Artist Spotlight 2015: Mice Hell

The indpendent publishing "scene" (for want of a better word) in Ireland is made up of all sorts. 

Punks who can't wait to tell you how much better Crass are than Conflict.
 
Introverts, cutting and pasting together zines in their rooms, oblivious to the laws of space and time.

Then there are artists who like to cycle around Dublin throwing rolled up art pieces at unsuspecting passers by.

Mice Hell is a member of the latter. 
 

Mice Hell (Michelle) is a multidisciplinary artist who works across many different forms, including in print, drawing, video and performance. She describes herself as making "zines & postcards about folklore & bins & the like". This goes someway to describing her work, but i'd have to add that everything she makes seems to be interesting. 

Whenever I see her stuff I always think "ahh, I wish I'd thought of doing that".
For example, make a zine about skips in Dublin - Wish I'd thought of that.
Sell postcards with Jean Byrne giving an old Irish curse on them - Wish I'd thought of that.
Make some of the nicest home brew you will ever have - Wish I could do that!

She gets inspiration from things like Pussy Riot, the Castletown Donkey Derby and St Brigid.
Last time I met her she was going off to make a crumhorn. Who the fuck makes a crumhorn?? What even is a crumhorn??

Mice Hell, that's who!

A stalwart of the independent scene, an amazing artist and a dead sound person, I really can't recommend her stuff enough. 

The Mice. The Myth. The legend!

Artist Spotlight 2015: The Runt

The Runt Zine

How do you even start to describe the Runt?

 I guess you could start by saying its an arts and creative writing, collaborative zine. That it's run by a rag-tag bunch of misfits and renegades.

If the Runt was a football team, it would be Wimbledon in the early 90's.

Some of the people who contribute to it include:
Richard "War on Slugs" Howard

Boris Belony, (aka Stephen Hughes),  long-term contributor to the Irish independent publishing scene, whose own zine 'Boris Belony' is an out-and-out classic!

And then there's Colm Kearns. The boho, space cowboy of Dún Laoghaire.  The price of admission to Independents Day is worth it alone just to chat to Colm. Just watch this for a performance!

They've published 6 issues of original fiction, poetry and art based around the central theme of each issue. Their last issue was based around outer space, while the next one will focus on dreams and nightmares.

The Runt is class, so pick up all 6 copies at Independents Day.

Check them out on
https://www.facebook.com/TheRuntZine
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheRuntZine
and YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheRuntZine

Artist Spotlight 2015: Cameron 'Big Bird' Ross

Ahh Wellington. My home from home, take me back!

The "coolest little capital" in the world is home to many great things; Flight of the Conchords, the Embassy cinema and Te Papa museum to name but a few.  It's also home of one of the best zine fairs around, Wellington Zinefest!

Our next Artist Spotlight features a former Wellington Zinefest 'Best of Fest' award winner -
Cameron 'Big Bird' Ross.

Cameron has been making the zine "Always Never Fun" for a number of years. It is a DIY, punk hardcore zine (issue 6 won the aformentioned best of fest award in 2012).

He also runs a distro Always Never Fun Records. It focuses on limited New Zealand Punk and Hardcore Vinyl. He distro's NZ and Aussie vinyl, cds and tapes as well. Check out this for a promotional poster, New Zealand Prime Minister John Key squatting on the Beehive (NZ Parliament) ....savage!

If anyone wants to buy any  records, cd's or tapes off him, send him an email at stunsmas@yahoo.co.nz. Other than that, come along to Independents Day on March 22nd and see for your self!

Artist Spotlight 2015: Blackshapes Books

A couple of years ago a friend of mine described Philip Barrett as one of the greatest Irish writers living today, in any medium. 

"Hah, sure he is"' I thought dismissively. 

Then I read some of his stuff. His work is absolutely incredible! 

His output is so consistently good. Just look at his back catalogue, which includes
Blackshapes - about a would-be writer struggling to write to the detriment of his home and work life,  'Ricky'- an eerie tale about childhood friends, Where's Larry? - a would be Irish 'Where's Wally?' and the stone cold classic 'The Littlest Arsonist'.

Philip has been self-publishing comics since 2001,and is a long-time supporter of the independent scene in Ireland, appearing at events such as the Dublin Zine Fair and Independents Day, he even helped get the ball rolling on the Dublin Comic Jam.

