Koshka Zine

Hello readers, sorry it has been so long, living life and all...

Sat, 16 Feb 2013 12:01:00 -0600

Hello readers, sorry it has been so long, living life and all that stuff. I could go on but I’d rather just start posting about amazing and important projects others are doing in lieu of my creative absence!

The timing is impeccable because I just received an email from my former professor at Columbia College Chicago’s Book and Paper MFA program (and always friend!), Melissa Potter. She and two of my other professor/friends, Miriam Schaer and Clif Meador, spent their winter break in the Republic of Georgia teaching art workshops to women of all ages, particularly in artistic bookmaking and wool felting, the latter of which is a traditional art and craft form for the Georgians. This was facilitated through The Women’s Fund in Georgia, a feminist organization dedicated to providing educational programs and feminist support to women in the region.

The reason for her email, however, was urgent. The Women’s Fund in Georgia is at risk of being evicted. Mel’s words put it best:

“Our partners at Women’s Fund in Georgia are being evicted by a landlord who does not want “homosexuals and feminists” in his building. This is an extraordinary group of people fighting for the rights of women in a country where upwards of 92% of women are domestically abused.”

As it is apparent, feminist ideology and women fighting for equal rights is not looked upon favorably in the Republic of Georgia, and the actions of the Women’s Fund are a greatly needed resource.

If you have the ability to do so, please donate to The Women’s Fund in Georgia so they can move their activities to a safer space. If you can’t donate then please SIGNAL BOOST this post so more people can become aware of this fantastic organization.

To read more about the programs that Melissa Potter, Miriam Schaer, and Clif Meador conducted during their stay and to learn more about the situation in Georgia and the women operating The Women’s Fund in Georgia, their project has a Tumblr blog called Felt Reports.

((Photograph courtesy of FeltReports))

Hope everyone is observing Buy Nothing Day and keeping their...

Fri, 23 Nov 2012 17:56:00 -0600

Hope everyone is observing Buy Nothing Day and keeping their cash and cards away from all those evil early store openings and email blasts (in the US at least—not sure if this tomfoolery even exists elsewhere, particularly since Thanksgiving is an American holiday). I am participating in sort of a “Small Business Saturday”/”Cyber Monday”-type deal, but without the silly names. Therefore, if you want some issues of Koshka Zine and are on a budget, they’ll be 15% off (along with everything in my shop!) for all of Saturday, Sunday, and Monday—November 24th-26th. Just use the coupon code SNOWGLOBE . Redeem it here!

If you’re in the US I’ll ship Priority Mail and you’ll likely get your stuff prior to xmas no matter what, if you even care. I can’t make any guarantees for international shipments, but who really gives a hoot about imposed holiday deadlines anyhow? Give gifts whenever you want!

Photo by Kaitlin Kostus. Please do not reblog without credit!!!

Children in Soviet Russia exposing their bodies to a uv lamp to...

Sun, 04 Nov 2012 17:59:20 -0600

Children in Soviet Russia exposing their bodies to a uv lamp to make up for the lack of sun they were getting

It’s getting to be that time of year again here in Chicago. Things are getting colder, darker, and slower…my favorite time of year, to be honest! Hopefully in these dark months I’ll have a lot more time for more posts, and to really begin Koshka #3. I’d like to have it ready for Chicago Zine Fest in the spring. Just figuring out a lot of things in regard to me making an okay living, so it’s hard to have a consistent creative schedule right now. But stay tuned…

I had a productive weekend and these were the result! These...

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 22:14:00 -0500

I had a productive weekend and these were the result! These holiday cards (kindly non-denominational) are now for “pre-order” on atelier k. Pre-order doesn’t mean much, the cost will be the same later, but since there are only 19 sets left you have to get them now before they go fast!

You’ll get five 5x7” flat cards printed on uncoated stock with really nice French Paper Speckletone kraft paper envelopes! Each pack is $10 plus $4 shipping, anywhere in the world. If you order more than one pack, the additional shipping per pack is just a dollar.

I’m hoping these “pre-order”-type things work out, because I need to make some money to be able to produce other projects. Printing costs add up extremely quickly, and digital printing is the best option for the types of things I make. Anything I make off these will be used to print promotional booklets to send to magazine art departments, in hope that I can get some more illustration jobs in the future! I’m also considering designing fabric patterns on Spoonflower, but need to figure some stuff out about making repeats and using their color scale system.

Also, PLEASE DO NOT REBLOG WITH NO CREDIT! I’ll murder you with my brain. Art by Kaitlin Kostus, 2012.

I want to begin archiving a collection of Soviet/Eastern European records I have. My original...

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 14:47:40 -0500

I want to begin archiving a collection of Soviet/Eastern European records I have. My original thought was to make a compilation that would be available with an issue of the zine, which still might happen but because it would take a lot of time and money to produce, I’d rather make entire albums accessible to anyone.

I’d like to know what internet playlist/radio service you think would best suit this need/the one most people use. I don’t use any actively right now, and the only one I know of is 8tracks, which seems pretty straightforward and nice.

Let me know what you think!

rileyart: Ljubljana vegetable (market) close up study. Some...

