Author Chat: Jenny Dickieson on The End of Times
If you’re a fan of zines, then you’ll want to pay attention to my conversation with artist and writer Jenny Dickieson today. She’s the Vancouver BC-based creator of a new zine that she’s called The End of Times, and there are three issues out so far. She designs and edits the zine, and at the moment she writes and draws most of the content, though she’s worked with some collaborators. For me, it’s a welcoming and slightly magical reading experience, and if you have the chance to pick one up locally, you’re in for a treat.
What is a zine? A simple definition is: "a noncommercial often homemade or online publication usually devoted to specialized and often unconventional subject matter." (Merriam-Webster.com)
You can read my take on the first three issues here.
From her bio at itsjenny.ca:
“Jenny is an artist, writer, and poet living on Unceded Coast Salish Territory. A self-described ‘cultural janitor’, she has worked supporting artists over the last decade in various forms of organizing, administration, and governance.
Currently the Foundation Program Coordinator at Emily Carr University of Art + Design she moonlights as the editor and co-creator of the zine The End of Times and spends her time making her own scrappy comics, prints, and art as it pleases her.”
I was so pleased that Jenny and I could chat about the birth of her zine and her creative process.
***
Trish: First of all let me say that I love your zine The End of Times, and am already looking forward to the next issue. Perhaps we can start with a bit about you? Where does your creativity spring from, and what role does writing and art play in your life?
Jenny: I was very much an “indoor child” growing up. I loved crafts, beads, making art, and reading from a young age. Whenever I saw something I liked, I would always end up thinking: “How could I do a version of that?” I feel best when I’m making something whether it’s cooking, drawing, or anything!
I think I always felt destined for art school - and I took the scenic route to getting my Bachelor of Fine Arts with a major in Critical and Cultural practice. I’ve done a lot of different jobs in arts - on my resume I describe myself as a cultural janitor - I’ve sort of organized my life around either making art, or helping others make art and so it’s given me a great community to always be inspired by.
Trish: I love that idea of a “cultural janitor,” it conjures all sorts of interesting notions of how you interact with art and the artistic space, including supporting others. Organising, noticing, and involved in the arts as a facilitator for others and also on your own. In the background but sometimes taking centre stage. And as for centre stage: Tell me the creation story of The End of Times.
Jenny: I used to love those free local publications called “Coffee News” do you remember those? [Trish: I do!] They had hyper-local articles and business ads and really really bad jokes. I grew up in a smaller city in Alberta, and so when I read them they would almost always have people I knew in them - it made me feel so ‘of a place’ if that makes sense. I always wanted to create a version of my own, a little bit like a parody, but sincere too.
The End of Times came around as an iteration of that idea - a casual place to share small tidbits between artists, friends, and community. I think that it’s also a rebellion of a kind - I’m pretty regularly overwhelmed by the apocalyptic suffering and injustice in the world and this constant balance of being informed and helpful to my community, and also exhausted from processing it all. This zine is my tongue-in-cheek way of acknowledging the dark times and offering up a paper variety show of lightness and joy.
Trish: How does it work? Doing this yourself, what is your process, from conception to writing…and the printing process and distribution? How much work does an edition take?
Jenny: I usually start with a theme or a central idea - sometimes even a finished work of my own. Then I start building out the issue around that - trying to balance writing with images or even paper cut-out activities. I’ve done a few calls for submissions, and seeing what others make inspires me so much. For example, my friend and contributor Fran wanted to write about how she feels in the fall and winter - like she’s rotting. And when she gave me a draft of her article, I immediately knew I wanted to make some illustrations for it.
I do the layouts myself, and I’m learning a lot! I feel really motivated to try and showcase other people’s work in the best light possible - and so it keeps me moving forward, I drag my feet a little more with my own creations!
I’m using a RISOgraph to print them. RISO is so cool. They are large photocopier-like machines that use interchangeable drums of ink. The machine creates a literal “screen” of your images and text, and presses the ink colors through it, just like a silk-screen. The printer I’m using now can do two layers at once in different colours.