Chances are if you are not aware of Philips stuff, you have probably seen it somewhere, as his illustrations and comics have appeared in publications as diverse as the Irish Times and Rabble.

 Philip set up  Blackshapes Books in 2014 to publish longer form graphic novel work, showcasing some of his own work(like his collection of short comics ‘In Bits’), alongside work of other talented Irish comics artists, like John Robbin’s ‘Unlucky Unlikely'.

 
It's because of people like Philip Barrett that we have a vibrant independent publishing scene in Ireland. Not only does he teach classes on how to draw comics, but he also helps out giving workshops at events like the launch of the Dublin Zine Collective (formerly Eddie Pie Hands Printing). 

 I highly recommend you to check out his stuff at Independents Day.

Artist Spotlight 2015: Katie O'Neill

I first saw Katie O'Neill's work when she designed the poster for the Anarchist Book Fair in 2013. Sometimes I judge a book by its cover (and I'm a librarian, the shame!), or at least a gig by its poster, and I thought the poster she did for it was cool as fuck.

Over the past couple of years it turns out other things I thought were 'cool as fuck" were also drawn  by Katie. I've always thought the artwork for the band AlienShe was savage. Turns out it was done by Katie O'Neill. She is even in the band!! Go figure!

Katie is a master of many trades. She likes to draw, paint, write, curate, make music, photograph bands and put together zines. Her zine LOUDMOUTH sold out when it was released. Hopefully she brings more copies to Independents day as I really want to read it. She made the zine in collaboration with other feminists in an effort to bring more attention to sexism experienced in all facets of life. The zine mixes art and writing and focuses on the experiences of women in Dublin. That sounds like something we could all do with reading

She describes herself as "interested in themes of identity and space", whose work "conveys a sense of transition, outsiderness and feelings of alienation". I think this really comes across, check out her fly ring t-shirt if you don't believe me.

Can't wait to see Katie's stuff on March 22nd.
You can buy her stuff on esty here

Artist Spotlight 2015: Little Gem Records

Independents Day has been supporting and promoting independent artists in Ireland, across various mediums, for a number of years. A big part of that has been with music, and aside from having a savage line up of bands to play at this years event (details to be launched soon), we will also be featuring some stalls of Independent record sellers and labels.

We are delighted that Little Gem Records will be joining us on the day. Little Gem are an independent record store and label dedicated to supporting and promoting independent Irish artists. Describing itself as selling "records, cassettes, CD's, tangible and intangible goods", they've just started a record label "devoted to helping great music find its audience through sharing, selling and promoting it", and importantly "paying the artists". 

I am really excited about what the future holds for Little Gem. A listen through the labels current output is very promising;

Switzerland are a veritable smorgasbord of the Irish independent scene, featuring members of Drunken Boat, Hello Moon, Land Lovers and Grand Pocket Orchestra. Sound-wise this tune wouldn't be out of place on any of the early Feelies albums, it's class!

GodHatesDisco are a completely different prospect, sounding like a clash between Krautrock and Japanese Noise Music, and producing a sound that's been missing on these shores for a while.

The diversity in these two tracks alone points to great things ahead for Little Gem. Check out their shop on 5 Cavendish Row, Dublin 1, and come along to Independents Day to see what other "Little Gem's" they have brought!

Artist Spotlight 2015: Jane O'Sullivan

What better way to start our new ‘Spotlight’ series on artists appearing at Independents Day 2015, than with the legend that is Jane O’Sullivan.

I have been thinking about a way to try and introduce Jane to those who are not familiar with her, but words seem to fail me. Aside from producing some of the most unique, intricate and beautiful works of art you will ever come across, she is also one of the nicest people you will be lucky to meet. 

It has been a busy couple of years for Jane. Apart from being a long term supporter of the zine community, she has recently had two hugely successful solo art exhibitions; last years “Life is Supported in Mysterious Ways”, in the Talbot Gallery; and her current exhibition “A Passionate Silence” which is running in the Dock Arts Centre Carrick-on-Shannon until the 28^th of March. 

It is really hard to pigeon hole Jane's work.  Part zines, part handmade DIY artist book/independent publications, her material is elegant, original and never ceases to amaze me.

If you’ve never seen Jane’s stuff then come along to Independents Day and see for yourself! Buy some zines, check out Jane’s work and talk to her about Kate Bush. 

The world will be a better place!