How can I, as an artist, intervene in the public sphere? How can I add my voice to an issue that matters to me? I have discovered that taking art to the streets or to social media platforms allows me to reach a broad audience and not one pre-selected, so to speak, by the art establishment. In this project, I have used the form and the economical production of the zine to produce a multi-issue pocket-sized publication that makes public the taboo topic of ‘loneliness.’ I have consciously decided that this zine, called Cause & Effect, would be most effective as an intervention. The intervention entails leaving a copy of the zine in public spaces, such as a café table, a community street bookcase (several of these can be found in East Vancouver), restaurant bathrooms, etc.
In this project I also explore conversation as a method to create content while also being aware that the conversation itself can be considered a form of intervention—that is, it allows people I speak to, to talk about and explore a topic that is not commonly openly discussed, even amongst friends, family, and partners. The content of the zine consists of a part of a conversation. It is as if the reader is dropping in, in the middle of an exchange.
I purposely made the zine as anonymous as possible so that the reader may identify himself/herself with the feelings expressed within the cream-colored pages. This is important as I distribute the zine locally and name recognition could interfere with the content. There is no name, sex, gender, race, class, and occupation identification other than what can be determined from the anonymous conversation.
Cause & Effect Issues:?
Each zine is 16 pages, 2 ¾” x 4 ¼”; about 15-20 zines are produced and distributed free at public spaces.
Please note: The zines as seen here are not available for purchase anymore; interviews will be compiled in one publication that will be available for sale, hopefully for the Vancouver Art/Book Fair in October 2016 and on this website.
Issue 1 – hello? August 2015(dark blue cover). Available for reading at in the Reading Room of The Regional Assembly of Text in Vancouver.
Issue 2 – Sabotage, October 2015 (magenta cover). Available for reading at in the Reading Room of The Regional Assembly of Text in Vancouver.
Issue 3 – The Widow’s Curse, January 2016, (sky blue cover)
Issue 4 – It’s real. It’s honest, June 2016 (green cover)
