Shout out Caterpillar Press who printed our flyers and posters for this years fest.

They are a Risograph-focused worker’s cooperative based in PINK Studios in Stockport. Their aim is to make accessible and affordable printing, learning services to the immediate creative community and beyond.

See this post for more information on their printing services, and hit them up for all your printing needs!

Riso [Ree-so] printing is a fun and eco way to get things printed. It works like a digitized screen print. The Risograph machine takes an image and creates a master by creating tiny holes on a filmy sheet. This is then wrapped around a drum. the drum contains ink, which when it spins it is forced through the tiny holes and prints on to the paper.

You need to create a different master for each colour you want to print. You can layer colours to create depth of images/new colours.

It’s a no heat printing method and inks used are soy based.

We’re back for zines, workshops, creativity and a super supportive vibe!

Join us Saturday 25th October 10am-4pm in Manchester at People’s History Museum.

Poster designed by Pitahpat .

I first met Dal when I (Seleena) was tabling at Sheffield zine fest some years ago where we chatted zines. She’s also tables at Over Here and her infectious enthusiasm for creating and nurturing is something we loved instantly, so when she asked us to bring Over Here for a mini pop in Sheffield, we couldn’t say no!

We asked Dal to share some words about what Zine making means to her…..

As I’m gearing up to collaborate with brilliant Over Here at ‘We’ve Got Food at Home!’ Zine Fest, as part of Migration Matters Festival, I’ve been reflecting on my transformative zine making journey. 

Back in January 2020, just months before the covid pandemic locked us in our homes, I experienced the transformative potential of zine-making. I created a zine called ‘Wild Ink’ as part of my autoethnographic research for a masters in therapeutic writing exploring my identity, creativity and wildness using therapeutic zine-making methods. I wanted to understand the intersections of these in relation to my creative exile, and eventually, my creative return.

For me, zines are a bit like a cooking pot – they can be a holding space for the many complimentary and contradictory ingredients and experiences of our lives with the potential for stirring up some fresh and surprising flavours, challenging normative expectations and disrupting assumptions, both within ourselves and others. The multi-layered multi-media format encourages creative freedom, revealing epiphanies and revelations with the potential to map out new connections and possibilities.

The process of making Wild Ink zine felt like a therapeutic (and anarchic) “third space”cooking pot, an entirely new space that helped me to better understand and assert myself by negotiating cultural production on my own terms outside of traditional frameworks or institutions. Crucially, I was rejecting interpretation or analysis by an expert. 

When I began making Wild Ink I knew I felt stuck and I knew I wanted to heal. It was an intuitive, creative and healing process, as if the zine was making me. The physicality of the cutting, tearing, sticking, pasting, re-arranging images, documents and words resonated with Toni Morrison’s idea of ‘pieces’ from memories sparking my creative process and ancestral memory. Audre Lorde’s description of, “…a dark place within where hidden and growing our true spirit rises…” which is full of ‘ancient and hidden’ transgenerational memories, source material for creativity and power rooted in “… unexamined and unrecorded emotion and feeling” hung in the air around me as I made my zine. 

Guided by Audre Lorde’s words and wisdom from Toni Morrison, I managed to create a space where I was spontaneously able to develop my own alchemical language to express the ‘moveable feast’ of my identity, giving me the opportunity to experiment with re-historising on my own terms.

Making the Wild Ink zine became an experimental space to unravel aspects of my life and myself which had been hidden, smothered, colonised and suppressed for most of my adult life. It was my chance to re-historise. As an intuitively guided process, by the time I’d finished the zine it felt as if it had exploded into my life like a huge masala-mix firework, sending fragrant sparks far and wide, across timelines, histories, memories and landscapes. It felt healing, illuminating and cleansing.

Since then I’ve made many zines, ran workshops and tabled at Over Here zine fests. Zines and the community around them have made a huge difference to my life. I’ve made friends, comrades, community and collaborations. And I’ve only just begun. Will you join in too?

This blog post contains extracts from articles originally published by the brilliant project Synergi. 

Hiya!

This June we’re back. We’ve teamed up with long time Over Here tabler Dal Kul and Migration Matters Fest to bring a mini pop zine fest to Sheffield.

Expect zine stalls, zine making activities, zine library, badge making all with a theme on food. Celebrating our beautiful global cuisines that we cook and eat in our homes everyday.  We’ll explore what our food means to us as migrant communities, our favourite international stores, foodie memories, connections, recipes and more.

All happening on Saturday June 28th 11am-4pm at Soft ground in Sheffield.

Applications are open to Global Majority zine makers and we will prioritise those in Sheffield and surrounding areas (South Yorkshire)

It’s been two weeks since Over Here Zine Fest took place, and we’re just about recovered – we had a great day!

Stallholders, both local and from further away, came to showcase their zines and crafts, and we had a nice turn out at the Museum from attendees.

