Strangers Collective at Santa Fe Zine Fest
Saturday, May 20, 11 am-5 pm
Center for Contemporary Arts
1050 Old Pecos Tr.
An annual celebration of zines, comics, and alternative press. Santa Fe's inaugural zine fest will feature 20+ exhibitors showcasing their zines and comics. Come hang out, meet and talk with local artists and zine makers, and buy zines. This event is free and open to the public.
There’s a fashion movement brewing in Santa Fe, and the proof is in the pages of 1905 Magazine. Editors Mariah Romero and Darnell Thomas founded the quarterly digital publication in 2014, with the help of their fellow students at Santa Fe University of Art and Design. Now they’re taking their first steps into the larger fashion industry, and ushering a community of young style mavens to the cultural forefront in Santa Fe and beyond. Strangers Collective is pleased to present the 1905 Benefit Party, a pop-up fashion event at 54 1/2 East San Francisco Street on Saturday, February 18 from 7-10 pm. Artwork and merchandise from the magazine will be available for purchase at the reception, in support of Thomas and Romero’s sweeping vision for the publication. This event is free and open to the public, and will include complimentary refreshments.
Thomas and Romero dreamed up 1905 Magazine in a typography class at the Santa Fe University of Art and Design in winter 2014. Romero was a sophomore graphic design student, and Thomas was a junior majoring in business and graphic design. Both of them were interested in fashion, but SFUAD didn’t have any classes on the subject. “We were both working on fashion-related projects, to have something in our portfolios,” says Romero. “We knew other people were also doing photo shoots, and we wanted to create a community to bring it all together.”
The duo chose the title 1905 Magazine as a reference to the birth year of legendary designer Christian Dior, and put together their first issue over winter break in 2014. Up-and-coming designers, photographers, writers, stylists and chefs quickly filled their masthead. For almost a year, they produced monthly issues. Thomas, Romero and their contributors produced editorial fashion spreads using borrowed clothes from local thrift shops, cooked up stunning culinary features in the kitchens of their college apartments, and designed style guides that encouraged their readers to embrace their individuality.
“We give off the message that you don’t have to be trendy to be stylish,” says Thomas. “It’s not about what’s on the runway at fashion week; that’s what everyone else is doing. You don’t need a lot of money to have an eye for style.” The SFUAD community quickly embraced the new cultural platform. The graphic design department helped fund a print edition of 1905 in spring 2015, and a film student made a documentary about the magazine. That fall, Thomas and Romero switched to a quarterly publication schedule and got serious about polishing up the design and content. The monthly issues often ran over 100 pages, but they worked hard to edit it down to around 60 in 1905’s seasonal manifestation.
“We want it to look as professional as the magazines we’re looking up to,” says Romero. They’ve examined every detail of Darling, Kinfolk and other arts and culture publications for inspiration. “We want to be at that level,” Romero says. “This isn’t just a student project any more, it’s what we want to do.” Their hard work paid off in 2016: the wildly popular social networking app Snapchat featured some of their images in its Discover feed, and an LA author profiled them for an upcoming lifestyle book.
Thomas graduated from SFUAD in 2016, and Romero will get her diploma this spring. They didn’t think twice about carrying 1905 Magazine into the professional world with them, and they’re bringing their collaborators along for the ride. The 1905 Magazine Benefit Show will feature photographs and designs by a number of contributors to the publication. SFUAD graphic design professor David Grey, who has mentored Thomas and Romero, will contribute artwork to the exhibition. Andie Fuller, who has contributed recipes to the magazine’s culinary section, collaborated with Romero and Thomas to design a cookbook that will debut at the event. A new line of 1905 Magazine merchandise will also be available, at a price range of $5-$50.
“1905 Magazine represents a new vanguard of local, talented fashion professionals,” says Strangers Collective co-director Kyle Farrell. “They’re already shaping Santa Fe culture, so we’re calling on the community to further elevate this inspiring project.” For more information and high resolution images, contact Jordan Eddy at strangersartcollective@gmail.com.
Contributors: Lydia Abernathy, Jennifer Carrillo, David Grey, Laura San Román, Mark Baker-Sanchez, Amy West, Jonathon Duarte, Callan Ramirez, Keynan Johnson, Andie Fuller, Jennie Johnsrud, Mariah Romero & Darnell Thomas.
