ARTISTS TALKING

# 1 [30 September 2009]

How Cheap Started

So what is Cheap? Cheap started as a zine ran by myself and my partner Nikki Marie Jackson. We'd seen a video at the Cornerhouse about Miranda July's Joanie 4 Jackie. She was bored of being the only female video artist she knew so through advertising in galleries etc. she had other female video artists send her their videos which were then returned with films by several other artists on them as well. It worked very simply to show people what else was out there, to create a platform to show their work and an opportunity to meet like-minded individuals. It also gradually evolved with screenings, live performances, talks and now Miranda July is a fairly established director (check out you, me, and everyone we know it's a great film).

So yes, this is what we wanted to do. We wanted meet new people and show others as we knew there was an entire world going to waste on myspace. So this is what we did, we started Cheap Magazine. Cheap because that was what it was, it was made cheaply on black and white photocopiers and even funded by the artists at first (as most of them were friends) and distributed freely around Manchester galleries and shops (and because people don't take much notice of art as it is, let alone if you have to pay for it!). We made a magazine because that was most suitable as we are both image makers and it is what interests us the most.

We went on like this for about the first four months/issues before we started making changes. Firstly we realized that a lot of other people made similar things to us and that there was infact a whole world of zines, so we became Cheap Zine, because it is more appropriate, only a little change I know but I believe this recognition is still important in understanding a context. Secondly we started making digital copies of every zine so they didn't just die after their first run because they got lost or crinkled. Thridly we started charging, still a small fee so we stayed cheap but a fee none-the-less. This allowed us to stop charging artists to make the zine and then the submissions began rolling in. And this leads us very nicely onto our next post...

# 2 [30 September 2009]

The Artists and Contributors

When we started out we just showed people we knew because we knew them which was no bad thing, but we just didn't know anybody else. Once it became free to submit this is when I feel we started getting much more response, much more positive feedback and generally more success.

So we started trawling through literally thousands of image makers on the pages of myspace and then showed our favourites every other month. Which is pretty much what we do with the zine now still. However we have noticed fashions and trends as we have emmerced ourselves in this world, and this is perhaps the most important thing of all.

From the off we have been open to anything visual from paintings, drawings and illustrations to photography, film stills, writings etc., just as long as it works well in black and white. What we have found though is that there is a new (though not really new) kind of image maker that dominates over all.

I think the best way to describe it is as a kind of post-pop illustrational practice. There are several characteristics many of these image makers have in common. The first is that of taking popular culture as a visual language whether it be news and magazine images, cartoons and movie posters or the art historical and feudal Japaese design. The second is the mixing of media and style, again taken from any amount of different sources such as graphic novels or expressionist painting. Thridly is that most of these makers couple gallery and more traditional art based works with their illustrative and design practises, there is no hierarchy between practise and many make products too. The aesthetic side ensures an appeal, an understanding and a relevance to masses of people that quite frankly a lot of artists cannot boast and the blending of their personal and commercial practises goes to furthering and promoting themselves as artists, and why not if this does not compromise their artistic integrity? Image makers we have worked with as examples: Simon Corry, Cake (Stephanie Homa), Steve Rack, Dario Molinaro and George Mitchell

These are the image makers we are interested in now. It is a movement which is perhaps the most important in the world as people are interested in it without even knowing it as so many of these illustrators and designers are already integrated into our conscious. It is a young movement and there is lots of developments to come as it finds its footing and is recognized (check out The Upset and Illustration Play to read more on it). And this is what Cheap zine now chronicles and aims to reflect it with its own involvement in similar activities, events and writings which leads us to our next post.

# 3 [30 September 2009]

Integrating into the public conscious

In a similar way to that of the artists we publish we want our work to take many different guises and combine and involve many different areas of popular culture and entertainment so they can be looked at in similar terms, understood and enjoyed more widely. We had Cheap Zine but that wasn't enough, we wanted to be involved in more to draw attention to new image making as important yet fun and accessible so for this to work we needed more coverage.

The first thing we were involved in was an event in the Netherlands called ShopStop which was set up and ran by our friend Yvonne Klasen whom we met through Cheap Zine. The event encompassed drawing, installation, music, fashion and obviously shops and although we unfortunately couldn't attend were are led to believe it was a success (and I presume it was as it was their third event within eighteen months). This was the kind of thing we wanted to be doing, setting up events that would bring people with all kinds of different cultural interests together because although art, fashion etc. are not all the same they can be a lot closer than people think and mutually beneficial and there are places where they overlap.

We had already began to make Cheap products to promote ourselves a little bit more such as badges and stickers and then we heard about ANTIFREEZE 2009, an art car boot sale set up by artist group Contents May Vary which gave us a chance to sell our zines, existing products and tote bags and meet some new people. It was around this time too that we got involved with Alice Bradshaw's Temporary Art Space in a zine show and a group exhibition (one of our zines already being there when we arrived and not by us!).