It felt great to be surrounded by amazing PoC creatives, and to see them taking up space; and to see so many people come along to visit the stalls and take part in the workshops and activities.

Through our Over Here merch sales we raised close to £50 for WAST (Women Asylum Seekers Together), a Manchester-based organisation led by women seeking asylum providing a network of support across the city. Thanks to everyone who contributed! If you want to learn more about the work of WAST, or make a direct donation to them, please have a look on their website: https://www.wastmanchester.com/

Things aren’t over just yet. We have the zine-in-a-day project to complete. On the day of the Fest, anyone who wanted to, could use a blank A5 page to draw/collage/write something for a collaborative zine. Thank you to everyone who contributed. We’re putting together the pages into a zine and will share more about this soon!

A huge thanks to everyone who attended or tabled on the day and made it so special and to the lovely staff at the People’s History Museum for their support prior to the Fest and on the day itself.

We also wanted to say a massive thank you to the lovely people at Swansea Zine Fest who made a donation to us that helped to fund our workshops. Through this donation, we were able to run a workshop aimed at black/Asian/PoC/global majority participants; creating a space for people to share their experiences of friendship, and of joy as an act of resistance. The workshop was really well-attended, and we heard some lovely feedback from participants who said they loved the opportunity to share and create in a safer space with other PoC!

Over Here Zine Fest ’24 is almost here, so we thought we would share some information….

The Zine fest is Saturday 28th September 10am-4pm at People’s History Museum.
Over Here is a zine fest that creates a space for Black/Asian/POC/Global majority zine makers, artists and creators to sell and showcase their zines, comics, prints and other handmade goodies!

It’s free to attend and open to all. All workshops are also free to attend.

Full information on Stallholders and Workshops can be found be found elsewhere on the blog.

We will have some Over Here merch on the day (posters, stickers, zines and badges) with all money from sales going to WAST Manchester (Women Seeking Asylum Together)

Some things to consider….
Not all stall holders have card readers/Paypal so please bring cash.
If you are feeling unwell with Covid like symptoms, please don’t attend. You can still support the stall holders by visiting their websites etc.
If you have never heard of zines or made zines then come and get the zine bug. If are a zine maker and just love zines, come on down and show your support!

WHAT: This is a drawing and zine-making workshop that aims to guide the participants to explore visual documentation of their lives, thoughts and dreams through the format of zines. Yuxuan Zhou will share the experience of finding her own visual language as an artist and cherishing the mundane moments through self-documentation. She will presents some of her zines and guide the participants to create a personal narrative on the 8-page folded zine.
WHEN: 11:00-12:00 in the workshop room
WHO: Capacity 20 people. Under 16 accompanied by an adult. First time -seasoned zine makers!

Yuxuan Zhou is a London-based artist interested in exploring narratives in the form of books. She enjoys playing with colours and materials and uses them to document her daily life and bizarre dreams. She then reinterprets the stories and presents them to the audience in the form of paintings, comics and zines. She hopes her work could deliver the poetic vibe in daily life and create a temporary escape for our overwhelmed souls.
Instagram:@alibiecila @satsuki_press website: www.yuxuan-zhou.com

WHAT: In this workshop you will be learning the blueprint of writing fiction, from the 7 story types, to choosing an audience and understanding the essential character/story arc. This will help you understand the tropes of fiction writing and thus understand it better so you can get writing! You will have the freedom to use your imagination by creating your own characters and story based of ideas shown in the workshop.
WHEN: 12:30-13:30 in the workshop room
WHO: Capacity 15 people. Under 16 accompanied by an adult. Wannabe writers, storytellers, anyone!

I’m a South-Asian Actor, Baker and Writer from Manchester with a BA in English and History! I am also finishing off my first novel which is a YA coming of age story about a British-East-African-Asian Teen navigating girlhood and finding her identity.
Instagram: @xqueenlubbyx

WHAT: This zine-making collage workshop focuses on fostering bonds and friendships among POC. A safe space for discussion that invites participants to explore their shared experiences and mutual understanding as people of colour surrounding the theme of joy. Everyone will leave with a zine inspired by conversations – a tangible reminder of the bonds we’ve built and the creativity we’ve shared, with a focus on friendship and joy as an act of resistance.
(Participants are encouraged to bring their own images to collage, ones that bring joy or spark conversation, can be images of food, people, objects etc)
WHEN: 14:00-15:00 in the workshop room
WHO: Capacity 10 people, 16 years+, POC/Black/Asian/BAME/Global majority.

