We’ve got an interview with JC this afternoon! Check them out at their Tumblr, Jenny and the Librarians.
Kindly give us a short description of yourself and the work you do.
Hello! I’m JC and I’m a Librarian and zine person in Washington, DC. I write perzines on the topic of disability mostly, including my own (tributaries) and a comp on the intersection of physical and mental illness (Collide). I just released the third issue of that one and I’m pretty excited about it.
How did you get introduced to zines? Were you influenced by anyone?
I got introduced to zines in high school, but didn’t reconnect with them until graduate school in Illinois, when I started going to zine fests and got familiar with the zine library at the Independent Media Center in Urbana, IL. I started making them in 2012 and was influenced by other perzines I admired and adored, like Doris.
What does it mean to do “feminist zine-making”? Does feminism appear in your work (explicitly or implicitly)?
My zines don’t cover feminist issues in a political or explicit sense, but writing about disability, and giving others space to contribute to the conversation around mental health and chronic illness, is a feminist act and something that’s very important to me.
What is your favorite zine or piece of mail art? Do you like any specific style/part of a zine?
I really love perzines (obviously) and am always impressed by beautiful covers, not being a visual artist myself. A few zines that come to mind that just as powerful and important inside as their artwork would suggest on the outside are Secret Bully by Cynthia Schemmer and the comp When Language Runs Dry. Other favs in the health-perzine genre (which I read the most of) include Chronically Yours by Ariane K and Deafula by Kerri Radley.
If you could sum up your zinester life in a kitchen appliance, what appliance would it be?
How about a toaster oven, because I’m a procrastinator in both mealtime and zine making, so anything that helps me out at the last minute is something I’m grateful for!
Finally, who are some of the other zinesters you’re excited to see at this year’s feminist zine fest?
I’m excited to see some of my fav zine pals & makers, Sarah Sawyers-Lovett, Aus & Lauren from the Wheelhouse, Kate Larson, and Sari & Rachel from Hoax. And the rad organizers of course!
NYC Feminist Zinefest 