Hello again, and happy Almost-Spring, friends! It’s been a while since I last wrote. This is because I was taking a nice winter break, and because everything is terrible in the world! I didn’t really know what to say in a newsletter, and I still don’t. Just that it’s more important now than ever to get involved and do something.
I have a mantra for myself, “I can’t do everything, but I can do more than nothing." I don’t have the capacity to be a 24/7 news junkie, or go out to a bunch of protests, but I CAN write letters, email my representatives, spread the word by sharing information with friends, as well as attend equity workshops, discussions and anti-fascist book clubs to educate myself. And I can’t forget that it’s also productive to MAKE ART documenting my experiences as well as uplift the masses!
I also have the privilege to be able to donate to orgs doing the good work and choose where I spend my money. So, I do what I can, when I can, and I know that is enough. We all have something to contribute. I’d love to hear what you’ve been up to in the way of activism, or how you’ve been taking care of yourself since January in the comments. In an effort to not make this post longer than it needs to be, I’m leaving a comment full of different ways you can be an advocate/ally/accomplice, from Eastern PA Trans Equity Project. We love a menu.
January felt like it lasted a lifetime, and I’m not gonna lie, my mental health took a plunge. The transphobes are feeling emboldened, let’s leave it at that. February also lagged for me, with winter weather putting the kibosh on events I really needed two weekends in a row. Overall though, I’ve been enjoying getting more involved and just pushing myself to join, join, join. I’ve also been surprised to be giving myself grace this winter with my walking practice. Motivation has been a real priceless commodity, as one of my meds is causing on and off crushing fatigue. This is the first winter in years that I haven’t forced myself into the biting wind and icy paths to get my daily walk in. I’ve been enjoying lots of puzzles, TV, and cozy time with my partner instead, and that’s good for me too! There’s always new ways to learn self-care, and this has been the winter of rest.
I made a zine about Seasonal Affective Disorder after hearing the woes of a friend who recently moved from FL to Seattle. They’ve never experienced winter and were beating themself up for being so depressed and down on the new life they’re embarking upon. Gentle, gentle, gentle, I say! We’re just animals experiencing a natural response to decreased sunlight. Give yourself pets, and treats.
Winter Is Hard is a double sided zine. The front is tongue-in-cheek with some actual facts, and the back is a sincere letter to you, dear reader. I had fun making this zine and hope to do more in this format. Making a double sided minizine always stresses me out, because I don’t know if whoever picks it up will know how to fold it when they go to read the back. And then they might read it in the wrong order! Or not know how to refold it! My control issues rear their ugly head yet again. A flat poster style back has proved more attractive to me. If you have any input on this subject, please, leave it below. I also used packing tape transfers in this zine, which I had a lot of fun experimenting with. Have you ever dabbled? I have some misprint extras, so if you don’t want to pick up the whole zine, comment below and I’ll mail you just the letter side.
Something worth noting that thrilled me recently, other than Janelle Monae’s performance at the Grammys, was selling one of my front bottoms zines to a member of the band. WOW, getting my thoughts and opinions (which we all know are STRONG) read by the actual person they’re about - It feels surreal, while I’m also a little bit scared I’ll get hit with a cease and desist. I really don’t think that’ll happen though, my art business is a miniscule dot on the radar of the world. It’d be cool to get a response, though, and see what they have to say. It’s a zine world version of being starstruck, because this is someone who I used to be obsessed with! Ahh! You can read why I broke up with my old favorite band by ordering I’m Never Wearing These Socks Again here. $1 from every sale goes to Minavi, a New Jersey gender based violence non-profit.
In other news, I’ve been attending a 12 week Gentle Nudge accountability pod, working on a long forgotten project. I decided to not let Kris In Love & Recovery die after all! I’m finally working on the last issue, issue 4. I published issue 3 back in the summer of 2022, omg. These were my first foray into zinemaking back in 2020, compiling my poetry and collage art into a thick 40 page quarter-size zine. I apologize if you read any of my cringey trauma dump poetry, but it had to be done, I had to heal. This issue is also shaping up to be 40 pages, and will include 2 personal essays which take up a lot of room. Here are some behind the scenes pics for ya.
I hope to have KILR4 done in time for my first tabling event of the season, Montclair ZineFest on Saturday March 29th! It’ll definitely be finished in time for Lancaster ZF. I’m happy to have some events on the books to look forward to. I’ve purposely been stretching this larger project out because the last time I crammed to finish a big zine I got really burnt out. But I also haven’t been working on many other things simultaneously, which is a mistake. I miss making minizines at the moment!
I decided it was time to bring back the fun of ATCs. Low-stakes, mini collage on a playing card, also known as artist trading cards. It’s been way too long since I imbibed. These have been a super fun way to keep up with my practice when I’m not putting in time on the bigger project. If you’re an artist, how do you switch it up and keep things fresh?
So that’s all I got for ya this time, folks! Scroll to the bottom to see my upcoming vending opportunities. I forgot to say welcome to anyone new here. I put out a call for subscribers, as I do plan on getting off Instagram by the end of the year if I’m able. I know Substack isn’t ideal either, and maybe in the meantime I’ll figure out a better option, but mostly I want to be spending less time on social media. I left Twitter a few years ago, as well as drastically reduced my Facebook time by deleting the app, and eventually my account, and this winter has been my most-OFFline time to date. Do I feel a little bit out of the loop? Yes. Is less time living on my phone giving me a richer actual life? I think so! Either way, it feels good.
Thanks for reading, please share with a friend who you’d think might be interested in my art + zines, and take good care. I bet you can take one action today to make the world a tiny bit closer to what you wish to see it be.
Endless love,
Kris
(they/them)
Find me slinging zines + art here:
