#open zine workshop | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

titanrpg · 4 months

Text

you got a minute? I need a favor

Hey everyone, it's Lex. Happy New Year to you and yours!

Today, I have a huge announcement about Titanomachy RPG and its future. This month marks 3 years since I joined TTRPG Twitter. I've met so many incredible people and learned so much from y'all. Your support has allowed me to take one HUGE step in my life.

I recently moved to Maryland from Florida to get some basic human rights. I also left my job of 7 years to try and live unburdened by selling hours of my life to some random rich guy. And now, I'm taking Titanomachy RPG full-time.

Here I am, already having taken the leap. I have some money saved up, yes, but ultimately I am trusting in the generosity of others to help me build out a life I can truly love.

So yes, this is a Patreon announcement. And there's a link to Caltrop Core below (if you want to make a one-time contribution). But before anyone exits this email, I want to talk about all the cool stuff everyone can expect from me, regardless of Patreon status or donor status. I have a lot of exciting things coming in 2024, like:

a NEW open license d12 system called DODECA!

physical copies of my games becoming available via Indie Press Revolution, starting with NIGHTHAWKS!

more consistent game & system releases

seeing more of my work in some upcoming Evil Hat projects (look for me in the Girl by Moonlight stretch goal zines)

prints of "prayer to curse ron desantis", bunny girl osr posters, and perhaps shirts/hats/merch?

ttrpg workshops IRL in the Maryland area

and much much much much more!!

Now, here's the link to my Patreon before I forget: https://www.patreon.com/TitanRPG

I have an AWESOME founding patron bonus. There are 3 tiers of membership, and no matter which you choose to join today, you'll get a pre-release PDF of GOLDEN BEETLE PLAYGROUND, my Medabots-inspired TTRPG built on Caltrop Core EX.

This bonus is ONLY for people who join this month. After January, I'll take it down to work on the game further (and eventually do a full release later this year).

For tiers 2 and 3, I'll be releasing one short RPG every single month. These games will remain Patreon exclusives until I can put proper polish on them (or the patrons vote to release their favorites).

There's a bunch more goodies and details on my actual Patreon page. Click that link to see!

Eventually, I'll be putting merch up on that page, so even if you can't support with a monthly pledge, you'll be seeing posters, shirts, hats, all that very soon!

These days, I'm on tumblr every so often, but no other social media. Patreon will be my dedicated page for updates, game mechanics, design discussions, everything! Even if you join at the $3/month tier, I want to provide a ton of value, starting with GOLDEN BEETLE PLAYGROUND!

Click here to see the three membership tiers and support a trans game designer today!

Thank you for your support over the past 3 years. I hope to remain worth of it for many more years to come.

All my love,

Lex Kim Bobrow

Publisher, Titanomachy RPG

P.S. Here's the link again. Take a moment to check out the page please, and if you can't contribute, please tell your friends! I've lost touch with so many people after leaving Twitter, so any help in getting the word out is 10000000% appreciated!!

P.P.S. If you could reblog this post ASAP, I'd really really appreciate it. Thank you!!!

#indie ttrpg #ttrpg #caltrop core

143 notes · View notes

reimenaashelyee · 5 months

Text

Creator's Guide to Comics Devices: November 2023 Update

The first newsletter since launch came out a few days ago! It summarises all the updates I've made in November, which includes 2 (!) new devices, a sub-device, and other site changes.

Subscribe to the newsletter to get these updates direct to your email.

New Devices:

Aside

A short comment that sits outside of a balloon or character that is not perceived by anyone except the comment maker and the reader. An aside may come from the author, usually placed outside of the panel or near the edges. (Page with examples)

Topper

A secondary row of panels or single panel that goes 'on top' of the main comic. They are typically removable and non-essential, and usually contain the comic's title. (Page with examples)

Sub-device

Markers in Code Switch

Languages are assigned flags, pictographs or other iconographic symbols. (Page with examples)

News from the Curator and Site Changelog

I'm delighted over how well-received the library has been -- thank you to everyone who has shared, commented and provided feedback! I really appreciate the enthusiasm and generosity. <3 As a comics creator taking my first formal steps into the arena of comics studies, there is still a lot to do and to read for the library. Even with 63 devices catalogued, it's only still the beginning!

From the Interwebs

‘The Creator’s Guide to Comics Devices’ Is the First of Its Kind, an Incredible Resource for Comics Creators & Readers Alike (The Mary Sue, Joan Zahra Dark) Lovely roundup from my fellow Cartoonist Cooperative co-founder Joan setting the historical context for Comics Devices and why an accessible resource is like this is due.

Kibbles n Bits (Comics Beat, Heidi MacDonald) An enthusiastic feature of the library in Heidi's roundup.

Shout Outs

Thank you to Ritesh, Tan Juan Gee, Samantha Philipps, Blue Dellinquanti, Ted Anderson and Hannah Pallister for their contributions. (I really need to get that credits/curator's notes page set up. That's this month's to-do) Once again, thank you to the Sequential Artists Workshop Teaching Fellowship for supporting the development of the library this month.

Updates to the Site (Nov 2023)

Added the Store page and dedicated a subsection for it on the homepage, if only to direct people to the already-existing zine that’s currently distributed by Sequential Artists Workshop and myself. I might use that page to hold things like signing up for workshops and panels if they ever happen. Added the Newsletter page so it’s easier to link to across the site and elsewhere. Opened up the page that displays all the devices on one page. Added ‘Contribution’ ‘Newsletter’ ‘All Devices’ to the sidebar. Fixed the 404 page. It suggests the Site Map for advice. Finally opened the Links page! Check out all the resources in there! Thank you to folks who have submitted feedback/contribution! I have added new example pages for Harmonious Juxtaposition/Time & Space/Pictorial Lettering/Colour Coding and a longer definition for Map Panel. Added two new devices – Aside and Topper. Added ‘Markers’ and ‘Balloon Styles’ as a subdevice to Code Switch. Finally set up the Gallery page: this is where comics pages featuring the relevant device will be catalogued. Now for the slow work of filling up the galleries…..

New in Store: The Comics Devices Quick Reference Zine Before the website launched, I produced this zine as a promotional thing + quick reference. This is a 12-page zine showcasing the devices in this library as of 2023 (not including the Topper and Aside). Perfect for students, teachers and anyone who needs a quick, in-person reference if there's no wi-fi available. Sequential Artists Workshop is selling copies for North Americans in their online store. Folks in Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia can directly contact me to get a copy. An ebook version is on the way. I will announce it via newsletter.

#comics devices #comics

96 notes · View notes

floodkiss · 5 days

Text

A couple weeks ago, I led a zine making workshop/Palestinian solidarity event for my local Asian racial solidarity group. I gave a primer on zines and DIY as well as the political roots of DIY publishing, and some tutorials. The theme was reconnecting to resistance in an open learning circle since the Asian continent has a long and wide breadth history of resistance. We provided zine making supplies and I brought both some Palestinian zines and a curated collection of examples from my personal zine library! It was also potluck style.

It was kind of interesting leading this workshop! I don't consider myself to be an expert on revolutionary histories, there's a lot of theory and info to catch up on, but I read a lot of PFLP and Palestinian resistance writing when I was in my undergrad because I was able to meet Joe Sacco who was the cartoonist who published Footnotes in Gaza and Palestine (around 2017?). I also designed some posters for his Toronto visit in partnership with the TPFF. Most significantly, I read Strategy for the Liberation of Palestine by the PFLP - it is both a historical document and a live program that lays out the fundamentals of Palestinian liberation as well as localized analysis (160~ pages). There were Asian people in attendance originating from all over the continent and of varying faiths but no one was familiar with historic Palestinian resistance, only with the current narrative about israhelli occupation - so of course I was happy to to talk about Ghassan Kanafani, Leila Khaled, and the PFLP and the historic 3rd world solidarity movements across Asia!

Most people weren't familiar with zines either, so I was also very sparkly-eyed in info dumping about zines to the room! One of the participants brought musakhan rolls which are a traditional Palestinian dish... they were SO yummy... I did have more than I should have... and they included the recipe as one of the zine pages!!! There were also many Filipinos present resulting in me going home with a lot of leftover turon (it helped me survive my ongoing depressive episode in April lol)

Overall it was so nice having conversations with others regardless of where they were at in their politicization journey. There is always more to learn, and more time to spend with one another...and we can all grow together too 🫶🏼 politicization can be very personal and I think as long as we can develop principles, sense for collective, and maintain revolutionary imagination - we can survive together!

Here are some of the Palestinian zines that I brought for people to sift through! I have like 20+ pdfs on my computer and more from encampments that I've visited and will hopefully scan soon!

Palestine: An Introduction from DecolonizePalestine ABCs of Occupation & Resistance by Rachel Mattson The Palestinian Struggle for National Liberation by OBF-HRD/Manila University BDS: What it is, Why it matters by Leila Abdula Razzaq Digitized copy of Ghassan Kanafani by Anni Kanafani (Beirut, 1973), found via the internet archive! From Galilee to Gaza, A voice from Palestine from CrimetheInc. Handala and Other Symbols of Palestinian Resistance & Revolution by...me! (I'll add a link later)

#trying to blog here more so it's not months between art posts hiii #blog #zines #culture work is also so important!

26 notes · View notes

archivecon · 2 months

Text

Panelist Registration Forms Now Live!

It’s time! Panel registration for ArchiveCon’s third event is now open - we’re looking for all sorts of red string theories, workshops, games, discussion panels, fandom history, etc - everything and anything Archives and Protocol!

Do you have a burning desire to share your theories? A need to dig into detailed character analyses? Got too deep into research for your fic, and now just have to tell everyone about Jonah-era occultism? This is where it’s at! We welcome a wide variety of panel topics including, but not limited to:

The Magnus Archives/Protocol/RQ Network-themed topics, like deep dives into characters and meta

A focus on podcast-making, like sound editing, writing, or voice-acting, whether it be about TMA/TMP, another podcast, or a general overview

Fandom history

Queerness in fandom

Creative fannish endeavors, like zines, fic-binding, fanfic, fanart, etc

Ship manifestos

And more!

[Reminder that ArchiveCon is a free, fan-run, totally online convention dedicated to The Magnus Archives and The Magnus Protocol! You must be registered and over 18 years of age to attend and participate].

#tma #the magnus archives #the magnus protocol #tmp #tmagp #archivecon #don't mind me #just putting this post back into the ecosystem!

24 notes · View notes

mindmoviemurderszine · 6 months

Text

Welcome to “The Mind Movie Murders,” the official rebrand and continuation of “Hillmount High Class of 2006,” the first fanzine for the Apple TV+ murder mystery comedy series “The Afterparty!”

With a new name and additional co-organizer, Bethany @silkchiffon, HH06 will now serve as part one of a two-act tragedy starring season’s one cast of characters, designed in the style of a high school yearbook with senior superlatives, while the second, an unnamed wedding scrapbook, features works for the second (and possibly final) season of the show.

As HH06 was about 75% complete at the time of our unofficial hiatus, we are more than thankful to be able to include all previously submitted works from our contributors, as well as open up the chance for more fans to join in on the high school reunion.

Applications for this free, volunteer collaboration between writers, artists, and video editors are now open through the following Google Form links: HH06 and Part 2—no previous zine experience required!

Please answer which characters you are interested in making content for, the size, length, and quantity of the pieces, your interest in connecting works with other contributors, etc.

Applications for both parts will close on November 30, 2023.

All submissions for HH06/Part 1 must be in by February 20, 2024, with an expected release date of March 4 (the same date as the S1 finale), while Part 2’s must be in by June 25, 2024, with an expected release date of July 12 (the same date as the S2 premiere).

The timelines are spaced so that fans can feel free to apply to one or both projects, depending on their personal preference. Full project schedules will also be available to view soon.

Join our Discord server and follow the official zine Twitter/X account for updates. Contributors are encouraged to participate in a Discord group chat to monitor progress and workshop ideas.

If you have any questions or concerns, please stay tuned for our upcoming Q&A and/or contact one of the co-organizers—Farida (Twitter), Rebekah @yasperly (Twitter: @Aftrprties), and/or Bethany (Twitter: @savesthecat).

#the afterparty #the after party #zine #yasper lennov #aniq adjaye #zoë zhu #grace zhu #edgar minnows #sebastian drapewood #detective danner

16 notes · View notes

bfpnola · 1 year

Text

Looking for free event and opportunity notifications? BFP has updated its event network so that notifications are no longer mixed up with tasks for our registered volunteers! If you’re always on the lookout for scholarship and career opportunities, social justice conferences to attend, protests around the world… This is for you! And don’t worry, many of these opportunities, if not most, are remote so you don’t have to worry about being too low on spoons to travel!

Like the picture above says, you can receive these notifications by texting “@bfpnetwork” to the number 81010 or by tapping this link here! Same concept as our old event network, just a new link so things are more organized!

Previous notifications have included:

international Free Palestine protests

giveaway for free crocheted packers

online workshop on the importance of libraries in the revolution

a psychiatric survivor zine searching for submissions

a webinar on navigating the housing crisis as part of the queer community

dental/oral harm reduction for those with eating disorders

local community forums on police abolition in the South of the United States

job applications opening for different activist organizations

And so much more!

#reaux speaks #resources #anti capitalism #black lives matter #queer #abolition #disability justice #fat liberation #neurodivergent #trans #protest #scholarship #application #adulting #intersectional feminism

43 notes · View notes

stonerzines · 1 year

Text

Hi hi hi!

I’m one of the founders/creators and current co-organiser of the SAD Fair! We’ve grown a lot in the past 4 years and I’m so honored every day to see what kind of community we’ve built where we can celebrate and financially support disabled artists around the world. We are one of the first, if not *the* first zine fest/craft fair to go completely virtual, and we’re staying that way! Here’s a bit about us:

The Sick And Disabled Zine & Craft Fair (SAD Fair) is a grassroots week-long virtual craft fair centering disabled, chronically ill, MAD, and neurodivergent zinesters and artists from around the world. Now in its fourth year, this access-centered zine and craft fair will feature free live events, workshops, virtual "tables", and a virtual sensory room. This event is open to ALL! Allies are welcomed and encouraged to attend!

This fair is for people to display their work and build community, in a space that pushes back against popular narratives of illness and disability being inspirational or sad. The fair is free to attend, with free crafting and learning opportunities, as well as plenty of low cost zines and art to buy.

Our project is rooted in revolutionary love and need for community care, representation, and art. As sick and disabled queer and trans people, art is how we have explored our lives in a society that tells us we are inferior, especially as we go into the fourth year of a global pandemic that disproportionately impacts the sick and disabled community.

Many of us have been excluded from in-person craft fairs due to inaccessibility and inadequate COVID-19 safety measures. Our experiences are unique but not isolated, and our ability to find connections through art is what motivates us to pursue projects like this zine and craft fair.

Anyway, come check out the Fair this year! We are going to have so many amazing vendors and I’m so so proud to be continuously involved in this project. Also vendor applications are currently open, as well as workshop host applications!

You can also support the Fair financially if you have the means by ko-fi (link), PayPal ([email protected]), GoFundMe (link), or venmo (@stonerzines with “SAD Fair” in the notes). Just because it’s virtual doesn’t mean it’s cheap 😅

36 notes · View notes

stevetonyzine · 11 months

Text

🌟 LEFTOVER SALES ARE OPEN 🌟

It's the moment you've been waiting for!

🛒Store @ https://stonyzine.bigcartel.com 🛒

You Gave Me a Home is a collective love letter Tony Stark & Steve Rogers. Within these pages, you’ll find a plethora of fanmade content exploring their relationship through the lens of multiple universes, where, against all odds, they always seem to find each other.

Originally a Kickstarter project from February 2021, we achieved our goal of raising enough funds to produce the book and its accompanying goods.

With our remaining stock of items, we hope to raise a substantial amount for our chosen charity, A Chance In Life.

❤️ Please note we have limited stock. Once we sell out of an item, that's it! ❤️

🔶 EARLY BIRD SPECIAL 🔶

The first 15 physical orders receive a free bookmark! These are the last bookmarks we have in stock, so don't miss out.

Continue Reading for contributor information and our store's offerings!

🔷 [$55] Together - Full Bundle 🔷 [1] Physical Copy of You Gave Me a Home: Steve & Tony Across the Multiverse [2] 2″ Avengers Academy Die-Cut Stickers [2] 1.5″ Steve & Tony Acrylic Charm Set [1] 2" Double-Sided Acrylic Charm [1] 4″ x 6″ Multiverse Sticker Sheet [3] Prints- MCU, 616 comic, and Avengers Academy [1] Charity Print (Exclusive to our leftover sale) [1] Linked Enamel Pin

[$5 Add-On] 20 x 12 cm Canvas Pouch

🔷 [$40] Winghead & Shellhead - Flat Bundle🔷 [1] Physical Copy of You Gave Me a Home: Steve & Tony Across the Multiverse [2] 2″ Avengers Academy Die-Cut Stickers [1] 4″ x 6″ Multiverse Sticker Sheet [3] Prints- MCU, 616 comic, and Avengers Academy [1] Charity Print

🔷 [$30] The Futurist & Man Out of Time - Zine Only🔷 [1] Physical Copy of You Gave Me a Home: Steve & Tony Across the Multiverse [1] Charity Print

🔷 [$12] Good Morning Beloved - NSFW Booklet Only🔷 [1] Physical Copy of Good Morning Beloved

🔷 [$15] Superhusbands - Digital Zine Only🔷 [1] PDF Edition of You Gave Me a Home: Steve & Tony Across the Multiverse

[$5 Add-On] PDF Edition of Good Morning Beloved - the NSFW booklet

🔷 [$10] Any Universe - Mystery Merch Bundle 🔷 [2] 2″ Avengers Academy Die-Cut Stickers [1] 4″ x 6″ Multiverse Sticker Sheet [1] Random Print (616 Comic or Avengers Academy) [1] Random Charm/Pin (Linked Enamel Pins, Steve/Tony Keychain Set, or the double-sided Stretch Goal Charm)

🔷 [$3+] The Workshop - Individual & Set Merch Options 🔷 [$8] Sticker Set: (2) 2" Die-Cut Stickers + 4 x 6" Sticker Sheet [$10] (2) 1.5 Double-Sided Keychain Set [$6] 2" Double-Sided Charm [$12] 1" Chain-Linked Enamel Pins (A-Grade) [$8] 1" Chain-Linked Enamel Pins (B-Grade) [$3 ] Print: Avengers Academy (Polaroid) [$3] Print: 616 (Halloween Party) [$5] Charity Print [$10] Canvas Pouch

Thank you to all the wonderful contributors for creating amazing content without which the zine would never have been a reality. Check them out below and shower them with all your love!

☆Writers☆

☆Artists☆

☆Merch Artists☆

Thank you for your support!

#stony #stevetony #superhusbands #marvel zine #marvel #fanzines #mcu #leftover sales #charity #zine #fanzine

33 notes · View notes

therealhanamaru · 9 months

Text

✨AHOY!✨ Comms are open till I say otherwise, up to 4 slots per month! Samples and brief info are included down below!

Check my website below for info about rates, terms and rules about my commission

📣Reblogs are much appreciated! 📭Feel free to DM me for inquiries

#commissions open #art commission

4 notes · View notes

mariacallous · 11 months

Text

Moldova has made progress towards improving legal protections for LGBT people as it seeks to join the EU. But anti-LGBT disinformation spread by politicians and Russian-language media is prevalent, while wider societal acceptance remains elusive.

On a recent Saturday evening, members of Chisinau’s LGBT community gathered in a small room to make signs for a pro-EU integration rally the following day. Splotches of glitter dusted the bare wooden floor, while magic markers squeaked across cardboard, and scissors cut star-shapes out of yellow paper. Hanging on the walls around them were works by a 19-year-old feminist artist. In one painting, a girl cries rainbow tears. In another, a woman lights her own cigarette as four male hands crowd into the frame offering lighters. The woman casually raises her middle finger, as if to say, “I can do it myself.” Welcome to Queer Café, Chisinau’s only dedicated LGBT venue, where they don’t actually serve food – it’s a ‘café’ in name only – but do offer acceptance and inclusivity. “We started with the idea that we need a safe space and that we could do something for the community that’s open weekly, to have cultural activities and be activists through a cultural perspective,” said Lorelei Grigorita, Queer Café’s 24-year-old administrator. The café, which marked its one-year anniversary in June, hosts a variety of events such as civil society talks, art exhibitions, language classes, cinema and theatre clubs, and workshops on everything from zine making to street art to Dungeons & Dragons. At least once a month, the quiet daytime space is transformed for nocturnal drag shows or parties DJ’ed by local talent.

“It inspires me a lot to see the huge steps that we are taking,” said Marín Bunescu, a 22-year-old regular at Queer Café. “This space is really, really important – it’s like a bit of sunlight in our dark society.” Spurred on by aspirations of one day joining the EU, Moldova has made notable progress to improve legal protections for LGBT people, as highlighted by a recent study. But anti-LGBT disinformation spread by politicians and in the Russian-language media remains prevalent, while wider acceptance in society continues to be elusive. A national survey in 2022 found that 64 per cent of respondents would prefer to “exclude” LGBT people from Moldova. Stela Pascal, a 40-year-old documentary filmmaker, has experienced those limits of acceptance. She transitioned during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and afterward started looking for jobs as a salesclerk or secretary. In the end, she gave up her job search after a spate of bad experiences and countless rejections. Often Pascal would initially be offered the job. “They would say, ‘We are taking you on, we like you.’ But when I provided my ID, they said, ‘No, sorry, we cannot hire you under these circumstances’,” she related. The reason was always that her identification documents still list her male birth name and sex, which she said are almost impossible to amend on government documents in Moldova.

At one store, she worked a full day only to be let go the following morning because of her ID. Another job she quit after being slapped by a co-worker. “Now I don’t even want to look for a regular job,” she said.

Public perceptions and propaganda

Discrimination of the sort that Pascal faced is common. And while stigmatisation of the LGBT community is already widespread in Moldova, negative perceptions are stoked by propaganda from Russian-language media and Kremlin-friendly politicians, according to Anastasiia Danilova, executive director of the Genderdoc-M Information Centre, which advocates for LGBT rights in Moldova.

“People remain homophobic and transphobic because of different political forces and public figures who repeat stereotypes and prejudices against LGBT people,” said Danilova. “It is very comfortable for them to have a common enemy, in this case LGBT people, and to manipulate this opinion of society to win votes.”

Their goal, Danilova explained, is to keep society fearful that if Moldova moves closer ideologically to Europe, then all the liberal European values that conservative Moldovans disapprove of, including those related to LGBT rights, will take root in Moldova.

“It’s very hard for us to fight against this huge machine of propaganda because it’s very well organised and very well funded,” Danilova added.

By the fact of its mere existence, Queer Café counterbalances negative perceptions of the LGBT community and helps create bridges to mainstream society in Moldova, said Elvira Drangoi, Queer Café’s community manager.

“One of the main goals of Queer Café is to make allies,” Drangoi said, pointing out that its events, workshops and clubs – which draw a mixed crowd of LGBT and heterosexual attendees – provide a space for dialogue and interactions that might not otherwise take place.

Heteroexual Moldovans who come to Queer Café often know very little about LGBT people or believe in the stereotypes that they’ve grown up with. “But when they come here and talk to people from the community, they can see we are just people,” Drangoi said. The café’s tight knit “family”, as Drangoi calls it, also takes part in public demonstrations such as the pro-EU integration rally organised by Moldova’s pro-Western government, on May 21. More than a dozen from Queer Café joined the rally with handmade signs, bearing messages like “UE Accept Our Friend Request,” or “Moldova Has a Crush on UE”, referring to the EU’s name in Romanian, Uniunea Europeana.

Drangoi said it felt important to show their support at the rally, “because being in the European Union is about having your human rights respected, about not being discriminated against”, and about pursuing the right to same-sex marriages.

Improving legal protections

Moldova has arguably already made significant gains on improving LGBT rights as it seeks to turn its candidate status into full EU membership. In 2022, Moldova’s government amended the country’s criminal code to include more explicit protections for LGBT people, specifically mentioning sexual orientation and gender identity. And last year marked Moldova’s largest and longest Pride march to date.This year’s is planned for June 18.

“It’s a very good sign, another proof that Moldova really wants to be closer to Europe and protect people despite their sexual orientation and gender identity,” Danilova said.

However, hate crimes targeting the LGBT community continue to take place, though many go unreported. Exact figures are hard to come by, as the police don’t compile such data.

“People are really afraid to report those cases even to us, but we know that hate crimes based on sexual orientation and gender identity still happen in Moldova,” Danilova said.

Already this year, for example, Queer Café has been threatened online and had to contend with hate speech at some events.

In another case documented by Genderdoc-M, a 27-year-old trans woman was assaulted in April by four teenagers on a trolleybus and again after she exited the bus. The youths pulled her hair, made derogatory remarks, and then dumped polyurethane on her head. The substance hardened and could not be washed out, so her hair had to be cut off.

Beyond Chisinau

Outside the capital, homophobia is even more deeply ingrained in society. Over 96 per cent of the population of Moldova are Orthodox Christians, and it remains a socially conservative society marked by intolerance towards minorities of all kinds, especially LGBT people.

In Balti, around 130 kilometres northwest of Chisinau, very few LGBT people are comfortable being open about their status. “In Chisinau, people are more accepting of the LGBT community, but in Balti it’s still like a city from the Soviet Union,” said Valeria Bejenaru, the 25-year-old manager of Safe Space Balti, a pilot project that has been operating since November 2022.

Much of Balti’s population is influenced by anti-LGBT propaganda and cling to stereotypes leftover from the days of the Soviet Union. Consequently, while Safe Space Balti hosts regular events, they remain far more low-key than at Queer Café.

Some LGBT people are even hesitant to attend the events “because they are afraid someone will follow them and see where they are going,” said Bejenaru. Others ask that the door remain closed so outsiders can’t see inside or wander in off the street.

In the coming months, Safe Space Balti will hold outreach events in an effort to improve public perceptions of LGBT people. “If no one is talking to them, if no one is showing them the right way, they are going to stay close minded,” said Bejenaru, stressing the need for more funding and support for safe spaces in cities outside the capital.

Back in Chisinau, Pascal, who has long since given up on applying for day jobs, is now pursuing documentary filmmaking.

With encouragement from Grigorita and others, she took part in a workshop through the Queer Voices International Film Festival last year. Her film, about the difficulties trans people face in Moldova, won the top prize. She is now working on a full-length 90-minute film.

She credits the support she received at Queer Café with helping her find her purpose. “I got out of my depression because I have work to do, because I am working on my film,” said Pascal.

6 notes · View notes

lucianbarbu · 7 months

Text

June Log

Starting this month on June 1st, with the help of @indecisartistrun, and @mimiciora we did a collaborative colouring book with he children from their community. Everyone filled the page with what they would take with them when they inevitably have to move to space. The book is in the shape of a rocket to help them in thgeur space explorations 🚀

The editorial illustration I made for a rather heartbreaking text written by Alexandra Voivozeanu for AnthroArt. You can read it in full here. I also recommend browsing their articles for more insightful texts and drawings into different social and environmental anthropological issues.

Had to get back to Cluj-Napoca, where I prepared a little book with sketches, ideas and in-process projects for ArtiViStory's exhibition: UNBOXED STORIES - Urban comics with ArtiViStory Collective. The little blue zine takes the shape of a silkworm and is titled: The last sleep in my silk cocoon.

Getting back to Cluj meant that I could finally pick up the drawings I made in collaboration with Anca, that she gracefully left at our old apartment when she passed by. The drawings are an ongoing collaborative project, started by Ana Kun and Covrig (Anca Dima), called Half&Half. Each artist that takes part in it has to make two half-drawings that will be finished by another artist of their choice, both getting to keep one of them at the end.

Got back to Timișoara and drew this along with Ana, as preparation for a bigger project that will have us draw together on a huge piece of paper.

The Balamuc residency got us all together again for a Weidly-shaped-Zine workshop I conducted as part of the 9 public events of the program. Thanks to everyone who attended for your openness ad creativity :o)

Happened to find myself in Bucharest at the end of June, so I had to visit Covrig at her studio, which was the main place in which I hanged out while Gavril was putting up his stunning duo show with Giulia Crețulescu at Ivan Gallery. She was kind enough to let me use her aerograph, here are some drawings I made. While there, Alin from BooksForFriends brought me the riso posters we collaborated on. The prints are made after a digital drawing I made around Easter, printed in three colours on 42x30cm paper. They can still be bought from either me or from BFF's page.

While on a mini Bucharest vacation, I found some time to inaugurate the big, scary A4 sketchbook I've been carrying around for a few months.

Had to rush back to Timișoara to organise my last solo workshop within the Balamuc Make a Wish Residency. Based on a huge map I drew as a kid of places where I'd like to escape to, I created a workshop in which we all work on a collaborative map of recurrent dream locations. Similar to the places that I'd draw on the map when I was 9, this map also includes fantastical places that serve as an escape to the adult world, in our dreams. I posted my contributions.

Thanks to Flo from The Secret Garden, I received the first prints of my speculative gouache book, Who is Adriana?. I made this book during my Erasmus scholarship at Academia de Belle Arti in Bari, trying to explore what could be the identity of Adriana, the name that my neighbour screamed for every night. I never expected this project to gain as much popularity as it got, but the pleasantly good reception gave me the right kind of push to print it in order for people to have their own copy as well.

2 notes · View notes

futelco · 1 year

Text

Druids of Sisyphus Gardens Log

Like most years before it, 2022 was a fantastic year to be Druids in the woods. We enjoyed all the calls we received, even when the Callers needed to “talk at” more than “talk”. This year we worked on a very quick explanation for callers thinking they called a wrong number. We love accidental calls too!

2/10 Voicemail. “Hello, my personal teleportation device has apparently left me in Portland, Oregon, in the year 2022. It is approximately-“ click

3/16 Caller just wanted to thank me or anyone for the Futel node on Taylor. Said they just have a burner phone, and Futel is just great.

4/8 Voicemail. “The prisoners have escaped from Sub-Unit 4 Alpha! Please initiate aerial search immediately! …Just kidding, this is a prank.”

4/10 Caller and I said “hi” and “hello” to each other four or five times. The traffic was really loud, but the caller was happy to have a new Futel in the neighborhood. We chatted about the weather and the Party Line zine. Caller claimed to be the printer. We wished each other great days.

4/28 Voicemail. “Keep pushing those trees up the hill!”

5/28 Operator called, and it was the clearest sounding Futel call ever. Hope those phone sanitation stations are still active. Save the human family.

6/28 (Caller was laughing throughout the entire call.) “Who is this?” The Druid of Sisyphus Gardens. “What is this?” A free phone, you can call anyone for free. “Free? I just put in a dime (haha)” You didn’t have to. “Why would anyone need this? (hah)” Well, not everyone has a cell phone. “But how does anyone make money off of this?” It’s a non-profit. “Now that’s how you make money, non-profits. (haha!)”

6/26 Caller from Detroit reported that it was actually hot in Detroit. Said that they had been to the Shakespeare festival in southern Oregon, and that they are really stoked about a working street phone. We co-lamented about the loss of the last working street phone in NYC.

6/30 A senior in high school was looking for Druidic advice. We spoke of school, hiking, and taking time out for friends.

7/17 Detroit called looking for the Druid, I confirmed it was the Druid. It was 89℉ in Detroit and 90℉ here. We talked about the weather, fire, and life. “OK.”

8/9 Portland caller wanted to visit the Druids. I asked if they knew anything about our woods, or if they were a random stranger. They knew about it from Futel, and are scared of the internet and the I-5. I gave them instructions anyway. As of 1/7/23 they haven’t shown up.

Sometime in late summer, I obtained a secret way to call the Upright Futel rotary phone. I called just as they had just repaired the phone moments before, coincidentally. The Upright operator was confused as to how the Druid was calling just then, and confused me in turn, and then a mob of customers entered, immediately ending the call.

9/3 Caller wanted to visit the Druids’ meditation retreat in Forest Park. This place does not exist, and I could not provide further information or wisdom to their inquiries. They asked if there is an option to call a priest instead.

9/25 Voicemail. “Who ARE you?” followed by “The Girl from Ipanema” for a full minute.

11/11 Answered as the Druid of Sisyphus Gardens. “I was trying to call myself” I explained that I was not them, but they weren’t sure. I told them that it would be really weird if I was, and maybe this was a missed connection with their True Self. Then they handed the receiver to their friend, and I explained what happened to their friend, as they explained it “telephone-style” to them/me/us. “Thanks!”

11/5 Caller was looking for Brad. They told me Brad was the one with the knowledge. When it was clear I didn’t know Brad, they recited a long poem and then asked what I was doing. I told them I was chilling with my sweetie and they asked about my favorite things to do. I told them about building animal habitat sculptures. They thanked me for doing that, and then started joke-workshopping for a future open mic standup, and after that, another long poem. Then they asked me to send them money. No way, I replied. So they offered to volunteer. I directed them to the website.

11/5 The same caller regaled both Druids on our “party line” - a new feature, we added another phone to the kitchen. Regaling us, all while the Futel line constantly rang loudly for another line, that no one ever answered. More poetry and jokes in between dialing tones. Caller said they pressed over 30 buttons before reaching us.

11/5 Same caller spoke to the Druids of poetry, jokes, life and their health issues while drinking vodka. I thought these calls would automatically hang up after 15 minutes.

11/5 Same caller thought I was a different operator. Said that they had just talked to two people out in the woods and if I minded if they drank during the call. They started telling me the same jokes they were workshopping, and if I wanted to hear a poem. I said “no”, and hung up.

11/5 Probably the same caller. Picked up the receiver, then hung it up.

8 notes · View notes

archivecon · 3 months

Text

Panelist Registration Forms Now Live!

The Magnus Archives/Protocol/RQ Network-themed topics, like deep dives into characters and meta

A focus on podcast-making, like sound editing, writing, or voice-acting, whether it be about TMA/TMP, another podcast, or a general overview

Fandom history

Queerness in fandom

Creative fannish endeavors, like zines, fic-binding, fanfic, fanart, etc

Ship manifestos

And more!

Please go to our site here for more info, and register your panel here! You may also want to check out last year’s schedule, to get an overview of what others have done. Panel registration will be open from now until May 12th, with acceptance emails sent out by May 26th. [Reminder that ArchiveCon is a free, fan-run, totally online convention dedicated to The Magnus Archives and The Magnus Protocol. You must be registered and over 18 years of age to attend and participate].

#tma #the magnus archives #tmp #the magnus protocol #tmagp #magnuspod

19 notes · View notes

peemotikeskus · 1 year

Text

Zine'ide loomise töötuba / Zine workshop

FB ürituse link / FB event link: https://fb.me/e/4hQpp7Y0a

🇪🇪 EST

Zine’ide töötuba tuleb taas!

Millal? 25. märtsil kl 17:00 Kus? Peemoti keskuses, Kalevi 15, Tartu

💡 Kas tahad luua omaenda lühikoomiksi, DIY kogu luuletustest, jagada oma kirjutisi füüsilises formaadis või lihtsalt õppida uut toredat viisi kunsti luua? 📎 Siis tule järgmisel laupäeval (25.03) meie zine'ide loomise töötuppa!

Töötoa esimeses pooles õpetame seda, kuidas zine'e tehakse, peale mida võivad kõik ise oma zine'e valmistada. 🖍

✂️ Kunstitarbed on olemas kohapeal, kuid võid ka ise markereid, pliiatseid, kääre, liimi, ajakirju jms kaasa võtta. ✏️

Projekti (ja seda üritust!) rahastab EMP toetuste Aktiivsete Kodanike Fond, mida vahendab Avatud Eesti Fond koostöös Vabaühenduste Liiduga. 💜

🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

🇬🇧 ENG

Zine workshop is happening again!

When? March 25th, at 17:00 Where? Behemoth's centre, Kalevi 15, Tartu

💡 Want to make your very own short comic, DIY collection of poems, distribute your literary creations in physical form or just learn a fun art skill? 📎 Then come to our workshop next Saturday (25/03) to learn how to make zines!

There will be a technical demonstration in the first part of the workshop, after which participants will be able to experiment and create their very own zines freely. 🖍

✂️ Art supplies will be provided on site, but you can bring your own markers, pencils, scissors, glue, magazines, etc. ✏️

The project (and this event!) is funded by the Active Citizens Fund of the EEA Grants, operated in Estonia by the Open Estonia Foundation in consortium with the Network of Estonian Non-profit Organisations. 💜

#peemoti keskus #peemotikeskus #tartu

4 notes · View notes

queenaeducan · 1 year

Text

2022 Writing Round-Up

I’m combining two memes. One I stole from @fiadhaisteach and the second I was tagged by @rosella-writes and @kittynomsdeplume!

Words posted: 29,339 (not including tumblr-only DADWC)

Additional Words Written: At least 6000 more, probably more like 7000-8000 but I don’t want to go wrangle down snippets.

Grand total of words: 35339 or something idk

Fandoms: 2 (although I have snippets for 4)

Highest Kudos: Remembering Well was not written this year b/c it was for a zine, but it was posted this year and has 22 kudos. Of things written/posted tho it’d be Because I Asked (explicit just fyi!) at 17.

Highest Hit Oneshot: Because I Asked at 217

New Things I Tried: I started posting my first long fic and published my first explicit/nsfw fanfic on AO3! I also can’t say writing gen fic was new but looking at what I wrote I really leaned into that this year which is exciting.

Fic I Spent the Most Time On: Probably The Ascent by virtue of it being a multi-chapter.

Fic I Spent the Least Time On: The Storyteller’s Game from my Tales of Fen’Harel work I wrote in an hour or so.

Favorite Thing I Wrote: Idk I’m rly fond of this passage from The Ascent of Solas and Thora coming to Cadash Thaig.

Solas takes the corner quickly, and grinds to a halt just as fast. Thora stands yards ahead, stunned to a standstill. Dust rises where she stopped, suspended in the air like a moment frozen in time, draped in daylight.

The Deep Roads, in their unknowable depths, have changed again.

Great chasms in the earth lend lease to the rising sun, grassy patches of green growing where the light strikes the stone. Beyond two guardian statues bearing sigiled shields, the roads open into streets lined with buildings: market stalls, workshops, and places he does not yet have a name for. But this place they’ve come to has a name, and they both know it.

“This is it.” Certainty steadies the Inquisitor’s words otherwise beset by passion. Still, she trembles. He lays a hand upon her shoulder and she settles beneath it. The trail of dust seems to extend up to greet the sky, like a staircase into the thaig.

“We’re here.”

Favorite Thing I Read: I received some really, really special gifts this year from the exchanges I was in, but most special of all was Comrades in Arms, Brothers in Broken Chains by @dreadfutures. It’s about Felassan and the ancient rebels of Fen’Harel. I also received proserpine, a beautiful F!Shepard/Samara gift for the Mass Effect exchange I was in by CoaxionUnlimited

Writing Goals for 2023: Work on my long fic some more, write for different fandoms

New Works: 14, including works reposted to AO3 but not including DADWC that aren’t on AO3.

Tagging: @ineedmyknightcommander, @delicatefade, @rakshadow, @mxkelsifer No pressure for anyone who doesn’t care to do this, I wasn’t sure if I should do it myself and I know these sorts of wraps can elicit bad feelings if you engage in them at the wrong time. Also feel free to tag me if you want to post your responses even if I didn’t tag you!

#i am not prolific and thats ok i say to myself over and over as i type up this post #tas talks #long post #if you look at the ratings they eventually spell EGG. i cannot believe i egg-joked myself #my writing

6 notes · View notes