine

From my inbox...


Call For Zine Submissions....Trans and Genderqueer Adolescence Stories

Topic: Essays, anecdotes, comix, poetry from Trans and Genderqueer folks telling stories of going through puberty and adolescence. Take that as broadly or specifically as you’d like; literally how your body was changing and how your brain was dealing with it, or going to a dance and how that made you feel, to coming out to your family, teachers, classmates, etc…

Audience: 7-12 grade students.

Specifics: The pieces should be free of cursing and super overt sexual content. Keep in mind that 7th graders are about 13 years old.

Why/Purpose: I taught a piece from the zine, The Next Body, in my 7/8th grade zine writing class, in it the writer is discussing his decision to have top surgery. After class a student approached me asking for an extra copy of the piece to give to her friend who has recently come out as Trans. “She is getting super big breasts and having a hard time dealing with it” my student told me. I gave her an extra copy of the piece and went home to dig through my books and zines to find more I could offer. It’s rough trying to find age appropriate material for a Trans kid. It’s imperative that young people who are Trans and Genderqueer see themselves in print, ideally in the curriculum but at the minimum in readings a queer, liberal, concerned, shit starting teacher passes on to them. I know, I know… all GLBT kids should see themselves in print but it’s extra hard to find Trans material, that’s why I want to start with the T as opposed to GLB.



Puberty and adolescence are hard for everyone but it’s extra alienating and difficult when you feel alone and radically different from everyone else. I want this zine to be an offering to Trans and Genderqueer kids who need to see themselves in print, to know that they are not alone. I want it to offer comfort and hope to some young people who may be struggling. I want it to open the eyes and hearts of non-trans kids so they become allies. I also want it to open up dialogue between students, parents and teachers. It’s my job to teach students reading and writing but the bigger more satisfying and important part of my job is to offer support, care, and guidance to ALL kids in their emotional and personal development. Unfortunately, as a society, we’re forgetting some kids, we’re looking the other way when Trans kids need us to look right at them and say “You are okay, you are in fact, amazing - just the way you are. And you’re not alone either.” I’d like this zine to be a move towards that.


I keep this quote in mind when I’m writing curriculum and deciding what to teach for the year. Perhaps it will inspire you:

"When those who have the power to name and to socially construct reality choose not to see or hear you, whether you are dark-skinned, old, disabled, female, or speak with a different accent or dialect than theirs, when someone with the authority of a teacher, say, describes a world and you are not in it, there is a moment of psychic disequilibrium, as if you looked into a mirror and saw nothing.” –Adrianne Rich



Send submissions to: Brilliantmistake01@gmail.com

Please send as an attachment in basic word formatting with “Zine Submission” as the subject.

Include; a title for your piece, how you’d like to be credited - the name you’d like to use, and any contact info you want included in the zine. If you’d like a copy of the finished product send me your mailing address.

Deadline: March 1, 2012.

Publication: April, 2012

You can e-mail me with questions, suggestions, complaints, that kinda stuff too.

Thanks!

Carrie

political poster exhibition, manchester

From my inbox...


Picturing Politics

Come and visit our new Changing Exhibition Picturing Politics - Exploring the Political Poster in Britain. Researched and curated by PhD student Chris Burgess, this exciting new exhibition explores the development of the political poster, examining how political parties ‘speak’ to the people and how this communication has changed. The exhibition showcases the museum’s unique poster collection which is the largest in the UK.
12 November 2011 — 17 June 2012

Exhibition at: People's History Museum, Manchester, UK.

To keep up to date with the ongoing research on political posters, background information on some of the individual posters and the odd sneak preview of material, visit the blog written by Chris Burgess http://picturingpolitics.wordpress.com/.

bristol radical zine fest

From my inbox, from A-K:


BRISTOL RADICAL ZINE FEST

Sunday the 12th of February, from noon til 6pm at Kebele Community Co-Op (14 Robertson Road Bristol BS5 6JY, (www.kebelecoop.org)

A day of zines, workshops, tea and vegan cakes. Horay! Followed by yummy Kebele dinner at 6.30pm.

We'd love for you to take part! If you're interested in having a table at the fest, please send us an email to bristolradicalzinefest@gmail.com answering the following questions:
- Who are you and what do you do?
- Where are you based?
- What kind of zines would you have at your table?
- What's your price range? Would you be up for swaps?
- If you have a web page, please share it with us.

Deadlline for applications: 8th of January 2012.

Unfortunately because of limited space we won't be able to fit all the stalls in, these questions will help us make a selection. Spaces will be 1/2 table each and we'll be asking a donation of £1 to £5 from stall holders on the day. We're aiming for the Bristol Radical Zine Fest to be a celebration of grassroots D.I.Y. culture!


Please pass on this email to friends who might be interested. Let us know if you'd like us to send you posters/flyers to distribute.

Love & rage,
Bristol Radical Zine Fest crew x

Saturday 19 November 2011

london exhibitions galore

Well, that just about seals the deal... a trip to London must surely be on the cards come the beginning of 2012. There's the (previously mentioned) Pipilotti Rist exhibition on at the Hayward Gallery until the 8th January, and now I discover the Catherine Opie exhibition on at the Stephen Friedman Gallery (25-28 Old Burlington Street, London W1S 3AN) until 21st January

Oh London, why do you tease me so?!

Friday 4 November 2011

2012 illustrated calendars

Part #1 of my picks for awesome 2012 illustrated calendars is up on Pikaland today: http://pikaland.com/2011/11/04/2012-illustrated-calendars-part-1
I love each and every one featured. And there's more to come!

I've also started making an etsy treasury featuring the ones available on etsy.

[EDIT 12/11/11]
Part 2 is up now too: http://pikaland.com/2011/11/10/2012-illustrated-calendars-part-2



(N.B - Amy W, if you're reading this please do not follow any of the links unless you want to ruin your Christmas surprises! I'm serious!)

marci washington exhibiting in Leeds

Last night I went to the private view of Marci Washington's new exhibition in Leeds.

I got to hang out with Marci and hear about how she created the work - which is outstanding. A couple of years ago I had the pleasure of interviewing Marci (from Berkeley, California) about her work for Aorta Magazine, so it was a real treat to see some of her work in real life and to speak to Marci in person. I really can't explain how amazing her art work is up close.

The exhibition in Leeds is on until November 25th and is well worth checking out.