Fri, 12 Oct 2012 14:39:20 -0500

rileyart:

Ljubljana vegetable (market) close up study.

Some very gorgeous produce-porn from Koshka #2 contributor Riley A. Arthur. Riley is currently on a Fulbright Fellowship in Ljubljana, Slovenia, so I’m sure I’ll have a lot more of her amazing photos to share in the coming months. Congratulations, Riley!!

kushkomikss: SPECIAL DEALS ON THREE OF OUR NEWEST ISSUES! SAVE...

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 21:17:00 -0500

kushkomikss:

SPECIAL DEALS ON THREE OF OUR NEWEST ISSUES! SAVE MONEY AND FILL UP YOUR Š! LIBRARY. DEAL LASTS ONLY UNTIL FRIDAY 12/10/12 AND COPIES ARE LIMITED.

Kus! Komikss has a sale on some of their latest issues, because they need more money to cover printing costs. I interviewed their creator, David Schilter, for Koshka Zine #1, and was lucky to meet him at an excellent exhibition he organized in Riga. He and Sanita run everything behind Kus!, and they do an amazing job putting out quite a few books each year, participating in comics festivals, and posting news about artists they work with each and every day.

Speaking as a self-publisher, I can’t stress how important it is to buy publications directly from their creators. Because of internet posting there can be a facade that we sell tons and tons of stuff, or that we get the money and use it for new jeans or whatever, and that is so far from what self-publishing is actually like. I always jokingly refer to my “Zine Millions”, which are the few bucks a month I make off my publications from selling in local shops or off my website. So, in short we’re lucky to get a sandwich out of anything we make (not to mention that printing costs are often paid out-of-pocket among other promotional costs that may also be incurred, so it is a constant state of deficit), let alone pay bills or give something to the contributors we work with.

In short, take advantage of the Kus! sale or buy any of their other high-quality publications, you won’t regret it!

two events with exclamation points!The weather has finally...

Tue, 09 Oct 2012 21:21:42 -0500

two events with exclamation points!

The weather has finally transitioned to the chilly side of things, which I prefer. I just want to…

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Now on atelier k: Loose EndsI put some more old stuff up on the...

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 19:58:11 -0500

Now on atelier k: Loose Ends

I put some more old stuff up on the shop, in an attempt to rid my studio of excess things I’ve been…

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New Koshka contributor, Karolis Kaupinis of Lithuania, sent me a...

Wed, 19 Sep 2012 12:58:06 -0500

New Koshka contributor, Karolis Kaupinis of Lithuania, sent me a link to this photo. The Wikipedia caption reads, “Rūpintojėlis (“sorrowful Jesus”). The image of Jesus seated with his face on his hand is a common one in Lithuania. Apparently it’s a result of the combination of pagan tradition (totem poles, expressionist woodwork, etc) and classical Christian symbols. Some say the Lithuanians were never fully converted.”

Karolis wrote, “Anyways, the Latvia Issue of your zine really gladdens me. I’ve been recently thinking [the]Baltics have become one of those boring places in Europe in the positive way of this definition as nothing decently bad is happening and we’re melancholically contemplating as it’s popular here.”[link to photograph]

I think that’s one way to consider it, although I find the Baltics to be a really interesting place to visit and meet people who have lived there all their life. Coming from a huge country, small countries definitely have their perks and their problems, but there’s a general specificity to certain things that the US lacks.

I’m happy to have made connections with Karolis, and I’ll be posting some of his short films and writing in the coming weeks. He also wrote a great article that will appear in Koshka #3!

REMINDERS!! Until the end of September, you can get issues #1...

Tue, 18 Sep 2012 19:17:00 -0500

REMINDERS!! Until the end of September, you can get issues #1 and #2 of Koshka Zine plus a 1” Koshka Kat button (and probably some postcards and other goodies as well) for $10 + a few bones shipping in the shop!!

Also, the deadline to participate in Koshka #3, “The Latvian Issue”, is October 31st! Email all works to koshkazine@gmail.com for consideration. You’ll get a few free issues sent to you for participating.

Photo: The first melon of the summer, which we ate in the forest next to Rundale Palace in Bauska, LV. Photo by Kaitlin Kostus, 2012.

Ftouchrussia: Nearly everyone can identify traditional Russian...

Tue, 18 Sep 2012 14:42:22 -0500

Ftouchrussia:

Nearly everyone can identify traditional Russian dishes such as borshch and schi. What people don’t know is that this healthy diet of beetroot, buckwheat and cabbage is supplemented by a delicious array of traditional Russian sweets. Russians seem to have a hereditary sweet tooth, and over the centuries they have come up with a wide selection of irresistible treats.

If you are invited over to someone’s house in Russia, the chances are that you will be offered hot tea with something sweet. Learn more about what you might find on the table

Feeling Homesick and Hungry? Here’s a great detailed list of some Russian sweets, with nice illustrations to boot! And of course my beloved Alenka.

