I just had to post photos of Lil's delightful parcel that she sent me:
Nice postcards...
A zine and blog |
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Just partaken in a zine swap with artist Lil Ashton. Since there is so much joyful, giddy fun to Lil's work, I sent my zines out to her wrapped up in an offical Russ trolls envelope from the 1990s, that I had rooted out from my childhood bedroom. I taped up the package in Snufkin Moomins tape that I acquired last week...! I just had to post photos of Lil's delightful parcel that she sent me: Tiny gem stones and stickers and and a badge spilled out of the package, as well as postcards and zines. Yes, that is a zine about Jarvis Cocker! I love that Lil draws Jarvis with bottles of Lambrini, and then going to sleep in a banana skin bed....! Nice postcards... Great cartoon characters in band t-shirts (another character is pictured in a Dolly Mixtures band t-shirt!)
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Issue 13 of Athemaura is now ready!
Themes include: new beginnings, art and art funding, finding space and calm, eco-therapy, lino-printing, photography, disconnecting from the internet, Viv Albertine/female rock biographies, favourite talking voices, library work, 90s music magazines, anti-badger cull, art libraries and love of books, anti-high speed rail, feeling happier and healthier for leaving a difficult job, green politics, The Cure/Robert Smith in old interviews, work horror stories from my youth, community displacement and housing crisis (Save Earls Court), plus the odd drawing, and plenty of collaged images. Comes with hand-glued cover, as above. Oh and it's now half the size it was before, but just as full of content, if not more so. Will be on sale at DIY Cultures this Sunday in east London. ***** Will be on sale via this Etsy shop very soon! ***** Today has been an excellent day for art! First, I received by post from Hannah (author of Not Lonely Zine) this painting by her toddler son, which I think is just wonderful: Then this afternoon, I went to a library to take a free drawing class! Libraries are perfect places for such things - we definitely need more of this. It was a small, relaxed, friendly class, and everyone was encouraging, interested, and it was a really positive experience. We did a bunch of exercises to begin with - 10 seconds of drawing, 20 seconds, then 30 seconds. Also drawing without looking at the paper, then drawing without looking at the object (we had fresh flowers!). We had presentations that made us think, and we got to chat informally to our teacher who has lots of specialities. I really enjoyed these exercises. Here is my 10 minute drawing of flowers on a stalk: The double drawing was fun (drawing with pen and pencil in one hand, bit like handling chopsticks): When we got onto drawing using charcoal I felt like I had found my medium! The feel really suits me, and I love getting messy hands. The chalks were also great for this. I think I would love to draw with pastels soon. Chalk flowers: All pretty basic, and we only had a two hour class, but I absolutely loved it. My dad was an artist when he was young, my mum used to sketch, my brother was always a bit of a cartoonist, and my dear late grandad was an incredible watercolour artist and sketcher - I have quite a bit of his amazing art, much of it relating to nature or seafaring. I'm sure I shall keep at this, and experiment and progress more, as I have always sketched.
Came away with a bunch of colourful flowers, too, which are now in a vase. Fayre and Square in Wimbledon shopping centre is a shop that sells various kinds of hand-crafted items, for all ages. I've just discovered it, but it opened last summer. It gives opportunities to artists to sell their work - you can rent a stall on a monthly basis. The shop is also home to Merton Volunteer Centre, moreover lends local young adults with a learning disability or mental health issue the chance to gain skills, as they can volunteer to work in the shop, serving customers on the till and being involved with the shop. Let me say what a wonderful little haven it is for anyone who is in love with pretty, crafty objects! As you can see, it has been decorated and filled with so much love and joy. It's such a beautiful sight and a lovely place to duck into in an otherwise primarily corporate shopping centre. The staff are informed and friendly, and you can enquire about a whole load of different volunteering opportunities within the borough of Merton, as well as browse gorgeous, lovingly produced goods. I wasn't very flushed for cash since I am hanging on for payday, but I knew that I would not get to the shop again for a while (the opening hours rotate, last Saturday of the month, plus regular midweek openings - check the Facebook for details). So I nudged into overdraft territory (it's okay!), because I could not walk away without buying something from their amazing selection and without supporting the hard-working volunteers and artists involved. I plumped for a glittery silver badge, and a cartoon bird badge from Lucie-Kate. I also got a small gift for a friend (not yet pictured!). And I indulged in a practical coloured phone cover from creative-stitching as I had just got a new phone and wanted to protect it anyway. Neat! Phone cover and two badges: Go and visit and support this excellent enterprise. They also put on events. I think they are planning a one-year anniversary celebration. I have a hankering to get some zines into the shop, too, maybe get some zine events going - so if anyone out there wants to get involved, just get in touch with the shop (or get in touch with me, if you want to get some zine stuff going with other people...).
Long may Fayre and Square reign in Wimbledon! I love it! A lot of amazing free events coming up in Kensington and Chelsea Libraries in May and June. Their Festival of Learning has loads of taster sessions for adults, all for free, plus there are assorted talks going on. Feeling excited about a large number of them - everything from another local history talk from Tom Vague, to drawing classes. The last talk that Tom Vague did was great, and it is a rare chance to catch him in public (his 70s/80s punk/counterculture/psychogeography zines are amazing). I have been thinking about drawing classes, as it would be nice to improve and short courses can be a little expensive. There are lots more events too, including ones for kids and families.
