If you’re local in the NYC area, particularly Ridgewood and Bushwick, then check out this one day event. Trashland Zinefest II. I’m going to have a table there, selling my latest comic, greeting cards and other goodies. It’s at The Footlight. The date is Saturday, Aug 3rd, from 2pm – 6 pm. Admission free.
Later that same night, come down to MF Gallery for the Rocky Horror Picture Show tribute. There’s going to be by various talented artists, costumes and a screening of the iconic film. Opening event is from 7 pm – 10 pm. Location in Brooklyn. I’m going to have a painting in that exhibit.
This Saturday I’ll be at this one day zine fest happening near L.I.C., Queens, NYC. It’s free admission from 2-6pm, located at 34-09 Queens Blvd & 43rd Avenue.
Flyer for the Artist & Craftsman Zine Fest happening in L.I.C., Queens NY on Saturday June 24th, 2017.
On a humid Saturday afternoon, we checked out the Bushwick Art Book and Zine Fair 2016. It was sponsored by Hyperallergic, Brooklyn Beer and Knockdown Center. Didn’t have a table myself, and doubt if my work would’ve ever fit in to this event. Since it was only a few subway stops away, figured it was worth checking out.
Scene from the Bushwick Art Book & Zine Fair 2016. Photo by Michele Witchipoo. July 2016.
The weekend event (July 16 and 17th 2016) took place over at Signal art gallery. There was no air conditioning whatsoever. This made it very uncomfortable to fully check out the tables, especially since it was crowded.
Scene from the Bushwick Art Book & Zine Fair. July 2016. Photo by Michele Witchipoo. The guy eating his lunch later gave me a balloon that said “fuck you.”
Display from the Bushwick Art Book & Zine Fair 2016. July 2016. Photo by Michele Witchipoo.
Display from the Bushwick Art Book & Zine Fair 2016. July 2016. Photo by Michele Witchipoo.
Display from the Bushwick Art Book & Zine Fair 2016. July 2016. Photo by Michele Witchipoo.
Display at the Bushwick Art Book & Zine Fair 2016. July 2016. Photo by Michele Witchipoo.
To get relief from the heat, we stepped outside to the backyard. There was a BBQ, a small bar and a class on book binding.
Backyard at the Bushwick Art Book & ZIne Fair 2016. July 2016. Photo by Michele Witchipoo.
As the book binding class went on, one couldn’t help but notice the effects of gentrification behind Signal gallery. The hyper gentrification has become a huge problem in not just NYC but across the country. Gentrification also had an effect on struggling artists, who once flocked to places like NYC.
Book binding class at the Bushwick Art Book & Zine Fair 2016. July 2016. Photo by Michele Witchipoo.
Book binding class at the Bushwick Art Book & Zine Fair 2016. July 2016. Photo by Michele Witchipoo. In the background behind the book binding class, you can see signs of the hyper gentrification happening all over NYC.
Scene from the Bushwick Art Book and Zine Fair. July 2016. Photo by Michele Witchipoo.
Hat sold at the Bushwick Art Book & Zine Fair 2016. July 2016.
Bushwick Art Book & Zine Fair 2016. July 2016. Photo by Michele Witchipoo.
Scene from the Bushwick Art Book and Zine Fair 2016. July 2016. Photo by Michele Witchipoo. Scene from the Bushwick Art Book & Zine Fair 2016. July 2016. Photo by Michele Witchipoo. Scene from the Bushwick Art Book & Zine Fair 2016. July 2016. Photo by Michele Witchipoo. !?! Is someone trying to replicate the eyeglass art prank? Rain during a hot NYC summer day. Bushwick Art Book & Zine Fair 2016. July 2016. Photo by Michele Witchipoo.
Anyway. After walking around the small venue a few times, it was time to head out. Right next door was another art gallery called Present Company. Their latest exhibit curated by Jacquelyn Strycker was called ‘Timeshare.’ It was part of the MFA Art Practice from School of Visual Arts (SVA).
This gallery had art that was more interactive. Particularly the Brainwave Frequency Modulator. Next to the flashing installation was headphones, and you can listen to music. Believe it was created by Dee Solin, titled “CYBO.”