Some photos taken at the private view:






Wednesday 26 October 2011

the strumpet - on pikaland

My interview with the ladies behind The Strumpet comics anthology went up on Pikaland today. Read it here: http://pikaland.com/2011/10/26/artists-interview-the-strumpet

The Strumpet is a new comic anthology from the ladies behind the Whores Of Mensa comics (which were published in the UK between 2004-2010). The Strumpet brings together a brilliant team of female comics artists from the UK and USA, to produce a transatlantic collaborative publication containing eclectic illustrative and comics styles and techniques, and unique stories around the theme of ‘Dress-Up’.

The interview discusses the comic, the Kickstarter campaign funding the first issue, plus, drawing tools, self-confidence, the politics of "women in comics" and the importance of self-publishing.

Huge thanks to Ellen Lindner, Jeremy Day, Mardou, Patrice Aggs, Megan Kelso, Lisa Rosalie Eisenberg, Kripa Joshi, and Tanya Meditzky ♥ to you all for being terrific interviewees, and for collaborating on this project.

You can read more about The Strumpet Kickstarter campaign here: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2019502594/the-strumpet-a-transatlantic-flight-of-comics-fanc



"check out this fabulous interview w/the british, american and nepalese lady cartoonist contributors to the Strumpet! we get into the nitty gritty of drawing tools, our "inner critic", the politics of "women in comics" and the importance of self publishing. a good, meaty read!" >Megan Kelso 26/10/11

Tuesday 25 October 2011

ladydrawers latest

The latest Ladydrawers strip is a corker... http://www.truth-out.org/interview-julie-doucet/1319472312 it's based on an interview with Julie Doucet by Anne Elizabeth Moore.

"It took me quite a long time to get to talk about that with other women who had the same type of experiences. I can tell you, that really poisoned my life"

Tuesday 18 October 2011

in all our decadence...

I remember exactly where I was when I first heard Crass's 'Shaved Women', it came on my walkman via a genius mixtape when I was sat upstairs on a double-decker bus, way back when. I was thinking about it this morning when a girl who couldn't have been more than 14 joined me to wait for the bus. She was wearing a home-made Crass hoodie. To know that that girl exists in 2011 and on my bus route made me deliriously happy.
Imagine the co-incidence upon getting home to discover that there's an exhibition in New York that had skipped my notice:

"IN ALL OUR DECADENCE PEOPLE DIE"
AN EXHIBITION OF FANZINES PRESENTED
TO CRASS BETWEEN 1976 AND 1984
PLUS ORIGINAL CRASS-ERA ARTWORKS BY GEE VAUCHER
AND A NEW AUDIO INSTALLATION BY PENNY RIMBAUD.


I am a total sucker for Gee's work. And, I'm still as stunned by that song as I was at the time...

Monday 17 October 2011

london

There are so many great art events going on in London before the end of the year that I wish I had the time and money and gumption to go down for.

(a) There's the Miranda July 'The Future' screening/Q&A this weekend: http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/eventseducation/film/24815.htm



(b) Bonfire Madigan Shive is playing a show on November 4th at the Tate Gallery as part of Richard Strange's Cabaret Apocalyptica.

(c) But most of all, the Pipilott Rist exhibition at the Hayward Gallery: http://ticketing.southbankcentre.co.uk/rist/exhibition


SWOON galore!

Thursday 6 October 2011

where my head's at today...

It's been one of those days off from work where it's throwing it down and hail-stoning outside as the air turns all autumnal, and I'm all snug inside with a collection of songs like these repeating in my head...















And, unrelated, this has been on my mind today: I Love My Job But It Made Me Poorer, something that I've been thinking and juggling and writing and musing around the area of for some time (with the help of & the insightful input from some hard working women), and someday may convert it in to a zine or article or something...

Monday 3 October 2011

newcastle and sheffield

Some Shape & Situate news...


The zine is now available to read at Newcastle's 'Canny Little Library' thanks to the lovely Clare who volunteers there. More detail can be found here: Canny Little Library Blog

The zine also has a new home in Sheffield at Vertiline in Love. Claira at the shop is in the midst of organising this sweet looking exhibition there: Stagtacular

Wednesday 21 September 2011

women and work poster project

Found via Justseeds...

Workforce Development’s Art of Labor project seeks Graphic Posters made by women with the theme “Women and Work.”
Please interpret this theme as you desire and send existing artwork is encouraged.

*5 finalists will receive:
• $100 prize
• Professional prints of your poster (amount TBD)
• One set of winning posters.
• Premiere exhibition at WDI’s Women’s Initiative conference on March 2012
• Distribution though WDI
• Your poster design (digital and print) will be archived in NYU’s Robert F. Wagner Archives.

*All poster submissions (1 per artist) will be exhibited at March event & archived at NYU’s Robert F. Wagner Archives in NYC


About WDI: Our mission is to improve the lives of working families across New York State by gathering workforce intelligence that is used to develop programs in education and training, economic development, family support, disabled and dislocated worker services, and cultural enrichment.
About Art of Labor: WDI sponsors Art of Labor. These workshops create positive images of workers across New York State, teaching communication skills, building a community within the Labor Movement, and encouraging worker dignity.

Please submit your bio and one design per artist with the following specs to: vkereszi@wdiny.org:
300 dpi jpeg
medium poster size of 18” x 24”

DEADLINE DECEMBER 1st 2011

Here’s a link to past poster contest winners: www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.434722480904.199293.328778515904

For more questions please contact:
Victoria Kereszi
Cultural Program Coordinator
WDI - www.wdiny.org
vkereszi@wdiny.org

Sunday 18 September 2011

spill the zines review

Thank you to the nice folks at Spill The Beans, who gave 'Shape & Situate: Posters of Inspirational European Women' zine a nice little review on their website: http://spillthezines.blogspot.com/2011/09/zine-reviews-september-11.html

zine fest, gent

From my inbox, from Nina (Echo):



ZINE FEST GENT
Feminist DIY Media Festival


When? Saturday October 15th – Sunday October 16th 2011
Where? Laurent Delvauxstraat 11 in Gent (Belgium)

Programma:

SATURDAY October 15th: at 12:00
workshops about:
- alternative media and zines
- making feminist posters
- writing fiction
- writing articles


SUNDAY October 16th: at 13:00
- making a zine together (or make your own zine)


ONGOING:

- infostands of zines (let us know if you want to have a table to sell zines!)

- exhibition of feminist posters

Registration: mail to felfeminisme@gmail.com to let us know you’re attending the Zine Fest (easier for us to know how many people will come)

Free entrance!