Pita Santos is a queer Fillopino illustrator based in Manchester. They have a multidisciplinary practice, using a blend of analogue and digital to create bright, colourful and joyful imagery. They make prints, zines and keyrings with a playful and lighthearted approach, they aim to create meaningful work to tell stories, bring people together and use creativity for good.
Instagram: @pitahpat

0.08 Imprints
0.08 Imprints designs and publishes photobooks and zines that utilise the camera as a tool for investigation, primarily studying relationships and habits that form around ourselves, others and places. Our mission is to be an accessible platform for photographers with any amount of experience to be able to submit and share work that is aesthetically conscientious, meaningful and curious
Website: 008imprints.co.uk  michaelwiggan.co.uk
Instagram: @0.08imprints @linear_skies

51 Personae
(She/her)51 Personae is a collaborative art project, publishing initiative, and cooperative platform. It started as an off-site program of the 11th Shanghai Biennale, composed of 51 events in Shanghai based on individual/group experiences/actions within the context of urban transformation (2016-17). Since 2018 onwards, it has evolved into a self-sustaining independent art publishing project, believing that publishing is both an urgent and valid artistic practice. 51 Personae places special emphasis on life experiences in Asia and the Third World, as well as marginalized voices under suppression. It collaborates with individual artists, designers, translators, collectives and self-organized social forms in Asia and beyond; exploring the contemporary forms, possibilities and potential of “realism” in art as expressive actions.
Website: 51personae.org
Instagram: @51personaeproject

Anu Ambasna
(She/They)
A London born Artist, DJ and Broadcaster. Anu’s self-taught artistic practice focuses on building worlds through her intricate hand drawn comics and publications, which act as a diary of sorts. She takes inspiration from the mundane and often difficult aspects of life, with humour centered in everything she creates. The protagonists of Anu’s comics and illustrations are sometimes strange to the eye and often center paunchy brown bodies, with themes of family, identity, music and club culture filtering through.
Instagram: @noanunoparty

Apples to Zines
(They/Them)
Jacq makes zines on a variety of subjects like Bullying, Homelessness and Tackling Biphobia. They also make zines about Useless Advice, Sci Fi and Blackness, and How to swear like a professional!
Website: writteninshadows.wordpress.com
Instagram: @SoOverTheRainbow

Brandon Sked
(He/Him)
Brandon Sked is a London-based comic creator and illustrator who uses pen and ink and sometimes a typewriter to create his work.
Website: brandonsked.com
Instagram: @brandonsked

Dal Kular & Sheree Mack
(She/Her)
Dal makes perzines on race, creativity, nature, memory and identity. Sheree makes zines on similar themes from the perspective of a Black Woman in nature, as well as the Black Nature in Residence zine (3 issues), a collaborative zine. Both make one off zines too. Dal also makes journals, notebooks, cartonera and badges as liberatory and anti-colonial archival practice. Sheree and Dal both have visual journaling practices.
Instagram: @dalkular @shereemackwrites

Demi A D
(They/them)
Demi A-D is a queer artist based out of Birmingham. They make zines and art about gender, queerness, race, protest, and anything else that grabs their attention.
Instagram: @endy__enby

Fajar
(She/Her)
Fajar Kayani is a multidisciplinary artist and curator based in Manchester. The nature of her art is intuitive; capturing feelings, objects and moments in time through different mediums, ranging from photography and collage to printing and zine making. Engaging with the community in any way she can is vital to her practice – she has participated in many peer-led projects, mainly focused on empowerment, social justice, and equality.
Website: fajarkayani.com
Instagram: fajkart

Isa & Lily Seminega
(she/her)
We’re a family of readers celebrating inclusive children’s books. We write zines about books we’re obsessed with, Black culture and all things creative. We also make illustrated products for book lovers
Wesbite: gloriousreads.com
Instagram: @gloriousreads

Lou Robbin
(They/Them)
Lou is a multidisciplinary artist, creative producer, and wellbeing practitioner with a particular interest in mental health, performance, and producing innovative participatory projects and events. Centring care at the core of their work, Lou utilises their creativity to explore themes such as personal and structural change, identity and heritage, and togetherness. Lou will be sharing a few zines, stickers, and some essential oil candles.
Website: runoffs.co.uk
Instagram: @lourobbin_

Made by Katie
(She/Her)
Hello, I’m Katie from made by katie. I create fun prints, zines, stickers, and more! My work often revolves around themes like weird cats and animals, food, culture, and mental health.
Instagram: @kryanggg

Melissa
(She/Her)
Zines about pop culture, crushes, and generally just loving stuff.