Video: Scouted

Sat, 15 Sep 2012 21:49:59 -0500

Video: Scouted:

This short film is kind of off-putting. The adults involved in casting, especially the woman, of all people, speak about the girls in a way that makes them sound like sexualized calves. I’ve never seen anything related to modeling involving 13-year-olds, either. Unfortunately the young, sexy, underfed Eastern European/Russian model escaping the trials of her home country is still a major trope.

clip-henderson: Time to Workout Shit, like I need any more...

Sat, 15 Sep 2012 21:24:49 -0500

clip-henderson:

Time to Workout

Shit, like I need any more reminders. Although, I begin swimming lessons to learn lap swimming in a few weeks! Totally inspired by the amazing Ruta Meilutyte.

Trailer for the upcoming documentary about the Lithuanian...

Sat, 08 Sep 2012 14:37:18 -0500

Trailer for the upcoming documentary about the Lithuanian national basketball team, “The Other Dream Team”. Finally, a document that will clearly explain the connection between the Lithuanian national basketball team and the Grateful Dead! I can’t wait to see this when it comes out, especially in Chicago because the Lithuanians will definitely come represent…which is always bad news for my husband, because they’re so so tall and he’s quite diminutive.

Supposedly in theaters September 28th, so check your local listings for it!

We’ve reached 100 followers! Yeah, that’s probably...

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 17:01:00 -0500

We’ve reached 100 followers!

Yeah, that’s probably not a huge deal if you’re a 20-year-old with neon hair who posts glitter GIFs out in Tumblrland, but it took a long time to get that many people interested in this project, and I’m very happy about it! The 100 mark was broken this morning by fellow Chicago artist Matthew Hoffman (I never met him but thanks, dude!), so I decided to offer a special Koshka Zine 3-pack in the shop for all those interested in reading the print version but who may not have had a chance to purchase any copies.

The package includes:

-Koshka Zine #1 (normally $8 + s/h)
-Koshka ZIne #2 (normally $4 + s/h)
-a Koshka 1” button (not sold online)

…all for $10 + a few bones of s/h. A great deal seeing as issue #1 is $8 on its own, and it is almost completely sold out of its print run!

The offer stands until September 30th, so act now!

GET IT HERE!

Now at atelier k: 5 for $4 Postcard PacksI’ve been wanting to...

Mon, 03 Sep 2012 19:55:18 -0500

Now at atelier k: 5 for $4 Postcard Packs

I’ve been wanting to make some new small, inexpensive print goods to have in the shop since I…

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Call for submissions!Koshka Zine #3 “The Latvia...

Sun, 02 Sep 2012 16:01:00 -0500

Call for submissions!Koshka Zine #3 “The Latvia Issue”

Deadline: October 31st, 2012

The time has come again to submit your work to Koshka Zine. The third issue will be thematically tied to the country of Latvia, an amazing country I recently had the pleasure of visiting. This call is open to artists and writers of all nations, although Latvians/those of Latvian descent and works best fitting within the theme will be given priority. We strongly encourage Latvian language works as well, or works translated in both English and Latvian (sorry, the translation must be done on your end. We don’t have the resources for this). We are also really seeking non-mainstream voices from Latvian society, specifically LGBTQ Latvians or Latvians of color/POC living in Latvia.

What you can submit:

-essays, articles, interviews, profiles, creative nonfiction, travel journals, reviews, lists, and all other nonfiction-based writings (basically, no poetry or fiction). General word count should be about 1,500 words, but we’d probably publish something longer if it was great and shorter is always welcome.

-comics, illustrated “comic-essays”

-artworks, drawings, photography, and all other visual artworks. Single artworks are less likely to appear; rather, we prefer 3-5 works that have cohesion within the theme that present more like an essay or portfolio.

IMPORTANT FILE INFORMATION:

word-based works: all articles should be sent as a .doc or .rtf file—NO .docx files, I have very old Windows that won’t open it!

Visual works should be at 300dpi for best print quality, but don’t need to be any larger than the full size of the actual page size, which will be 5.5 x 8.5” (13.97 x 21.59 cm). It is not yet determined if this issue will be printed in black and white or full color, so if your work is full color send it in color, and we’ll change it to greyscale if need be. If you have more than 5 files to submit, please email first or use a free file-sharing site, such as yousendit.com.

FOR ALL WORKS, please include a short 2-3 sentence bio with your name/nom de plume/pseudonym and a few words about who you are and what you do.

All submissions should be emailed to koshkazine@gmail.com by November 1st, 2012.

Images from the book Mākoņu Grāmata (“Cloud Book”),...

Tue, 21 Aug 2012 16:16:53 -0500

Images from the book Mākoņu Grāmata (“Cloud Book”), written by Juris Kronbergs and illustrated beautifully by Anete Melece. We bought this while in Riga, it is really quite an exquisite book…even the cover is bound in a really nice fiber so that the watercolor looks like it was individually painted on each copy.

Some really nice maps drawn by Maija Kurševa, made for Rob and I...

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 18:34:00 -0500

Some really nice maps drawn by Maija Kurševa, made for Rob and I while we were staying at Szcze House in Riga, May 2012.

The first is directions to the Kaņepes Kultūras centrs. The second is information about the cost and time schedule for Tramvejs 11, the tram we took into Centrs every day.