More info:

At Zine Fest Gent, a festival about feminist alternative media, you can learn how to write articles or stories for blogs and zines, how to lay-out a zine and how to make feminist posters.

The Zine Fest is georganised by FEL and ECHO.

http://felfeminisme.wordpress.com

http://echopublishing.wordpress.com

FEL organises monthly feminist reading groups, talks and actions in Gent and publishes brochures and the Feminist Starter Kit.

ECHO published feminist zines and comix.


sarah maple exhibitions

From my inbox, from Sarah Maple:


VPRO in The Netherlands filmed a half hour documentary about my work back in April, which aired last night.
To view here is the link! http://sarahmaple.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=2bd22adf7794fd53b668411c1&id=63a2226c53&e=8fd5810e1d


In conjunction there will be an exhibition of work at KochxBos Gallery in Amsterdam which opens on Saturday. The exhibition will be on from 17th September - 18th October. Also look out for my work at AAF Amsterdam this October!

I also currently have my first solo exhibition in Paris this month. It's at the wonderful new gallery 'INCEPTION'.
This runs from 10th September - 8th October.
http://sarahmaple.us2.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=2bd22adf7794fd53b668411c1&id=231d6951ab&e=8fd5810e1d


Thank you! Sarah

zine about sexist experiences

From my inbox, from Nina...



Call for contributions for zine about sexist experiences


Hi,

do you have sexist experiences that you want to talk about, write about or draw about? Do you have tips for how to deal with them? Do you want to express you anger and frustration in text and/or image? Let us know! We're working on a zine* about sexist experiences and we're looking for contributions!

Sexism still exists, even after decades of feminist struggle! That's what we want to show with this zine and at the same time we want to inspire and motivate each other to keep fighting sexism.

The zine will be printed in black/white on A5-formaat. Your contribution can be 1 or more pages. Send text in .doc or .odt and images or photos in f.e. .jpg, .tiff or .png. Pay attention that photos and images will be clear when copied in black/white.

Thee deadline is postponed to September 30th 2011. Contact us at felfeminisme@gmail.com.

You can forward this call to others who are interested!

Greetz

http://felfeminisme.wordpress.com


* A zine is a self-made and self-published booklet or magazine. It's a low-budget, but often creative publication because there is cmplete freedom in content and form. Feminists make zines too, sometimes called “grrrl zines”. More info: http://grrrlzines.net/.


---

Oproep: bijdragen voor zine over seksistische ervaringen

Hallo,


Heb jij seksistische situaties meegemaakt waarover je wil vertellen, schrijven of tekenen? Heb je tips voor hoe er mee om te gaan? Wil je je woede of ergernis uiten in tekst en/of beeld? Laat ons iets weten! Wij zijn namelijk bezig met een zine* over seksistische ervaringen en we zijn op zoek naar bijdragen!

Seksisme is helaas nog lang niet de wereld uit, zelfs na decennia van feministische strijd! Dat willen we aantonen met dit zine en tegelijk willen we elkaar en anderen inspireren en motiveren om tegen seksisme te blijven vechten.

Het zine zal in zwart/wit en op A5-formaat gedrukt worden. Je bijdrage mag 1 of meer pagina's bevatten. Stuur tekst in .doc of .odt en afbeeldingen of foto's in bv .jpg, .tiff of .png. Let erop dat foto's en afbeeldingen duidelijk zijn als ze in zwart/wit worden gekopieerd.

De deadline is verlengd tot 30 september 2011. Contacteer ons via felfeminisme@gmail.com.

Je mag deze oproep doorsturen naar andere geïnteresseerden!

Groetjes

http://felfeminisme.wordpress.com

* Een zine is een zelfgemaakt en zelf gepubliceerd boekje of magazine. Het is een low-budget, maar vaak creatieve publicatie omdat er volledige inhoudelijke en vormelijke vrijheid is. Ook feministes maken zines, soms “grrrl zines” genoemd. Meer info: http://grrrlzines.net/.

---

Tuesday 6 September 2011

all is not lost exhibition

From my inbox... This looks great!


The opening/preview of All is Not Lost exhibition at the Café Gallery, London on 18th September 2011 from 2 to 5pm.


Cafe Gallery is pleased to announce ALL IS NOT LOST an exhibition of artworks by emerging and established female artists presenting a philosophy of optimism and resilience featuring the work of Zoe Brown, Rebecca Glover, Rachael House, Manu Luksch, Olivia Jane Ransley, Martina Schmücker, Rosalie Schweiker, Jessica Voorsanger, K. Yoland. This exhibition is curated by Emily Druiff.


Leaning towards an anarchic aesthetic of protest and DIY culture, ALL IS NOT LOST represents the potential of art to inspire change, with each artist revealing an individual approach to this in the form of confrontation or observation.


Full details, here


Image: Rachael House, 'TO BE NORMAL IS NOT A HEALTHY ASPIRATION'.

submissions for shape&situate zine #3 are now open

EDIT **** (30/1/12) For those who are still interested: Shape & Situate: Posters Of Inspirational Women zine #3 is still accepting posters. I haven't got enough to fill a full zine at the moment, so please, if you were thinking about it but were put off by the deadline, do send me a message & we'll work something out - I'd love to see your posters, even if it takes a little longer :) xox *****



Shape & Situate: Posters of Inspirational European Women zine #3

Info:

Shape & Situate is a zine of posters made by artists and DIY creative folk within Europe, each poster highlighting the (often hidden) history and lives of radical inspirational women and collectives from Europe, as a way of connecting us with the past, the present, and to help us to make sure that there will be a future which contains such creative and pioneering female action and activity. The zine aims to activate feminist cultural memory, to inspire in the present and to visually bring women’s social and political history to life.

Are you from Europe? Would you like to be part of Shape & Situate zine #3 by making a poster on an inspirational European woman?
The deadline for contributions to issue 3 is the very end of January 2012 (I hope that gives you plenty of time).


What I'm looking for:

- A black & white poster (to be emailed as a Jpeg, or posted to me so that I can scan the original if that's easier for you)

- The poster will be reproduced in the zine at A5 size (in case that affects how you'd like to present your work?)

- The poster will tell the history of or share information on a radical or inspirational *European* woman (or women's collective) in poster-form. I'm looking at European women as a focus with this zine, as very often a lot of projects similar to this one have been so American-heavy and I feel it really omits a lot of amazing European women from being discussed (this is not to say that women outside of Europe are not inspirational, obviously).

- By 'woman' I mean female-identified.