Nabila
(she/her)
Hello! I’m Nabila, a PhD student in Sociology. I started zine making just over a year ago and usually make personal mini-zines with poetry or short stories. But I also want to explore zine making as a creative method of research and so I have helped create collective zines as part of projects I have worked on, where groups of people come together to work on zine pages.
Website: nabilacruz.com
Instagram: @ninavoluminosa

Pita
(They/She/He)
I am a queer Filipino illustrator based in Manchester. I have a multidisciplinary practice, using a blend of analogue and digital to create bright, colourful, and joyful imagery. With a playful and light-hearted approach, I aim to create meaningful work to tell stories, bring people together, and use creativity for good.
Instagram: @pitahpat

Rain Bug Studio
(She/Her)wholesome stickers, prints and zines, that feel like home!
Instagram: @rainbugstudio

Ray Felix Carter
(They/Them)Ray Felix Carter is a Black trans artist who makes silly little zines and comics about friendship, feelings, and being a little guy. Theyre also selling new self-published collections of their poetry and some experimental tabletop mini-games.
Website: www.rayfelixcarter.com
Instagram: @rayfelixcarter

Seleena Laverne Daye
(She/Her)
Seleena has been making zines for over 20 years. Her zines are mostly about race, class, queerness and fandom.
When not making zines she works in retail, delivers crafty workshops, sews, tap dances and eats a lot of crisps.
Website: seleenalavernedaye.co.uk
Instagram:@seleenalavernedaye

Sharonjit Kaur Sutton
(She/Her)
Sharonjit is an Artist, Graphic Designer and Silly Billy from Birmingham. Her most recent scribbles depict birds and other creatures doing a manner of absurd things. She will be selling prints, zines, stickers and other paraphernalia.
Website: etsy.com/shop/ideasloadingmakes
Instagram: @ideasloading

Shazleen Khan
(They/Them)Shazleen Khan is an illustrator making comics in both traditional publishing and indie spaces. They are the author of award winning lgbtq webcomic, BUUZA!! and also produce a variety of short comics and zines.
Website: www.shazleenkhan.com
Instagram: @shazleen.jpeg

Spotted Journal
(She/her)
Jenny is a British-born-Chinese (BBC) writer & illustrator who is passionate about travel, food, and meaningful conversations. She runs a sketch club in Manchester called ‘Sketch And Cafe’ and recently started taking her art seriously after having worked over 10 years in the stationery, arts & craft buying industry. So what does it take to become an established picture book maker starting in your mid-30s in the 21st century? What zines will she make? Follow her art journey….
Instagram: @spottedjournal
Youtube: Spottedjournal

Two Little Points
(She/Her)
Two Little Points creates joyful, colourful illustrations inspired by nature, animals and foods. Our work spans picture books, editorial, social media, and now crafting & zines, spreading positivity.
Instagram: @twolittlepoints

Yetunde Ekuntuyi
(She/Her)
Yetunde is a cartoonist and illustrator based in the UK. She draws cute and whimsical characters and enjoys writing comics about feelings. Alongside her comics she also creates joyful stickers and prints.
Website: patreon.com/readbearuniverse
Instagram: @redbearuniverse_

Yuxuan Zhou
(She/Her)Yuxuan Zhou is a London-based artist who celebrate the tactility of materials and joy of colours. She works on fashion illustration, picture books and comics and love to explore various forms of books in presenting her work. She wants bring the poetic yet otherworldly experience to the audience through her zines and drawings
Website: yuxuan-zhou.com
Instagram: @alibiecila

Last Saturday – a visit to Nottingham for Kim Thompson’s solo exhibition, Water into Wine, at the New Art Exchange (NAE). It’s curated by Saziso Phiri.

Kim is a Nottingham artist who mostly works in paint and digital illustration. We are big fans, and seeing her work on this scale was extra special.

The newly commissioned series opens up the experiences of Afro Caribbeans from Nottingham. It’s beautiful.

Each painting had a story attached, which came out through conversations between Kim and local residents (some are her family members) and through sharing and reminiscing with photos. 

The black joy jumps out from each painting, the every day experience of us just living and doing us. 

One huge piece, based on a school photo from the 1960s, shows Kim’s aunt as a child, front and centre…there she is, looking relaxed and proud; from the accompanying story, we can read that she belonged there, she excelled, and it comes across in the painting, classmates and teachers are patchy, the memories of them have faded. It made me think of my dad, who was at school on the south coast at the same time. In his class photo, he stands out as the only black face.

It also made me think of that universal sense of looking at old school photos where your younger self is lined up alongside people you’ll probably never see again, and there’s little you, the main character in your story. 

Another piece, of a person called Donna with two of her horses, is full of reds and greens and brown, and had a gentle feeling of celebration that we rarely get to see in black art.

There were others, just as beautiful and warm: of Kims parents, of a mum and daughter sitting happily in the grass, of two brothers boxing, of a celebration with a frosted cake…it’s so cool to see and read about the life experiences of the black community in this way.

The exhibition ends this Sunday (24th August) so try and make it down to NAE if you can! 

(Also, the soundtrack in the exhibition so good and had us swaying in appreciation).

Melissa

@kimthompson.art

@new_art_exchange

That’s right, Over Here Zine Fest is back!
Saturday 28th September 2024, 10am-4pm at People’s History Museum, for a day of zines, making, supporting and creatives of colour taking up space!