Final publication: 6.5″ x 9.75″ x 2″

Sculpted objects, digitally printed zine: edition of 5, tumblr website.

In an attempt to create a work that involves collaborative art making, Rachel, Fran and myself created #itme15, an event and publication surrounding issues of personal identity. As explained in the text, “it is easy to form friendships and relationships without ever asking others how they describe or define themselves. Impressions and assumptions are often too easily made based on classroom discourse or quick conversations in social settings. In an attempt to dismantle expectations of others and the way we project identities relative to our own, we have developed a project that provides a safe space for friends and peers to explore identity.”

The project began with an event, held at Fran’s apartment, which invited friends and peers to come and sculpt a small object that somehow reflected his, her or their identity. From there, we collected objects and produced a zine which explained our thought process and the project outcomes. The final realization of the project is a tumblr page, which catalogs each of the sculpted objects and inspires those who did not participate to define their own identity through visual form.

The group project was collaborative at all stages, but specific tasks were assigned based on individual skill. Rachel took over the majority of the preliminary sketching and planning stages. The three of us hosted the event together and split the cost of materials. Fran photographed the objects, creating both the cover page pattern and the catalogue. She also managed the tumblr uploading. I provided the majority of the written content, and was in charge of the master file, which included formatting, adding content as it was developed, and printing. Rachel constructed the boxes and managed all physical construction of the zine. She also helped with photo editing and content creation throughout the development process.

Visit the tumblr at http://itme15risd.tumblr.com/

Process:

Process 1: Facebook Event

Process 2: Event Photos

Process 3: Pattern

Process 4: Google Drive for file collection and content editing

Process 5: Content Example

Process 6: Digital Pages

Documentation– Final Zine:

Tumblr: http://itme15risd.tumblr.com/

Sad Suburbs: 10.75″ x 5.75″

Collaged image, scanned and digitally printed.

In the exquisite corpse project, I received a piece from Alex which showed a man carrying a bottle, walking away from a small house. The house provided the starting point for my own piece, which shows a row of nearly identical houses on a street. The imagery on both sides is quite similar, but lines up as if looking through a row of houses toward the next. I used Alex’s illustration of light pouring through windows as a jumping off point for my own depiction of artificial light in the late afternoon.

The sense of isolation and strange darkness present in Alex’s illustration also carries over into my own, although subject matter is very different. By creating cookie-cutter houses out of a digital collage (a technique also used in the prior piece) of suburban scenery, I attempt to capture multiple levels of monotony, similarity, and familiarity, which together provide a tension between comfort and uneasiness for the viewer.

The piece was collaged by hand using multiple types of paper, printed imagery, and ink coloring.

Process:

Inspiration Thumbnail

Process 1: Materials

Process 2: Window Light

Process 3: Original Piece

Final:

Final: Side 1

Final: Side 2

“Nails” zine: 5.5″ x 8.5″ in envelope

Mixed Media, edition of 10.

Prompted to make a zine about an every day object, I chose to look at fingernails. The content of the zine was generated from my own personal thoughts and experiences with nails, particularly centered around adornment. Although the short statements are personal and subjective, they are largely relatable and easy to interact with.

The aim of the zine was to create a bizarre and humorous celebration of fingernails, which makes the viewer hyper aware of their own fingers while reading. Senses are engaged as textural and found objects require the use scratching and peeling, while the acrylic nails attached to the cover simulate the sound of long nails tapping on a hard surface. Even the smell triggers a sensory understanding as many pages are painted with nail polish.

Larger conversations may also be triggered in reading the zine. For instance, how is taste developed and what does it reflects about one’s upbringing and understanding of social hierarchy? How are trends interpreted and appropriated among different groups?

Process:

Process 1: Images from picture collection

Process 2: Materials

Process 3: Original collaged copy

Final Edition:

Final zine: 7″ x 7″ in envelope

Digitally printed and hand bound, total edition of 16.

This project attempts to challenge cultural assumptions about aging by elevating individuals who celebrate all periods of life. By highlighting anecdotes about elders whose outlook and spirit are particularly positive or inspiring, I am not only creating a visual catalog of my own goals for old age, but creating a platform for further dialogue.

The zines are being mailed to important people in my life, all at different stages. The postcard, found at the end of the publication, provides a space for audience members/participants to send their thoughts back to me. Prompting questions include:

What facets of your personality or identity do you hope to carry with you throughout all stages of your life?

What pieces of advice or wisdom would you give your 22-year-old self?

Is there an older individual in your life whose actions and attitude you admire?

By the end of the process, I will have an additional catalogue of thoughts and comments about aging, which I intend to make into a second publication, building off of the feedback from critique.

Process:

Process 1: Sketches

Process 2: Sketches

Documentation of final publication:

Final publication 1

Final publication 2

Final publication 3

Final publication 4

Final publication 5

Final publication 6

Final publication 7

Final publication 8

Staged distribution:

For each project, please follow this order.

Text:

0. Project title (type on the post title section above)

1. Your Name, credit if you collaborated with others

2. Dimension, material, year

3. Project website link (if you have)

4. Project description (minimum 130 words)

Images: include captions.

1. Process (sketches, mockups, etc)

2. Final Product: consider how you can show actual experience of your zine

–Printed matter: cover and inside
–Web / App: screenshots of multiple pages
–Video: screenshots of multiple frames
–Environmental: final piece itself plus installation views

3. Distribution

–Web/ App platform: screenshots of feedback
–Event, installation: multiple views to clearly show people encountering your zine
–Staged proposal: multiple views to explain possible interactions

*This is an example of inserted media.

type your caption under each image