Amanda (left) at Atlanta Zine Library Workshop
Amanda Mills isn’t the type to sit back and wait for things to happen—rather, she prefers to roll up her sleeves and do it herself. This creative girl-about-town has been involved in projects spanning from a feminist club to an indie music label to founding the Atlanta Zine Library, which officially moves from MINT Gallery to HodgePodge Coffee House and Gallery this month.
Her latest venture is planning the first Atlanta Zine Fest, slated for June 2013. “Printed Matter,” a zine exhibition and fundraiser for AZF will be held at Hodgepodge this Friday, Sept. 7 (more info here). We talked with Mills about how she got into zines, what attendees can expect from the event and her thoughts on Atlanta’s DIY scene.
CommonCreativ: When and how did you first get into zines?
Amanda Mills: I first got into zines, believe it or not, in 5th grade. My mom was pretty young and would take me to Little 5 Points most weekends and we would shop at Criminal Records. I always had a thing for reading and stationery, and really romanticized being “a writer,” so [I was immediately drawn to] zines. Then riot grrrl basically shaped my teenage consciousness, and zines were integral to that movement. I went to Catholic school and then was homeschooled, so the Internet was essentially saving my life. I don’t understand the digital vs. print argument: the Internet (online distros and message boards) was my access to zines.
CC: What are some of your top places to get zines in Atlanta? What about online?
AM: Record stores are always good local spots for zines, although they don’t always carry them. MINT Gallery often has zines. House shows and art openings often produce zines passed around amongst friends. Always check out the merch table at any show; many times a band mate will put his or her zine up for sale or trade. Talking about zines with your friends is probably the best way to find out who is making them and how to get one. Atomic Books and Quimby’s are two great bookstores that also carry their zine selection online. Click Clack Distro is one of my favorites. Locally, check out Stick Figure Records online.
CC: What about the Atlanta Zine Library?
AM: Our zines are not for sale, but members are welcome to check out up to three zines at a time. Our super variegated selection includes music, reference, perzines (personal-narrative style zines), politics, comics, art, fiction and humor. You can peruse the catalog online here.
CC: What do you want people unfamiliar with zine culture to know about the fest?
AM: The Atlanta Zine Fest will be, to my knowledge, the first of its kind in the Southeast. Tracy Soo-Ming (Fan Death/HOSS Records) reached out to me about planning a zine fest. For us, zines are an essential counter-discourse to popular culture. What is left out—watered-down, co-opted, gentrified, ignored—can be found in zines. Atlanta Zine Fest will include panels, performances, guest speakers and workshops. We’re still in the infant planning stages. However, we have vendor interest from local, national and even international DIY craftspeople. Expect an array of handmade zines, comics, wares, etc.
CC: How can people get involved?
AM: We need all the help we can get! As a group, we meet once or twice a month to discuss fundraising, outreach, promotion and programming. We need volunteers, panelists, guest speakers, sponsors and workshop leaders. If you can lend yourself in any capacity, please get in touch! We’re super open to ideas. One of the best ways to support us—outside of attending the fest next June—is to help raise money. Signing up as a vendor, donating, attending fundraisers, and becoming a sponsor are all integral to pulling this thing off.
CC: What do you think about Atlanta’s DIY scene?
AM: I feel that the DIY scene in Atlanta is really exceptional. Complaining about Atlanta as lacking something other metropolitan cities have is common. It’s my personal opinion that this sentiment is undeserved. Atlanta needs criticism; this can be funneled into creativity. The challenge is in valuing your work and the work of your friends. Sometimes DIY can feel too personal to be real, but fuck that. If you want to do something in Atlanta, no one will tell you no. They want to help and be part of it.
CC: What other projects and organizations are you involved in?
AM: Sometimes I feel like I’m involved in too many projects, but I get a lot of help and try to integrate as much as possible. I run Big Blonde, a tape label, with my boyfriend, Daniel (of The Sunglasses and God’s Balls). We put out local bands on audio cassette—everything is done in-house and made by hand.
I also run the Atlanta Zine Library. If there are any zines collecting dust in your house, please consider donating them. [I love] looking through a box of donations. It’s like Christmas! Laura, the co-curator of Printed Matter, and I are most likely starting a zine press. We’ve gotten such positive reception about the fundraiser and really want to continue putting zines out. As soon as we think of a name, it’s happening! I was president of Faces of Feminism [at Georgia State] for a couple years but have recently graduated. FoF does a lot of amazing arts programming, and I’ll continue to support whatever they do.
CC: Who are your current favorite local creatives?
AM: Erin Bassett is an indescribably talented illustrator, writer and installation artist. Becky Furey is similarly talented and does really interesting work. They’re both in local artist collective Plastic Aztecs, and make zines (available in the library!). Josh Feigert draws interesting, kaleidoscopic illustrations and puts out great zines. Allen Taylor‘s colorful and geometric work is phenomenal. I am a huge supporter of Nikita Gale, who seems to be winning awards left and right. The best way I can describe Sunni Johnson’s work is pop-art writing. She really evokes the best of the riot grrrl passionate rhetoric, but new and not contrived. Most of these artists will be featured in the Printed Matter AZF fundraiser, so come see for yourself on Sept. 7th! And let me shamelessly plug Big Blonde‘s bands: The Sunglasses, Platonic Sex, God’s Balls and Manic. They’re all phenomenal.
Support the Zine Library this Friday at Hodgepodge Coffee House and Gallery for the Printed Matter Fundraiser from 6pm-10pm. For more info, or to volunteer for the Atlanta Zine Library or Atlanta Zine Fest, contact info@atlantazinefest.com.
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