Trish: I have never heard of such a thing, but I love the idea, and it results in such a vibrant print. Something that I appreciate about reading the zine is that it gets me off my phone and computer. Those digital devices that suck up my time, even when I try to be mindful about it. I notice a bit of a theme in your writing about waking up to the digital monster that sometimes consumes us. Do you note this for yourself? On some level, do you think we long for something tangible or analog?
 |
| Jenny Dickieson (photo: Marcus Ristich) |
Jenny: I think about this all the time - I’m SO easily addicted to my phone and social media, and while in the moment I’m glued to the screen, none of it creates any lasting happiness for me. It eats up so much of my time, and I really feel so much better and happier when I’m creating things with my hands I can touch.
I feel like at this time in the world, having hobbies or skills in craft and creation of objects is a rebellion or, maybe even more gentle, just a natural balancing act. I work at an arts university, and I work with a lot of young students. It’s been so interesting to see the generational difference in how they use digital tools and how they build skills in their own material practices.
I try to encourage them to take pleasure in making art or objects and connecting to that process. The curiosity of being a beginner at something, pushing paint around a surface like mud is not something a machine can feel for you - and I think that's what makes creative practice timeless - I think people crave that feeling of, “I did that.”
Trish: Indeed, I get the same feeling, though less through making art (though I do occasionally) but often through gardening–feeling the dirt, planting, harvesting veggies. Writing, too, I think. As to zines as a medium, how do they fit into the publishing world?
Jenny: Zines come from a deep history of being an “alternative” format of information, telling stories and sharing vital information from the margins of society. And they come with the reputation of not having to be packaged perfectly, edited, or held to the same standards a publisher would. Because of this, I think the zine format is going to make a real post-punk comeback - I’m actually not ever sure I can say “comeback” as they are already going strong! I just think it will become more and more popular as people try to be mindful of their time online, and where they get their information from.
Trish: You reveal yourself a lot on the page, and for me that’s one of the features that I find engaging. It makes your zine and your writing dynamic, like a conversation. How is that for you, especially given that you’re distributing your zine in coffee shops, for example?
Jenny: I’ve always loved a good anecdote, I admire those who can tell good stories, and I strive to shape my own into really lovely arches. As much as I would love to be mysterious, I’m a very open, chatty person by nature, I feel better when I’m sharing my thoughts, and so I think that comes out naturally on the page.
Trish: How has the response been in the community? Have you had much opportunity to collaborate yet?
Jenny: I’ve had a few contributors for each issue after the first! I’m lucky to have a little email pool of folks I already knew would be interested, and for the last issue, I placed a submissions call out. I’m hoping more folks take me up on it - the more the merrier!
Trish: What has been your favourite piece to write so far? Or the most difficult one?
Jenny: I loved writing my insert about “The Year” tarot card spread. I love showing people how to do things, and writing from a more instructional aspect was really fun for me. More or less, I try not to write anything I don’t enjoy for The End of Times - I want to keep it fun for me too!
Trish: I am always so curious to know what other writers are reading! Let’s see…what are a couple of favourite books you’ve read, and what’s on your nightstand to read now?
Jenny: I’m a graphic novel + manga junkie. Right now I’m working my way through the “Blue Period” Manga series by Tsubasa Yamaguchi. I also just finished “Gathering Colour” by Caitlin Ffrench - a local forager and witch! It was amazing, as someone who loves foraging for food and plant identification as a hobby, I’m excited to start making my own pigments and paints too.
Trish: I am so going to have to check out Ffrench because I love foraging too and cooking with my found foods.
So what’s next for The End of Times? (crossing my fingers for more editions)
Jenny: A VERY belated “winter” issue is almost ready for print (and is now technically a summer issue). Time often marches forward completely without me - so I think I will let go of my ambitious seasonal schedule. I’m super excited for this upcoming issue, It has some wonderful poetry submissions, and some surreal hyper local parody writing which is very funny.
Trish: I can’t wait! Where can readers find your zine? And how can they find out what you’re up to in your creative pursuits?
Jenny: On my website itsjenny.ca and through my instagram @jjickieson, although, I really only post on instagram when new things drop. I also regularly leave free copies at the Emily Carr Library, the Mount Pleasant Library, and in various coffee shops in Mount Pleasant! [Trish: All in Vancouver, BC] I usually put the drops in my stories in case folks are looking to grab a free copy! I also always have the transcripts and image descriptions online for those looking for accessible versions.
Trish: Excellent! Thanks again for chatting with me. It’s been a wonderful conversation from the world of zines!
Comments
Post a Comment