Self-Publishing Seminar

We had our second self-publishing seminar this morning and we had almost an entirely different group of girls. Last week, the first day we were to make zines (following my very personal introduction to the medium, which took a day seeing as how I had to delve into sweatshop economics, etc., etc.), the girls all got very excited about drawing. They haven't taken art classes since secondary school! And they are pretty talented. So one girl drew a zine about flowers. One drew pictures of things she liked to draw pictures of. Awesome. That is even what it is called. Meng Hun drew landscapes of Cambodia that are clearly identifiable as such. And Panha drew a day in the life of a monk. But she did not finish it. So today, Savada came and drew a zine about coinning (koh-an ing), which is something the girls do when they are sick. It's kind of like a massage, actually, and probably if nothing else works as a relaxer if you are getting sick or something, but you basically sort of scrape lightly the skin in a certain direction, at least according to the zine. And Vanya drew a zine teaching us hiow to make a certain Cambodian dish. She put her email all up in there too in case you have further questions.

Next up, we decided to do a group project on the Chbop Sirei, which translates into Girl Law. It was a rulebook written in 1837 (I think?) by the king, and prescribes all sorts of great rules for young Cambodian women. Things like, When the woman walks, her skirt must not make noise. I mean, one of the girls even has a copy of it, here in her dorm room. Some of them are good, they say, and some not so good.

So anyway the girls maybe want to rewrite it. Or parts of it.

So: If there are individuals out there who wants zines who aren't already on my mailing list (all the places I went on my Unmarketable tour in November will get zines, for example, as will the arts orgs I regularly work with: Mess Hall, HOTCAKES, and a few select individuals whom I''ve asked for addresses) you're gonna have to Paypal me a few bucks for postage. (I'd originally hoped to set up a trade, but receiving mail here is a totally unreliable gambit, unless you happen to be married to the postman.) Here's the addy: aem at anneelizabethmoore dot com. If you're confused about whether or not you're on the list, email me!