- Where possible, the poster will take as its subject somebody/a collective who isn't already readily documented within our history. I would love for the zine to raise awareness of amazing women (living or deceased) who have largely gone under the radar, or who are within our own communities.

- All the information you want to share about your subject must fit within the confines of your poster so that each page stands alone.



Important:
If you’re interested, drop me a line with your idea(s) of who you’d like to make a poster about, so that I can check that there’s no duplications with other peoples ideas and suggestions.



Previous issues have featured posters on/about:
Paula Rego, Olivia Plender, Diane Leather, Louise Bourgeois, Marie Curie, Maya Evans, Boudica, Claude Cahun, Rote Zora, Grace Roe, Pat VT West, Helen Chadwick, The Red Wheelies, Claudia Jones, Liz Naylor, Dolly Wilde, Anais Nin, Anne Boleyn, Dolle Mina, The Anonymous Authors of the Fat Dykes Statement, Jo Spence, Anne Lister, Selina di Girolamo, Ari Up, Poly Styrene, Durbahn/Bildwechsel, Joana Vasconcelos, Angela Carter, Monica Sjoo, Jocelyn Bell Burnell, Bunnies On Strike, Louise Michel, Granuaile, Susan Golombok, Nana Mouskouri, Claire Fontaine, The Women of Bletchley Park, Jayaben Desai, Liz Ely, Olave Baden Powel, BJ, Breyer P Orridge, Sophie Blanchard, Stella Vine, Sheila Rowbotham, Florence Nightingale.


I’m looking forward to putting together another great issue, and I hope that this is something you'll be interested in being a part of. Let me know if so - I'd love to hear your ideas!
Please feel free to cut&paste and share this info with anybody else from Europe who you think may be interested too.


Many thanks,
Melanie xox

(m_k_maddison at hotmail.com)

Any questions? Just ask.


p.s. I'd love for Shape & Situate to feature posters of as many different sorts of women as possible, so while I'm keen to receive posters of well-known or 'famed' inspirational women, I'm just as, if not more keen to feature posters of women who are lesser or un- known; women who have been largely hidden within our history, or written out of it entirely (until now!) Perhaps this is somebody in your community, an acquaintance, somebody inspiring you have become aware of? I'm open to many ideas! xox

//////

p.s. If you’re interested in checking out the first two issues of Shape & Situate, a list of stockists of issue 1 can be found here:
http://remember-who-u-are.blogspot.com/2011/01/shape-and-situate-zine-latest.html
& stockists of issue 2 can be found here:
http://remember-who-u-are.blogspot.com/2011/07/s-2-current-stockists.html


If you know of anywhere that may be interested in stocking/distroing issue 2 of the zine, please let me know!

///////

Thursday 25 August 2011

S&S at Justseeds

I am so thrilled to be able to say that Shape & Situate zines (issues 1 and 2) are now available via Justseeds (http://justseeds.org/)
Justseeds Artists’ Cooperative is a decentralized network of 26 artists committed to making print and design work that reflects a radical social, environmental, and political stance.

Without the work and influence of Justseeds (and the 'Celebrate People's History' project in particular) I doubt the zine would have happened in the first place.
I am so grateful for Josh MacPhee responding to a copy of the zine that he'd seen and organising with the rest of the Justseeds collective to get the zine on the catalogue. There's not many projects and works that are not directly created by Justseeds collective members which are distributed by them, and as such I'm really honoured and thankful. It's kinda a big deal to me. Thank you for having me, Justseeds!

You can find #1 for sale here: http://www.justseeds.org/other_artists/04shapesit01.html
and #2 here: http://www.justseeds.org/other_artists/04shapesit02.html

Please take the time to read more about Justseeds on the site and see more of the amazing work that the collective produces and supports. The many individuals involved, and their talent, action and inspiration blow me away with pretty much every item/print/poster/book they come up with.

Wednesday 24 August 2011

rachael house's feminist disco

From my inbox from Rachael House... each and every part of this looks amazing. Congratulations Rachael!!


Each day during her Fine Art MA show, Feminist Disco, Rachael House will be DJing with singles played on dansette record players.
As part of Feminist Disco Rachael has invited guests to perform, DJ and speak, putting the ‘disco’ into ‘discourse’.
All events are free and take place in Rachael’s exhibition space in Camberwell Art College, 45-65 Peckham Road, London, SE5 8UF
2/09/11-8/09/11
All welcome.
For more information please contact rachaelhouse@me.com
More info here: http://www.mafineartcamberwell.co.uk/

Apologies- there is no disabled to the Fine Art MA shows.

Friday 2nd September at 4.30pm- Deborah Withers
The remarkable Deborah Withers will present material from the Women's Liberation Music Archive (http://womensliberationmusicarchive.wordpress.com), and will instigate a discussion based around questions of process. This presentation will offer opportunities to listen to the music and collectively reflect on what it means to consider acts of cultural production - and the wider trajectories of cultural memory - as grounded in processes, actions and events. How does it transform our relationship to history and can it?

Deborah Withers is a writer, researcher, curator and publisher living in Bristol. In 2010 she published Adventures in Kate Bush and Theory to critical acclaim. She is the founder of HammerOn Press and is interested in the relationship between publishing and social change. She is currently developing plans for an exhibition based on the Women's Liberation Music Archive, which she co-curates with Frankie Green. Deborah’s work is published in numerous academic journals and she plays drums and sings in the band bellies!
www.debi-rah.net
www.hammeronpress.net

Saturday 3rd September 3.00pm- Lucy Whitman
This discussion with writer Lucy Whitman will touch on the politics of feminism, punk and the anti racist movements of the 1970s and early 1980s and their continued relevance today.

As Lucy Toothpaste, Lucy Whitman created the feminist and anti-fascist fanzine JOLT in 1977, and wrote for Temporary Hoarding (Rock Against Racism) and Drastic Measures (Rock Against Sexism) in the late 70s and early 80s. She wrote about women and popular music for Spare Rib regularly from 1978 – 1982. She was in two women-only bands: The Neons (1976) and Sole Sister (1981 - 82). A recent interview with her, about women and punk, appears on feminist blog the f word at http://www.thefword.org.uk/features/2011/05/Lucy_Whitman

Monday 5th September 5.00pm- Anne Robinson

Anne Robinson performance- Protest Your Love

A manually selected live jukebox featuring feminist favourites with an element of chance...

Anne Robinson is an artist working with painting, film & songs and is a senior lecturer in film at London Met University.


Tuesday 6th September 6.00pm-9.00pm- Camberwell MA shows private view, all welcome.