I feel like listing my pick of events here, as I picked up the printed pamphlet recently but can't see everything listed up online yet: Creative Writing Workshop, North Kensington Library: 1st and 29th May Drawing Workshop for Adults, North Kensington Library: 7th May, Brompton Library 21st May, Chelsea Library: 11th June, Central Library: 20th June How to Be Happier at Work, Central Library, 14th June Notting Hill at War, talk by Tom Vague, North Kensington Library, 17th June Images of the Counterculture and the Rise of Eco Protest (an images workshop), Central Library, 24th July Looks like it is best to go and book in person at any of the libraries above. More stuff like this from libraries across the UK, all year round, please, it's wonderful! I had a dreamy time in Camberwell recently. I was spending some time there for an art class. I enjoyed the quiet and bright sun of the early morning, feeling it was Spring, gazing at so much preserved architecture - old newspaper buildings, original art school buildings as above... (Could Camberwell be one of the least gentrified bits of London left? I also got a bit giddy about remembering there is a second-hand record shop there). There was also a park with ornamental gardens, bursting with flora. I've wanted to begin with lino-cuts for a while now, so I welcomed opportunity. There's a history of printing in my family, and I loved how knowledgeably detailed and historically factual my dad got when I told him I was going on a relief printing course.
A visit to the college library was obligatory. I had a nice explore, gathered up a big stack of heavy-duty books for inspiration. I'd already read through a 1970s manual of relief printing by Cyril Kent, which I found really helpful - the techniques and tips remain much the same. Here is my workspace, books and tools and sketches abound: It was good to mess about with paint. Resulting prints may well get fashioned into a zine front cover soon, we shall see!
I bought a few zines at the Yorkshire Zine Weekend: Isn't it a many-splendid sight? Glowing in the sun too: Some bought from individuals' tables or when they approached me, some bought from distro tables, some were swaps, a few were free. Plus loads of flyers, the odd CD, and badges. Always badges:
I finally framed the beautiful art I acquired from last years' Alternative Press Fair! This glistering work is from Worried Eyes on Etsy. It was very lovely to table next to her for the 'zine fair and to get to know her art, which has so much wonder. This painting is so glittery pretty: Wish the light was better so I could show the painting as it stands, on a tilted standing frame, on a checked mini table-cloth, atop a little table in my living room.
I also bought some postcards from Worried Eyes. I love the watercolouriness of those, too. Go check her art out and support her! Worried Eyes Front cover of one of my new mini zines, a guide to integrating vegan products into your life whatever your diet: I've had such a hiatus from 'zines that finally I have a whole bunch of mini-zines ready!
L - R: 1. Fun for A Fiver/Fun For Free, a guide to cheap fun with creative angles, 2. Veganise Your Life: tasty and good vegan products to integrate into your life/lifestyle whatever your diet, 3. Zine Lovers' London: a guide to zine-related shops and zine-related resources. There are so many exciting events going on in and around London in the coming months, that I feel I might burst - and I also feel the need to make a list, lest I forget! The big one this weekend for me is: http://www.londonopenhouse.org/ Open House Weekend, if you don't yet know it, consists of hundreds of museums, gardens, architecturally impressive buildings, libraries and the like all hosting FREE entry and events - guided tours, talks, etc! Every year it drives me to near apoplexy about what to do when and where, and all the things I'll never fit in! Last year I discovered Dalston Eastern Curve Garden, and the Karl Marx Memorial Library, which I wrote about in Athemaura issue #6. Postcard and paper ephemera fair in Woking tomorrow, and Saturday! Woking Leisure Centre, Kingfield Road. http://www.postcard.co.uk/woking.php Abundance Fruit Fair, Wimbledon. Jams, chutneys on sale, homemade from windfall fruit gathered by a wonderful group of people. Also, live music, kids' activities, lots more stalls. Last year, I had a stall and sold my garden-theme 'zines! Clash exhibition: On until 22nd September, unique memorabilia, previously unheard remastered songs on listening posts, and so on - an idea of heaven to me!!! Eel Pie Island, Twickenham. Photo exhibition, films, etc, till 29th September. Accounting the blues rock history of the area. There've been a bunch of cool gigs too. Anarchist Book Fair: 19th October, Queen Mary University, Mile End, East London. I think this is free, and there's sure to be a range of stuff from other radical political frames/socialist stuff, if the word 'anarchist' is too dangerous for you. I have a good feeling there may be small press and 'zines too! Various record fairs, throughout October and November, including Soundbite Record Fairs in SW London, and the ones held in Westminster. BFI film festival. And the Urban Wandering events at the Barbican coming up too!
Small Publishing Fair 2013, at Conway Hall in Bloomsbury, 15th - 16th November. Keeping It Peel - events in celebration of John Peel's ethos, including gigs, club nights, and more. SW Zines Presents: A Christmas Zine Social, Housmans book shop, in Kings Cross, 7th December, from 7pm - 9pm. Free zine event. Sellers can apply for free selling space via SW London & Surrey Zine Collective. Zine readers and the curious can come and be social in this book shop event, where cake and beer are promised. |
AthemauraEnthusiastic about 'zines, libraries, gardening in the city, independent book shops/record shops/cafes, vegetarian and vegan, London in all its variety, local living/community. Archives
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