Allen Ginsberg begins his 1956 poem Howl with the iconic line: “I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness . . .” Sixty years later, Mary Dezember presents an urgent addendum to Ginsberg’s message. Strangers Collective is pleased to host the Santa Fe launch of Dezember’s book of poetry, Still Howling. At the holiday pop-up event on Saturday, December 17, the Albuquerque poet will read from her new collection—and carry the revolutionary howl into the 21st century.
“I see the best souls of my sex thrive despite the madness…” begins Dezember’s poem Still Howling. In Howl, Ginsberg questions the forces that destroy curious, brilliant minds in a culture that fails to recognize a pervasive holiness. Dezember’s work identifies this invisible influence as a socio-political hegemony that continues to sexualize, suppress and dominate women. Still Howling and Endnote to Still Howling, which mirror the titles of Ginsberg’s poem and its famous footnote, applaud the beat poet’s gift to liberated creatives: “the right to howl.”
Wielding language that is both piercing and uplifting, Dezember explores the importance of creative expression, and of finding a voice in hurtful or oppressive situations. Still Howling is a rallying cry to question hegemony, and to embrace the realization that life persists through the alchemy of forgiveness. The book features cover art by the poet’s nephew, Steve Dezember II, who used his wheelchair to create stunning abstract imagery. Among the poems in the collection are tributes to courageous, life-embracing innovators such as Steve and his wife Hope, Rosalind Franklin and Georgia O’Keeffe.
“Still Howling is the drumbeat we’ve been waiting for in unsettling political times,” says Strangers Collective cofounder Jordan Eddy. “Mary’s work will inspire you to forge onwards in the long march towards positive social change.” Dezember will read selections from Still Howling at the pop-up launch party hosted by the emerging arts collective. Signed copies of the book will be available for $9.
Still Howling and Endnote to Still Howling are the First Place Winner of the Best Poem Contest 2016, sponsored by Beatlick Press. They were originally published by the journal Cacti Fur. Dezember believes in freedom of expression, inclusivity, pluralism, and creating awareness that catalyzes healing. She earned her Ph.D. in Comparative Literature at Indiana University and is Professor of English at New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, where she teaches creative writing, art history and literature. Her first book of poetry, Earth-Marked Like You, was published by Sunstone Press. Read more about this event in Pasatiempo.
An echo is a fragment of the past, but also a new moment in the present. This fall, Strangers Collective orchestrates a chorus of contemporary reflections at the CCA Cinematheque Lobby Gallery. The local arts group is excited to announce Long Echo, an exhibition of emerging artists and writers that is designed to send ripples through Santa Fe’s creative landscape. The show opens Friday, October 28 from 5-8 pm, and features a series of gatherings that will challenge visitors to rethink the role of emerging visual art, writing, music and dance in the broader community. Long Echo runs through January 15, 2017.
“Long Echo comes at a time when many of us are delving into past experiences,” says Strangers co-director Alex Gill. “These conceptual and aesthetic elements are ringing out again in clearer and stronger ways.” The exhibition will feature diverse artwork, including paintings, sculptures, drawings and new media works. Strangers Collective’s writers will present a fresh array of zines, along with Strangers Volume I, a journal of collected writings and images from the group’s past events. “It’s not about nostalgia, it's about ruthlessly hacking away at what you’ve done,” says Strangers cofounder and co-director Kyle Farrell. “How do you concentrate your creative power?”
In addition to the opening reception in late October, Strangers Collective will host a series of events titled Echo Chamber during the 11-week run of the show. These will include a series of performance installations, a panel discussion and a round table gathering. “The events challenge audiences to participate, and to experience the art in visceral ways,” says CCA visual arts curator Angie Rizzo. “Strangers Collective is asking the community to join them in reimagining what an art show can accomplish.” Long Echo aims to foster new links in the creative community that reverberate long after the exhibition’s closing date.