One of the best parts of this gallery – it had air conditioning!
The award, received through USPS, came with goodies such as stickers and zines. The grant came in the form of having my Psycho Bunny mini-issue reprinted with better quality covers. Which came in very handy so far in 2014.
Below is a photo of the last Psycho Bunny mini-issue 3.25, reprinted by The Carbon Based Mistake merit grant:
Reprints of Psycho Bunny mini issue 3.25. Comic by Michele Witchipoo.
You can order your own copy via PayPal. It’s $3.00, which is $2.00 for the comic itself, and $1.00 for shipping costs. Either go through my website, which is http://witchesbrewpress.com/ or you can send $3.00 directly through PayPay to psychobunnycomix@aol.com (my old comix email from way back when)
Occasionally, people have asked me whether or not I plan to continue Psycho Bunny. It’s true I have put my comics on a hiatus of sorts. Lately I’ve been focusing more on illustration and other matters. Since folks have actually inquired about this, it nudged me a bit to continue my comics. So Psycho Bunny just might snap out of his hangover for pleasure of some, and the delightful chagrin to others.
The biggest boost when I decided to sell my comics at a Norma’s, a local Queens cafe in Ridgewood, NYC. Much to my surprise, this issue immediately sold out. No-one was more surprised than me. Since then I’ve restocked the issue, and you can get your copy here.
If you are into zine culture, then The Carbon Based Mistake blog is highly recommended.
So I’m finally trying to get my website together. Here I was, typing my bio to post on my future website. As I was listing stuff I’ve done, I remembered contributing artwork for a UK club fanzine. My long time friend Jason used to publish a little ditty titled ‘Urban Groove.’ After his last trip to the US, Jason decided to put together his own ‘zine. The zine’s content focused on what he loved the most, which at the time was raves, music and clubbing. Jason asked me for some artwork, and at the time I thought nothing of it. This was way before I had decided to use a ‘pen name.’ Ironically, it was my friends Jason and Bejay who had always encouraged me to do something with my cartooning, artwork, and whatnot. I still consider those two, along with a few others to still count as my friends. Everyone else I knew back then…they’re long, long gone.
Jason’s skills as a professional printer back in Newport, Wales, proved to be in his favor as he was putting together issues of Urban Groove. Here’s the cover of one of his Urban Groove issues, dating to Winter 1998-1999:
UK based “Urban Groove” fanzine, winter 1998 – 1999. Published by Jason Mee. Some of my early artwork was used for this issue.
The photo of the skyline you see on the cover is when me and Jason went to visit the U.N. He used the NYC background as part of the fanzine cover design.
Another page from this issue. My artwork hadn’t fully developed yet, but the core was there.
Page from the UK fanzine “Urban Groove” dated winter 1998 – 1999. Published by Jason Mee. Angel cartoon drawn by Michele Witchipoo, dated 1997. That drawing was later used for some handmade Christmas/holiday cards, given to my friends around that time.
Here’s the centerfold of the ‘zine, with my drawing placed in the middle of the layout:
Centerfold layout from the UK fanzine “Urban Groove.” Published by Jason Mee during the late 1990s. Drawing by Michele Witchipoo, dated either 1997 or 1998.
I hadn’t looked through issues of “Urban Groove” in years. To my dismay, I had totally forgotten a photo Jason had published of me. This was back when I was thinner, and much cuter. Still surprised that this snapshot was used. This was back when I was a redhead. I’m the shorter one, on the left.
Advertisement in the back of the UK fanzine, “Urban Groove” for subscriptions. Photo taken in 1996 or 1997. Urban Groove was published by Jason Mee during the late 1990s.
I don’t think I would ever pose for a photo such as this today. Maybe as a joke. Similar to when I took part in a zombie beauty pageant back in December 2011. I knew I had no chance in winning, but did it more for the laughs. Being obnoxious, I suppose. But to pose for something like this? Not likely.Then again, the person in the photograph is nothing like the person I’ve become nowadays. After all, people do change.
Urban Groove stopped publication a long time ago. Jason moved on, and now finds work as a photographer. He mostly photographs sexy pin-ups.
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