Wednesday 7th September 5.00pm- The Hissterics fanzine launch party
Fanzine launch for legendary 70s women’s band The Hissterics, featuring very special guest DJs including Barby Asante (artist and curator), Erica Smith (editor of GirlFrenzy) and Dominic Appleton (DJ at Duckie and singer in Breathless). Recollections of The Hissterics from Marc Baines, Jason Barker Marcia Farquhar, Frankie Green, Melanie Maddison, Serge Nicholson, Sally O’Reilly, Tracey Payne, Kit Poulson, Bill Savage, Patrick Staff, Sian Stirling, Charles Thomson, Ed Webb-Ingall, Mike Wyeld and more, edited by Rachael House. Refreshments available. Dancing encouraged.

Thursday 8th September 7.00pm- Hackney Secular Singers
Hackney Secular Singers are the best punk choir in the world.
The Hackney Secular Singers (aka the Punk Choir) have been meeting every Monday for three years of co-operative musical bliss, devising alternative arrangements for new wave classics like 'Psycho Killer' and 'Germ Free Adolescents'. Previous gigs range from Hackney Wicked Festival through the School of Life to the Dublin Castle with some flash mob singing in between... and they welcome new members!


Please Arrive in plenty of time before the events.
Murray or Donna will be in the college foyer to meet people 20 minutes before events start, give directions and lead the way.

Friday 19 August 2011

comic book library for homeless and vulnerable young people

My friend (and comic book maker/illustrator) Karrie Fransman is seeking donations for a comic book library for homeless and vulnerable young people (in London), all the info and contact details are on her blog: http://www.karriefransman.com/?page_id=53

Over the last two months I’ve been running a comics youth project with House of Illustration and New Horizon Youth Centre. New Horizon Youth Centre is a day centre working with young people who are vulnerable, homeless or at risk. I’ve been running an eight week comic project with House of Illustration were the young people have been learning to tell their own stories and express themselves through making comics.

Each week I brought in loads of new comics and was delighted to see how much the young people loved them! It is easy to see the importance of comics in improving literacy and communicating across different cultures and classes. Of the 2000 young people New Horizon sees every year a number have had negative experiences with formal education, and have issues with numeracy and literacy. There are also a number of immigrant clients for whom English is a second language. You can imagine how well these young people responded to comics such as Shaun Tan’s ‘The Arrival’ and Marjane Satrapi’s ‘Persepolis’.

I am currently trying to set up a small donated library of comic books at New Horizon and would love your support. Like me you probably have a shelf full of comics you no longer read. Any comics or graphic novels you can spare would be fantastic, even just one would do! It would be great if the collection included some classics (Chris Ware, Clowes, Alan Moore, Mccloud etc) if you have any copies to spare. I am starting the collection off with some of my own comics so please join in!

music & liberation: call for volunteer expressions of interest

From my inbox, from Deborah Withers...

Dear all,

I am currently putting together a funding bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund to make a touring exhibition called Music & Liberation. My aim is for the exhibition to tour the UK June-Oct 2012. It will draw on and gather new material for the Women's Liberation Music Archive http://womensliberationmusicarchive.wordpress.com that was launched in May 2011. A short synopsis of the exhibition is below.

As part of the project I want to involve up to 6 volunteers from across the UK to help research content for the exhibition, the archive and for a CD that will include music from the exhibition, photographs and extensive sleeve notes. These volunteers will be supported mainly online, although there will be opportunities to meet in person throughout the course of the project.

Research duties will include things like visiting archives where volunteers live, interviewing musicians who live in your local area, writing biographies (that will become sleeve notes for the CD) and, of course, listening to rare feminist music.

Gaining evidence of volunteer interest in the project is vital for attaining funds from the HLF. If you think you would be interested in volunteering on the project next year in any way (no matter how big or small!) please get in touch. debiwithers@yahoo.co.uk / 07940 320 113

Also, if you work for a UK-based museum or arts centre that may be interested in hosting the exhibition similarly please get in touch for more details as there are spaces to fill in the schedule.

Thanks in advance and please share widely!
Deborah Withers

Music and Liberation: Women’s Liberation Music-Making in the UK, 1970-1989 tells the story of how feminists used music as an activist tool to entertain and empower women during the 1970s and 1980s. It brings together for the first time a diverse collection of women’s cultural heritage to inspire and inform contemporary audiences about the politics of feminist music making.

The exhibition will draw on material from the Women’s Liberation Music Archive (http://womensliberationmusicarchive.wordpress.com), an online blog archive launched in May 2011 by archive co-ordinators Frankie Green and Dr Deborah Withers. It will also present new oral and audio-visual histories collected especially for the exhibition. Music and Liberation is a unique opportunity to hear the music and watch the performances of some of the most interesting, innovative and provocative music you have never heard of.


'strong female characters'

Kind of a rad read, over at Tiger Beatdown blog: http://tigerbeatdown.com/2011/08/10/what-do-you-mean-when-you-say-you-want-strong-female-characters

independent, youth-driven cultural production by young women in cambodia

Sara Drake has a Kickstarter page for her Comics Project in Phnom Penh Cambodia.

She writes,

'In Collaboration with Arts Network Asia (ANA) and Anne Elizabeth Moore, I will be traveling to Phnom Phen, Cambodia to teach an introductory comics and self-publishing class to young women. Help me provide a space in which young women can feel comfortable sharing their own ideas within a culture that has historically given women little access to do so.
The class itself, will help equip young women with the skills needed to cultivate their own personal narratives and encourage them to share their stories.'


The Kickstarter page is at: www.kickstarter.com/projects/178882708/comics-in-cambodia

Sara's blog about the project is (will be) here: iydcpc.wordpress.com/comics

Friday 12 August 2011

we will not go quietly

From my inbox, via a conversation with Kate (Melbourne, Australia):

We Will Not Go Quietly will be a zine written by survivors of sexual assault, for survivors of sexual assault.

Dreamt up by two victim/survivors – Mel Hughes (of Poetry 101) and Kate Ravenscroft (of 16 Impacts of Sexual Assault) – who mourn the absence of survivors’ voices in their world and want to do something about it, they are seeking stories of survival from sexual assault survivors for publication in a small zine.

Contributions can take any form – poetry, essay, artwork, manifesto, stream of consciousness, narrative, recipes, battle cry, puzzles, comics, photos – anyway you choose to reflect upon and represent your experience of survival, anyway you want to share how you’ve set about rebuilding life on your terms, is welcome.