Participating artists include Ona Yopack, Sarah Palmeri, Dion Valdez, Drew MC, Alex Gill, Kyle Farrell, Marcus Zuniga, Florence Cunningham, David O’Brien, Austin Eichelberger, Ben Putnam and Stephanie Thompson. Participating writers include Bucket Siler, Katie Johnson, Acacia Ryan Barnett, Sarah Weisberg, Jordan Eddy, Daniel Bonhorst, Elliot Jackson, Juro Gagne, Kendyll Gross, Ariana Lombardi, Kelly Skeen, Max Walukas and Shannon Latham. Emmaly Wiederholt and Tara Khozein will debut a performance piece titled Hot Air and Rain during the opening reception, at 5:30 pm. View images from the opening reception here.
Santa Fe, NM— There’s revolution in the air in Santa Fe this spring, as emerging and alternative art projects by young creatives take the spotlight. New art districts are forming on Baca Street, Hickox Road and Siler Road, fostering experimental art spaces and collectives. In May, Strangers Collective will stage a daring takeover of Santa Fe’s downtown arts district. Narrows, an exhibition of 35 local emerging artists and writers, opens at Santa Fe Community Gallery on Friday, May 20 from 5-8 pm.
“We’ve seen a significant shift in the community since the collective formed, and it has emboldened us,” says Strangers co-founder Jordan Eddy. The art group started in fall 2014 as a grassroots effort to build a supportive network of emerging artists and writers. Living room salons quickly grew into full-fledged exhibitions, with showings at ART.i.factory Gallery and Wheelhouse Art in 2015 and events at Caldera and David Richard Gallery this year. “Santa Fe is waking up to the fact that young artists are ushering in a radical new era of contemporary art here,” says Eddy. “We’re carving out space in this scene, and there’s no going back.”
Narrows is Strangers Collective’s fourth public exhibition, featuring visual art in diverse mediums by 17 artists, and zines by 16 writers. The show’s title is a reference to the small apartments and studio spaces where the artwork takes shape, and the process of ferrying emerging art into the public sphere. Narrows is an examination of this invigorating and at times perilous voyage. During the three-week run of the show, Strangers will host a zine workshop on Saturday, May 28 and artist talks with Elaine Ritchel of Santa Fe Art Tours on Wednesday, June 1.
“It’s such a diverse group,” says co-founder Kyle Farrell. “We have artists who grew up here, and people who came from all across the country. One thing that unites us is the battle to be heard. We’re moving from private spaces onto much larger stages, and it’s invigorating.” Featured artists include A. Jason Coleman, Kyle Farrell, Alex Gill, Julia Haywood, Erikka James, Shannon Latham, Katherine Lee, Drew Mc, David O'Brien, Sarah Palmeri, Leah Devine Pokrasso, Stephanie Thompson, Ben Putnam, Dion Valdez, Emmanuelle John, MaryEllen Whitmoyer, Marcus Zuniga and Rebecca Waldron. Participating writers include Daniel Bohnhorst, Jordan Eddy, Austin Eichelberger, Juro Gagne, Kendyll Gross, Elliot Jackson, Ariana Lombardi, Chris Quintana, Elaine Ritchel, Bucket Siler, Kelly Skeen, Rachel Miller-Howard, Maxwell Lucas, Sarah Weisberg, Emmaly Wiederholt, Mariah Romero, Darnell Thomas, and contributors to Genghis Culture and 1905 Magazine.
Shack up with Strangers Collective and SCUBA at Caldera Gallery for this three night pop-up. Artwork by Sarah Darlene Palmeri, Marcus Zuniga, David O'Brien, Dion Valdez, Leah Devine Pokrasso, Shannon Latham, A. Jason Coleman, MaryEllen Whitmoyer, Kyle Farrell and more. Craft by Mod Tribe Design. Zines by Julia Haywood, Jordan Eddy, Austin Eichelberger, Juro Gagne, Daniel Bohnhorst, Elliot Jackson, Elaine Ritchel, Rachel Miller-Howard, Bucket Siler, Chris Quintana, and Kelly Skeen. Opening Friday, March 4th from 5 to 7pm.
Weekend events:
Saturday, 3/5, 5-7 pm- Readings by Strangers. Featuring Max Walukas, Austin Eichelberger, Bucket Siler, Stephanie Thompson and Juro Gagne.
