Hello, welcome in, and please join me in celebrating 350 sales in my shop! I am truly grateful any time I hit a milestone, these excite me. If you’re new here, I appreciate your interest in my art. My newsletter is a blend of what’s new in my studio, life, and brain. This week you’ll find me avoiding social media because of *gestures widely indicating all the worldly horrors* and trying to eat as much healthy fruit and veg as I can to recoop from a bunch of traveling. I hope you’re doing a little extra to take care of yourself, too. I’ve somehow been able to finally start journaling again after a 2 year hiatus. Gold star for me!
It’s been a busy month for me. My partner and I went back to the shore for a little vacation Labor Day week. (Yes, I got to visit Daiso again!) It was a lovely time, even though some of our favorite spots were closed due to the off season of it all. I picked up some great books to cut up at Jack’s Music Shop in Redbank on the way home. Then, after not going to any concerts since 2022, I attended two within a few days of each other!
I had a magical time seeing Save Ferris in Bethlehem. They’re an old ska band that I never got to see, and anyone who knows me will tell you ska is the music to which my heart perpetually skanks. I also saw a PUP + Jeff Rosenstock: A Cataclysmic Rapture of Friendshipness show in Philly. The Double Band songs were my favorite, and they even ended by forming a triple band and covering “You Oughtta Know” with opener (that I sadly missed after a penpal recommended them) Ekko Astral. Honestly, it felt so nice to be singing along next to other masked trans people. Where I live, no one else masks, so it felt good to be in community with like minded people.
My episode of the Long Arm Stapler podcast was released at the beginning of September, and can be found here. I chat with Maira about my collage roots, hiding behind poetry vs. letting it all hang out, the downsides of workshops, zine names, and creating art during the ongoing pandemic. I also verbally commit to making that Hackers zine that’s been bouncing around in my brain for the last few years. I recently got to see a screening of this 90’s cyberpunk classic at the drive-in. A great bookend to the summer! (Some footnotes if you listen to the episode: I misspoke, I started making minizines in 2022, not 2020. Since then I have made about 50. I also just realized while making this newsletter that KILR4 was published in March of this year, not May.)
I made two new zines since last month. Mushrooms I Have Known Vol. 4 introduces some kooky new characters and can be found here. And for a belated Zine Camp prompt, I took Xacto to a 50’s home decor book, and collaged a bunch of fabulously gaudy images for Kitschy Kitchen. I then picked some of the text that I found interesting to include. I honestly had so much fun working on this zine, and it’s not something I would have made on my own. So even though I’m not great, or too keen, on following prompt lists, they really do make some magic happen. This process sure brought me joy.
I was also excited to attend a recent gelli printing workshop. It’s something I always see artists doing on IG that really intrigues me. Paint isn’t something I’ve really worked with. It intimidates me because it’s so fine-art-y, but I did spend some time adding paint pens to my collage a few years ago. Turns out gelli printing is fun play, just as I predicted! I’ve gotten supplies to try it at home and have been enjoying pairing images for simple collage with these luscious backgrounds.
Another print making technique I’ve been experimenting with is the Play-Doh stamp method I saw Bre share. Have you tried anything new lately? What’s captured your attention? Leave a comment, or reply directly to this email.
Something new that I’m excited to be a part of is Zine Machine, a project by Kristen Renee Miller, editor-in-chief at Sarabande Books. It’s an upcoming online lit mag, as well as literal pink minizine vending machine that will pop-up at indie bookstores, how cute! If you are in the area, help Zine Machine celebrate their official launch party on Friday October 10th at Tomorrow Bookstore on Massachusetts Ave, Indianapolis! My zine To Be Me is part of the Summer Edit, going live on October 1st. I made To Be Me on a magazine page last winter with tape transfers, collage and stamps, musing some gender thoughts. You can find it in my store in a gender 2-pack here.
My second-to-last announcement is that I will have work in MCBA’s New Editions, a biennial pop-up showcase and sale of new artists’ work running October 11-26. Tickets are on sale for their preview party October 10th, in the main gallery at Minnesota Center for Book Arts in Minneapolis. My 40 page glossy perzine featuring poetry, collage, and personal essays Kris In Love & Recovery #4 will be on display, and you can also get a copy in my shop here.
Lastly, my next vending opportunity will be Philly Zine Fest on November 1st! This is the biggest event I’ve ever done, and probably will ever do. I hope to see you there, and I’m psyched to start working on some new things to debut.
Now I’ll go back to reading, willing myself to clean off the kitchen table so I can start a puzzle, and enjoying Fall hikes and migration. Let me know what you’re giving yourself a gold star for lately, I love hearing from you.
Be well + take care,
Kris
(they/them/theirs/themself)