Some themes that we’d love to see covered in the zine include:

Finding safety
Battling PTSD
Coping mechanisms
Perpetrator-repelling
Building strength
Believing your voice, your story
Learning to trust your instincts
Recognising your courage
Asking for support
Telling your story
But by no means stop here.

Whatever has been important to you in surviving – we want to hear about it.

We would especially welcome visual expressions on surviving sexual assault – artwork, photos, illustrations, comics etc.

Second round contributions are requested by 28 August 2011 and can be submitted to wewillnotgoquietlyzine@gmail.com Please keep contributions to no longer than 1,500 words (no contribution is too short or too small) and anonymous contributions are welcome.

From here we commence collecting, collating and editing submissions. Any offers of support through this phase would be warmly welcomed! Especially offers of assistance with design and layout – anyone with experience in these areas who would be interested in contributing to We Will Not Go Quietly please do not hesitate to get in contact with us.

For more info, see: http://wewillnotgoquietly.wordpress.com/

Thursday 11 August 2011

caroline paquita interview on pikaland

My interview with Caroline Paquita hit the Pikaland website today, which I'm thrilled about, as out of the hundreds of artist interviews I've done, this one is one of my favourites.

http://pikaland.com/2011/08/11/artist-interview-caroline-paquita

I had the pleasure of meeting Caroline in the process of working on this interview, & I had already known that her art was inspiring, but getting to talk to her about stuff kinda blew my mind. She's really special; in the interview she mentions her notion of 'artists as teachers', and already Caroline has taught me a lot.

In the interview I love all the things she has to say about community; creating her own destiny; dialoguing and learning; keeping the 'magic' circulating; being tired of negativity and hopelessness; being empowered by real objects; involvement with every part of the artistic creation; straight up DIY and retaining the spirit of creativity; sharing; pushing boundaries and trying new things; - Oh hell, there's SO MUCH I love in this interview, and so much I love Caroline for.

I'm in a bit of a slump myself personally at the moment, I've given up on a lot of stuff, lost my way a little, forgotten what drives me, and my mind keeps going to dark places; but it's stuff like this that gives me hope and kinda helps to refocus my attention a little. Thank you Caroline xox

If you get the chance, check out Caroline's current fundraiser for Pegacorn Press.


Tuesday 2 August 2011

enough: the personal politics of resisting capitalism

From my inbox...

Call for Submissions: Enough: The Personal Politics of Resisting Capitalism (the book!!)

We created the website Enough in 2008 in response to a yearning for discussion about radical approaches to day-to-day decisions about money and resource sharing. Enough has been a space where people have shared their stories, questions, and strategies about what it means to practice a politics of wealth redistribution in their day to day lives while being immersed in capitalism. We are now compiling additional essays to be published in book form.

We are seeking essays about how we conceive of and live a politics of interdependence, resource sharing, and wealth redistribution beyond and in resistance to capitalism.

Deadline: Feb 15, 2012

More details: Please visit www.enoughenough.org/about

Enough asks questions such as:

- What are the various ways we are sharing resources to support community and movement-building?
- What does a politics of wealth redistribution look like in the day-to-day, and what are the obstacles to developing conversations about this in political communities we belong to?
- How can we build new models of collective support based in interdependence, care, and sustainability?


Topics could include (but are definitely not limited to):

- Strategies for collective income sharing within communities, community emergency funds, sharing of resources beyond money, etc.
- Local currencies.
- Collective, equitable approaches to land and real estate.
- Reparations.
- Fundraising strategies that directly challenge capitalist power dynamics.
- Community-based strategies for supporting mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health.
- How people who have inherited wealth are redistributing it equitably, and what challenges and opportunities they’ve encountered.
- How people who work together are creating methods and cultures of supporting each other as whole people.
- Exciting models of people dealing with money ethically in activist spaces and organizations.
- Anti-capitalist/anti-racist/anti-imperialist analysis of choices about saving for retirement, buying real estate, taking certain jobs, supporting our communities, etc.

Questions and submissions: Email info (at) enoughenough.org

Monday 1 August 2011

punk start my heart

From my inbox...

hi folks,

Some friends of mine PUNK START MY HEART are an organising collective based in Portland, USA.
Last year they organised the hugely inspiring Not Enough! festival, an event which got local queers and feminists in their community to start new bands because there simply weren't enough of them.
On the back of this they are currently trying to start a record label and need to raise $6000 on a pledge campaign before they get funded.
Check out this trailer they made and please share it with your networks, re-post on blogs, etc.
I know times are tough but have a heart and let punk start my heart help it beat louder.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/586915925/punk-start-my-heart



deborahx
www.debi-rah.net & www.hammeronpress.net

Thursday 28 July 2011

big mouth

The same week that I got two of Lauren Denitzio's illustrated zines in the post, I also discover she's co-curated the following mind-bogglingly awesome sounding event, set to open in New York on August 9th. She's like wonderwoman, and I have big love for her right now!


BIG MOUTH: contemporary feminist voices in art + illustration

OPENING AUGUST 9 @ BROOKLYN FIREPROOF

a group show featuring: Suzy Exposito / Molly Fair / Kim Funk / Kathleen Hanna / J. Morrison / Adee Roberson / Gabby Schulz

Curated by Kate Wadkins + Lauren Denitzio, BIG MOUTH: contemporary voices in feminist art + illustration is a platform for unpopular visual opinions. Feminist movements have historically grown out of interventions within radical communities in the face of silence, anger, and often, violence. Still, these conflicts and contentions are fought with the utmost passion and humor in hopes for a radical resolution. BIG MOUTH illustrates the ever-evolving search for feminist/queer identities and communities. This group show places feminist narratives at the center of radical art-making, where often our voices are poorly represented or left out altogether. BIG MOUTH is a celebration of our pluralism, our goofiness, and a proclamation of defiant love.

@ Brooklyn Fireproof
119 Ingraham St (at Porter Ave)
Brooklyn, NY 11237

with open hours throughout

OPENING TUESDAY AUG 9 6p-9p
Opening party & participatory feminist art workshop
Bring your favorite art supplies (some will be provided)

THURSDAY AUG 11 12p-6p
Open hours: drop by and visit with curators Kate Wadkins + Lauren Denitzio

FRIDAY AUG 12
12p-6p Open hours
7p Panel discussion with Suzy Exposito, Kim Funk & more
9p Closing DANCE PARTY!

BIG MOUTH is part of the Birds of Summer event series hosted by For the Birds.


illustrated interview of awesomeness

Such a great illustrated interview with Esther Pearl Watson: via the Poketo blog

super secret crush

Oh me, oh my, this looks great...


Lady Comix Art - Super Secret Crush
(at: Webb Gallery 209-211 W. Franklin Waxahachie, TX 75165. USA)

This exhibit features the work of 22 great lady artists who work in the comic book world. The exhibit features artwork and comics by the artists.

Georganne Deen-Megan Whitmarsh-Martha Rich-Dame Darcy-Nina Frenkel-Ayumi Piland-Mimi Pond-Jackie Dunn Smith-Lorna Leedy-Vanessa Davis-Gabrielle Bell-Hellen Jo-Esther Pearl Watson-Pacolli-Tasha Kusama-Saejean O-Nora Krug-Katherine Guillen-Aya Kakeda-JJ Stratford-Rachell Sumpter-Aiyana Udesen-Prudence Fenton-Bubbles the artist (courtesy of Allie Willis)

July 30 - September 18, 2011

Friday 22 July 2011

award for my slothliness

Pikaland blog recently posted about Stephanie Housley of Coral and Tusk, and I've fallen head over heels for her Sloth merit badge/medal.

http://coralandtusk.myshopify.com/collections/homeandgifts/products/sloth-medal

Friday 15 July 2011

pegacorn press

The totally amazing Caroline Paquita has set up an IndieGoGo page to raise funds for more equipment to help get Pegacorn Press, her small, queer, feminist, total-art-freaker publishing house off the ground. She is going to be specializing in small-run art books, comics and zines.

See the fundraiser here: http://www.indiegogo.com/pegacornpress

The (new!) Pegacorn Press blog is here: http://pegacornpress.blogspot.com/


Caroline writes: "As you know, I've been making and printing my own work for a long time now and it's time to expand and start printing other rad artists, particularly of the queer, feminist and total-art-freaker persuasion"

Knowing how great Caroline's artwork and previous self-publishing ventures are, I know that Pegacorn is going to be amazing!

Tuesday 12 July 2011

una buena barba 3

I was interviewed a couple of months ago by Miriam for the Spanish-language feminist e-magazine, Una Buena Barba, and it's just been published. I answered questions about zines, and 'Shape & Situate' zine in particular.

If you happen to speak/read Spanish, the interview is in the 3rd issue of Una Buena barba (translated as 'a jolly good beard' (I think!!)) found here: http://issuu.com/unabuenabarba/docs/unabuenabarba3
[I'm on page 59, but there's loads of other great stuff (and great people... Coco Riot, Ruth Bop and Charlotte Cooper to name 3!) in there too, so it's worth a flip through it all!!]

Alas, despite two years of "learning" Spanish at school (in actual fact I only took those Spanish classes to get out of doing P.E and Games, and was so very crap in those lessons!), I don't know much, if any Spansish, so am unable to fully appreciate the magazine (but it's very pretty!).
Thanks to Miriam for translating my English into Spanish for the publication, and for involving me in such a rad magazine.
[It's quite a relief in some ways to not be able to read back what I was waffling on about a few months ago. It's saved my blushes!!]

Shape&Situate #2: current stockists

Shape & Situate is a self-published zine of posters made by artists and DIY creative folk within Europe, each poster highlighting the (often hidden) history and lives of radical inspirational women and collectives from Europe, as a way of connecting us with the past, the present, and to help us to make sure that there will be a future which contains such creative and pioneering female action and activity. The zine aims to activate feminist cultural memory, to inspire in the present and to visually bring women’s social and political history to life.

It is available at the following places:


*Folksy: (http://www.folksy.com/shops/COTL)

*Etsy (http://www.etsy.com/shop/COTL?ref=pr_shop)

*Marching Stars (UK) (http://www.marchingstars.co.uk)

*Ricochet! Ricochet! (UK)

*Dead Trees & Dye (UK) (http://www.deadtreesanddye.com)

*Cherry Bomb (New Zealand) (http://www.cherrybombcomics.co.nz)

*Space Station 65 (UK) (http://www.spacestationsixtyfive.com)

*Ms Valerie Park Distro (USA) (http://msvalerieparkdistro.com)
Online listing at: http://msvalerieparkdistro.com/zines/various-melanie-maddison-shape-situate-2-posters-of-inspirational-european-women

*News From Nowhere (Radical & Community Bookshop, Liverpool, UK. http://www.newsfromnowhere.org.uk)

*lmnop shop (Brighton, UK. http://www.lmnopshop.com)

*Justseeds (USA, http://justseeds.org) Online listings can be found at: http://www.justseeds.org/other_artists/04shapesit02.html and http://www.justseeds.org/other_artists/04shapesit01.html

*Natterjack Press (UK, http://www.natterjackpress.co.uk)

*Vertiline In Love (Sheffield, UK, http://vertilineinlove.com)

*Princesa Pirata distro (UK) (http://princesapiratadistro.wordpress.com)

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The zine can also be found in the following zine libraries: *London College of Communication Zine Library, *Salford Zine Library, *Rotherham Zine Library, *Canny Little Library (Newcastle)

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I'm always on the lookout for new places to stock the zine, do get in touch if you'd like to distro any copies


Friday 8 July 2011

ghosts of the river - graphic novel on immigration

From Favianna Rodriguez's website:


I need your help to make a Graphic Novel - Please Donate!
I've taken on a new challenge - to create a graphic novel! And I need your help.

To donate: http://www.shadowlightghosts.org


For the most part, I've focused my art practice on posters and prints, in which I tell a story in a single panel. But now, I'm stepping into a whole new area called the sequential narrative, also known as a comic book or graphic novel. Since April of this year, I have been begun work on a 60-page graphic novel that explores topics of migration, border enforcement, deportation, detention, and anti-immigrant violence.

This new venture is a continuation of the 2009 shadow puppet play, GHOSTS OF THE RIVER, my first theatrical collaboration with ShadowLight Productions and Octavio Solis. Working in shadow puppet theater was my first introduction to the combinaton of motion and image, and I was instantly hooked! (photo on right from play)

The next phase of this collaboration is to take the stories to a graphic format. I will restage some of the original stories from the play, converting them into a graphic novel, mixing images from the original stage production and exploring new graphic styles. The stories range from a fantastical ghost revenge story to a heart-wrenching story of a Chicano boy’s lost summer as he faced racism for the first time. Some stories will follow the frame-by-frame comic book style while others will incorporate various printmaking approaches most employed in my work, such as linoleum block print, wood block, and monoprint.