The next thing to be added to the Cheap oveur was critical writing in the form of a review of a group show of new image making called inkygoodness 3: Wonderland (which can be read here: http://www.a-n.co.uk/interface/reviews/single/563904), a new feature and hopefully a constant on a-n and the Cheap blog and myspace. This is important as there isn't much writing out there on new image making and it is needed to develop and help give context to this movement. A future review for a book by Michael Dhillon is also soon to be published online at the author's request to show the opinions of people outside the literary field.

The latest thing to be added to the Cheap roster has been creative fair A Cheap Affair, ran by us and hosted by Islington Mill which brought together art, craft and fashion and there are plans for future events also including live music.

So this is how we approach Cheap now, with the Zine and products, events and exhibitions and critical writing.

If you want to know more check the updates or blog at:

http://cheapzine.blogspot.com/

or email us at:

cheap-magazine@live.com

# 4 [1 October 2009]

Weekly Update 28/9/09

Issue 8 will be out soon! This issue will have work from Hannah Rowlands, Elle Teague and the first works of a two-parter from Mario Kolaric!!

Also we have a give away to the first half dozen customers of issue 8 who will win a copy of the new book from Michael Dhillon: The Cuckoo Parchment and the Dyke to promote his new nano fiction project, more on that soon along with a review of the book online.

In other news Cheap tote bags will be on sale soon from the store. Also we will have a review of inkygoodness 3: Wonderland up next week. AAAnd we're looking for people's work for the next issue so drop us an email and show us what you're doing:-

cheap-magazine@live.com

We're after doodles, paintings, writings or any other images/visuals. black and white a5 please and send us at least two images.

Happy scribbling

Tommy and Nikki

# 5 [7 October 2009]

Cheap Weekly Update 7/10/09

Hey Everyone

Welcome to this weeks bulletin!!

As promised Cheap Zine issue 8 is now on sale and the first 6 people to buy their copy will receive a free copy of Michael Dhillon's fantastic new book about dada, art and revolution The Cuckoo Parchment and the Dyke (review to come on Friday!). Contributors to the new issue are:

Hannah Rowlands, Kef, Solen Last, Elle Teague, Meeshle, Rose Greenfield, Alistair McInnes, Abe Honest, Jack Edwards and Daniel Bird and the first part of a two-parter from Mario Kolaric!

Head on over here for your copy:
http://cheapzine.bigcartel.com/

Also to be released this Friday is Tommy Eugene Higson's review of the awesome show which was inkygoodness 3: Wonderland, keep your eyes on them!

Information about our future fair at the lovely and very cool Islington Mill in Salford will be announced this weekend/early next week so keep listening to find out how to get involved.

And finally, as always, we want your work to show the world :) We're after doodles, paintings, writings or any other images/visuals. black and white a5 portrait please and send us at least two images, you get two pages but we like choice.

Email: cheap-magazine@live.com

Also if you want anything promoting, anything you are involved in or doing or making give us a shout and we will do our very best to help.

So until next weekish,

Have fun!

Tommy and Nikki

# 6 [12 October 2009]

Weekly Bulletin 12/10/09 Fair Info

Hello all,

Today we put up the inkygoodness 3: Wonderland review to the blog and the blog space on myspace so check it out if you haven't already! Review of Michael Dhillon's The Cuckoo Parchment and the Dyke will be up on Wednesday, an addictive read and we still have a few copies left to giveaway with issue 8 of Cheap Zine so get yours whilst you can!!

http://cheapzine.bigcartel.com/

Also Tommy Eugene Higson's first zine is now on sale:

http://tommyeugenehigson.bigcartel.com/

In more news A Cheap Affair our creative fair at Islington Mill in Salford is to be a monthly event, taking place on the first Sunday of every month (apart from January which will be the second) times tbc.

So we are looking for people to be involved for the first new event (6th December). We ask for proposals no more than one side of a4 and a few images or a web link so we can see your work. We don't want intense essays we just want to know what you do. We want designers, illustrators, artists, clothes makers etc. we want a wide variety! We will let you know if you are successful either way. The deadline is 8th November and if you are successful you will be alloted a 2m x 2m space for your stall, you must bring you own table (we simply do not have supply) and will have to pay £5 for use of your space (you keep all your profits). For more info see the blog or blog space on myspace or give us a shout!


And finally, as always, we want your work to show the world :) We're after doodles, paintings, writings or any other images/visuals. black and white a5 portrait please and send us at least two images, you get two pages but we like choice (and there is still space in November's issue so if you send us something by Friday 16th October you may well be in the next issue!!)

Email: cheap-magazine@live.com

Also if you want anything promoting, anything you are involved in or doing or making give us a shout and we will do our very best to help.

So until next weekish,

Have fun!

Tommy and Nikki

# 7 [16 October 2009]

The Cuckoo Parchment and the Dyke paints a fictitious reality lived by thousands of artists, the romantic; drinking, whoring, seclusion and strife to change the world. Very real current issues are raised pertaining to the purpose and functionality of art and its omnipotence, the importance of artist popularity and misinterpretation, the brutality of sensationalism and the violence of revolution via extremes akin to that of Watchmen or V for Vendetta. Michael Dhillon's adventure excites and grips as it unfolds and tangles you in its complexity of issues, what should an artist be? what will someone do to be remembered? how complicated is morality? -Tommy Eugene Higson

# 8 [21 October 2009]

Weekly bulletin 21/10/09

Hello all,

Hope everyone's had a good week, so, straight into it. If you've not already read or don't already know the inkygoodness 3: Wonderland review is now up on our myspace blog as is our review for Michael Dhillon's The Cuckoo Parchment and the Dyke (there's still a couple of copies up for grabs so get on it!)