Sunday, 3/6, 5-7 pm- Closing reception. Banjo performance by Sam Armstrong-Zickefoose, 5-5:30 pm.
This autumn, local art collective Strangers will take part in the final chapter of a beloved Santa Fe gallery. Wheelhouse Art, known for its trailblazing exhibitions of conceptual and experimental artwork, will host the group for a provocative show before closing its doors. Strangers Collective’s NO LAND exhibition runs October 16-28, and rallies Santa Fe’s emerging art community to fight for new territory in a competitive market.
“Wheelhouse stood by artists who went against the grain in Santa Fe, and that’s a huge risk,” says Strangers co-founder and sculptor Kyle Farrell. “For the last show, we wanted to honor that ethos by asking some big questions about our community’s future.”
A group of friends started Strangers in 2014, mounting a series of private exhibitions in a Santa Fe living room. The collective threw its first public art and zine show this summer at ART.i.factory Gallery on Baca Street, creating a new platform for young creatives with powerful perspectives to share. NO LAND is the group’s largest exhibition yet, with 13 visual artists—including painters, filmmakers, sculptors and collage artists— and more than a dozen writers involved.
“The ‘NO LAND’ title is a reference to that feeling of isolation young artists can get in this very established scene,” says Strangers co-founder and writer Jordan Eddy. “So many artists have already planted their flags here. How do we carve out our own niche and tell some new stories?”
The visual artists featured in NO LAND include A. Jason Coleman, Dion Valdez, Freedom Hopkins, Alex Gill, Ben Putnam, Stephanie Thompson, Drew Mc, Erikka James, MaryEllen Whitmoyer, Freyr A Marie, Julia Haywood, Kyle Farrell, Shannon Latham and Leah Devine Pokrasso. Participating writers include Andrea Vaca, Annie Siegel, Ariana Lombardi, Kelly Skeen, Austin Eichelberger, Bucket Siler, Chris Quintana, Elaine Richtel, Elliot Jackson, Jordan Eddy, Juro Gagne, Rachel Miller-Howard and a number of Knack Magazine contributors.
The Strangers art collective started in a Santa Fe living room. A small group of artists and writers, all without representation, came together for a secret pop-up show. Ten months and two exhibitions later, the collective will expand out of residences and into the Art.i.fact consignment shop in the Baca District south of the Railyard, debuting a powerful new vision for Santa Fe's art scene. The STRANGERS pop-up art and zine exhibition opens in the ART.i.factory gallery on Saturday, July 18th from 5:00-9:00 pm, during the inaugural Baca Street Bash.
“We had two big revelations: that Santa Fe’s most dynamic young artists were one link away from us, and that they weren't exhibiting anywhere," says Strangers co-founder Jordan Eddy. “We were living in a town of like-minded strangers, and we had to bring them together.” In October 2014, Eddy teamed up with local artists Kyle Farrell and Erikka James to throw the first of several private art exhibitions. What began as a salon-style gathering of friends grew into a full-fledged collective with over 20 dynamic young artists and writers.
Not long after STRANGERS united, Art.i.fact co-owners Jennifer Rowland and Michael Gullberg launched their own creative endeavor. They built the ART.i.factory gallery in the back of their consignment shop in winter 2014, and began searching for guest curators to populate its walls with thought-provoking artwork.
The exhibition, also titled Strangers, will introduce young artists and writers working in a wide range of media. Visual artists Alex Gill, Dion Valdez, Kyle Farrell, Tailinh Agoyo and Drew Mc utilize everything from photographs to encaustics to oil and acrylic paints. Writers Ariana Lombardi, Jordan Eddy, Austin Eichelberger, Rachel Miller-Howard and Kelly Skeen pen meditations on contemporary life, art, identity, poetry, language, grief and joy.
The artwork of the Strangers Collective is diverse, but it all possesses an underlyingcurrent of passionate rebellion. “The art scene goes to bed at 7 o’clock," says Farrell. “It's time to start talking about serious art after dark, and the Baca Street Bash is where that conversation begins.” The Baca Street Bash, an evening of art, music and food, is a collaboration between numerous Baca Street businesses. It will coincide with the Strangers opening on July 18th.