For this project I am fusing my expertise in printmaking with sequential storytelling, which is allowing me to develop a poignant body of work around the current immigration crisis.

I need your help to make this book a reality. I have secured a grant for $10,000 from the East Bay Community Foundation. The catch is that the award has to be matched dollar to dollar ONLY with contributions from individual donors such as yourself! I am raising the funds with the producer of this project, ShadowLight Productions.

Visit here to donate: http://www.shadowlightghosts.org/

The timing for this project is urgent, with migrants being deported at an alarming rate of 1,100 per day. Much of the public dialogue is still laced with hate, stereotypes, violence and fear. My graphic novel will share real, human stories and provide an opportunity for readers to understand the complexity of how anti-immigrant laws affect people through the vehicle of visual art and graphic storytelling. I am confident that a pop culture medium, such as the graphic novel, is the perfect next step for me as an artist.

Thank you so much for your consideration. Love, Justice and Art!

the quiet rrriot, seattle

from my inbox...

3 of my favourites - I'm obscenely jealous of all that attend!




Grrrl Heroes Megan Kelso, Nikki McClure & Stella Marrs at Fantagraphics Bookstore‏

Saturday, July 9
6:00 to 9:00 PM
"The Quiet Rrriot," an examination of the Riot Grrrl zine scene featuring original art, prints, and products by Megan Kelso, Nikki McClure and Stella Marrs.
This exhibition marks the debut of the new edition of Queen of the Black Black, short stories from Kelso’s seminal comix zine Girlhero.

Kelso and McClure will discuss their work in the context of Olympia’s Riot Grrrl movement at 7:00 PM, followed by a book signing and reception.

Fantagraphics Bookstore & Gallery is located at 1201 S, Vale Street (at Airport Way S.) in the heart of Seattle’s historic Georgetown arts community

Tuesday 5 July 2011

zine fest roundup

Red Chidgey's round-up of last month's Zine Fest! at The Women's Library, London can be found here: http://feministmemory.wordpress.com/2011/06/27/zinefest-roundup

the listener

From my inbox from David Lester...


My graphic novel THE LISTENER, about art, history, life, love and politics is now out. A beautifully printed first edition (312 pages).
You can take a peak at it here: http://thelistenergraphicnovel.wordpress.com/

If you are inspired to buy a copy for yourself, or as a gift for a friend, or family member, see details below. And please pass this message on to other people you think might be interested.

Available from Amazon.UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Listener-David-Lester/dp/1894037480

thanks and take care,
David

PS: The Listener has been selected as one of the best books of 2011, so far, by the School Library Journal (New York).

A few reviews of The Listener:

"A dense and fiercely intelligent work that asks important questions about art, history, and the responsibility of the individual, all in a lyrical and stirring tone." -- Publishers Weekly (New York)

"This demands to be added to any shelf on which Anne Frank’s Diary, as well as Maus or Miriam Katin’s We Are on Our Own are available." -- School Library Journal (New York)

"... a meditative, memorable graphic novel." -- Baltimore City Paper (Baltimore, MD)

"Lots of depth, lots of great imagery." -- Comic Attack (Los Angeles, CA)

"Lester’s drawing is wonderfully expressive and the book is an intense and well-structured look at a forgotten pivotal moment in history..." -- Sequential (Canada)

The Listener by David Lester (Arbeiter Ring Publishing) $19.95, ISBN: 9781894037488

ISHO feminist art exhibition

From my inbox...


I'S SHES HERS and OURS Feminist Art show
The Gallery, Edwards Lane, Off Stoke Newington Church Street, N16 0JS
9th - 23rd July, Weds to Sun.
Private Views 8th July, 6-9pm, 17th July, 1.30 - 4.30pm.

57 women artists show their feminisms.
From 12 different countries, all ages.

Free events, 23rd July, How do I figure, and ArtSpeak.

Opening times: Wed and Fri, 11 - 6pm; Thurs 11 - 7pm; Sat 11 -5pm; Sun 1 - 5pm.
Nearest tube Angel,Manor house, Highbury + bus.
141, 341, 73, 476, 149, 67, 243, 393.

http://73women.webs.com/




Monday 27 June 2011

shape & situate exhibition at the women's library

On Saturday I made the trip down to London to exhibit large posters from the first two issues of the zine, 'Shape & Situate: Posters of Inspirational European Women' at Zine Fest! at the Women's Library.

Here's a set of (dodgy) photos that I took of the exhibition. Thanks to all the artists who let me blow their work from the zine up to A3 and include it in the exhibition. So many people complimented the posters, the individual art works, and the project. I also got many offers for contributions to a third issue, so watch this space!
Huge thanks to Footprint for doing such a great job printing up the posters xox














One thing I learned from the experience is that buying pound-shop blue tack for an exhibition is a false economy! Oh, how it failed me! On the photos you will see that only half of the exhibition ended up being mounted on the blue background, and the upper tier of posters are not mounted at all -- I blame this entirely on the blue background not sticking to the wall with the cheap-shit blue tack, and after it fell on my head and the floor countless times I threw a wobbly and chucked the backing in the recycling bin in a huff!!
(Other things I learned from my trip down include the fact that I still get panic attacks on the London Underground, especially when they close entire Lines, like the line taking me to the Women's Library - stressfest! And, the fact that sitting around waiting for delayed coaches then sitting them on for entirely too long brings on my Sciatica like you wouldn't believe. Yowzer, I'm a physical wreck!!)

It was so great to see so many friends and friendly faces at Zine Fest! Congratulations to Red for organising such a great event and getting so many fantastic people in the same space.

Special love goes out from me to Rachael, Patrick, Ed, Colette, Humey, and Charlotte ♥

It was also ridiculously good to meet Erica Smith, A-K Pirata, Sofia Niazi and Kristin Aune.

As a result of Zine Fest! Shape & Situate issue #2 is now available to buy from the following distros:

*Marching Stars (http://www.marchingstars.co.uk/)

*Ricochet! Ricochet!

*Dead Trees & Dye (http://www.deadtreesanddye.com)

*Cherry Bomb (http://www.cherrybombcomics.co.nz/)

*Space Station 65 (http://www.spacestationsixtyfive.com/)

*Etsy (http://www.etsy.com/COTL) or search COTL or Shape & Situate on Etsy.

* [Soon] Ms Valerie Park Distro (USA) (http://msvalerieparkdistro.com)



[If you'd like to stock or carry the zine on your distro/in your shop drop me a line!]