Also if you check out our various sites and myspace things are pretty up-to-date, there's preview images of all the issues for sale on the shop at concrete hermit as well as in our images folder on myspace. Also from the myspace blogs links to the artists sites are working so you can check them out a bit more. Link buttons to a history of Cheap and our blog are now also up and running which can also be found here:

http://www.a-n.co.uk/artists_talking/projects/sing...

and here:

http://cheapzine.blogspot.com/

and next week we shall be announcing issues 9's creatives.

We are also still after proposals for our next creative fair at Islington Mill in Salford on Sunday 6th December so if your interested check out more info on the myspace blog or blog and give us a shout.

In other news Cut-Click issue 13: Text is out now for free download and features work from our Tommy Eugene Higson and Simon Corry amongst others (Oliver 'mon53' Smith I think is pretty cool) so check it out:

http://www.cut-click.co.uk/

And finally our friend Dario Molinaro has finally announced his first solo show info in Italy from 7th of November till 5th December, check out our myspace photos for the flyer and more info.

That's all for another week folks, have fun, stay safe,

Tommy and Nikki

# 9 [29 October 2009]

Weekly Bulletin 29/10/09

Hello

Good week? Us too. So first things first, there's only one copy left of Michel Dhillon's The Cuckoo Parchment and the Dyke to giveaway so first come, first served.

Right on to business, We're still looking for people to be involved in our fair this Christmas at Islington Mill in Salford, it's on Sunday 6th December and it's going to be great, we already have about 20 stalls so get on it! Give us an email for more details or just tell us what you make/sell if you want to get involved:

cheap-magazine@live.com

As we've mentioned Cheap will be changing and expanding in the next few months so we can now let you know there's an interview with inkygoodness in the pipeworks so watch out!!

Also Cheap zine is going to go through drastic changes, we can't let you know yet but we can give you the line-up for issue 9 which will be released on the 11th November:

Mario Kolaric (part two!!)
George Mitchell
Brett Manning
Ashley Fauguel
Billy Anderson Barnes
Laura Skilbeck
Sakura
David Procter
Claudio Parentela
and the first of a two parter from Steve Tillotson!!

In other news our Tommy Eugene Higson has had his first set of bags approved and are now on sale on envelop so check out:

http://www.envelop.eu/shop/designers/p/detail/tomm...

We have also recently met and befriended Zine Friendly so head on over here for all your latest zine news and events info:

http://zinefriendly.wordpress.com/news/

We'd also like to mention a couple of issue 9 artists, first Brett Manning who has just expanded her already beautiful range of tees on etsy and Red Bubble and secondly Billy Anderson Barnes who has a very cool range of prints available from his online shop, head to their respective sites to shop:

http://brettisagirl.com/

and

http://sumocloud.com/

Aaand finally! if you're in Manchester this Saturday pop down to Islington Mill in Salford, there's and exhibition opening of new work from Rob Treen, Liam Harrion, Polly Steiner and Nelson Ferryman 6-9 and a live drawing and sound performance collaboration between Rachel Goodyear and Lee Paterson 7.30-9.30!! For more info:

http://www.concretehermitnetwork.com/events/event/...

and

http://www.islingtonmill.com/events.php

And that's all for this week, thanks for listening!!

Tommy and Nikki

# 10 [5 November 2009]

Weekly update 5/11/09

Hello

Not lots this week. First A Cheap Affair Christmas, the deadline for proposals is this Sunday so anyone who is interested should get on to us quick! email:

 cheap-magazine@live.com

For anyone on flickr we have now made the Cheap social uploading network platform group to act as an online gallery open to anyone and everyone (as not everyone can fit into one bi-monthly zine!!) Go here to join or browse:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/cheap-zine/

In other news our good and very talented friend Anthony T W Myers has just released his first zine Honest which you can get a copy of here:

http://honest.bigcartel.com/

There's a fair few things going on/releasing this week too, tomorrow (Friday 6th) Bazar Tremulo 4: Nowhere comes out and you can view this online here (for any English-only speakers you may be better searching Bazar Tremulo on google and pressing the translate button!):

http://www.bazartremulo.com/

Saturday this week is a big day, firstly Dario Molinaro's first solo exhibition is opening which will be amazing!! If you're in Benevento, Italy pop in and say hi from us! Also on Saturday is Manchester Artists' Book Fair which will be a good, fun, interesting day. One person who will just happen to be there is Abi Whitehouse and her wonderful new issue of Doodlezine which will include... Nikki Marie Jackson!! You can also grab a copy here:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Doodlezine

Good times, good times,

Speak to you next week people!

Tommy and Nikki

ps. we've just found it's real funny if you copy and paste the bulletin into a word document and make your computer read it to you :)