Shelby x Sassify Zine

Zine

Apr 19

ABOUT SAssify Zine

Sassify Zine is an award winning collaborative, Not- For-Profit Queer culture print magazine luxuriating in queer art and sassiness.

Each thematic issue is printed annually, where we give a platform to local and international art from both established and up-and-coming LGBTQ+ artists, who are at the forefront of what we do to raise awareness, kinship and safe spaces through creativity.

SHARING DIVERSE LGBTQ+ VOICES.

We interviewed Jason Jason Kattenhorn, Editor-In- Chief and Illustrator at Sassify Zine, as part of our research for the Bristol + Bath Creative R+D programme to find out more about their work and how it relates to the topic of Amplified Publishing.

Shelby X: Where does the name Sassify Zine come from? We'd love to hear how and why the zine started and know more about who's behind the brand...

Jason: The name of Sassify is just an amalgamation of Sassy and Satisfy. A couple of friends and I were playing around with names for the zine many years ago and Sassify just seemed to fit.

The zine started as a way for me to showcase my own artwork and to work with other artists in a time where I needed to be in control of where my work was seen as well as giving a space for other artists to showcase their work. It was during this time I started to openly navigate my queer journey, and with each passing issue I have tried connect with my own queerness as well as with other queer artists.

My queer journey so is is very complicated and I try to reflect this in the illustration work I create. The zine is something I use to challenge my own misconceptions and to give everyone the tools to become a better ally by relearning everything we think we know about the LGBTQ+ community.

Shelby X: What are your thoughts on the role of zine-making in celebrating and communicating LGBTQ+ narratives?

Jason: Zines are vital because they give us the tools to tell our queer stories, and to show our queer creations directly from the community without them being watered down for mass consumption. Sassify has given me a way to explore and challenge my own queer thoughts and narratives because I have got to work with some amazing LGBTQ+ visionaries over the years. They inspire me to create thought provoking and challenging artwork. Zines can be whatever you want them to be and that is fantastic.

Shelby X: What is the role of community and creativity in what you do at Sassify Zine? Do you think they help to make activism more accessible?

Jason: Community is so important in what I do with Sassify and my queer creativity in general as I want to enhance solidarity: through Sassify I want to change attitudes towards LGBTQ+ people both within and outside of that community. Changes in social diversity seem threatening at first, and I hope to give everyone the tools to become a better ally by relearning everything we think we know about the LGBTQ+ community.

I try to give back the benefits of my own privilege to other creatives. Due to inequalities within the arts, we continue to see a lack of access to LGBTQ+ art and storytelling in the mainstream media. Sassify always prioritises sharing the voices of people who experience racism, identify as gender diverse or transgender, are disabled, experience learning difficulties or come from a disadvantaged background.

Shelby X: Could you talk about the Queer Creative Fund for anyone who hasn't heard of it? What is its role, how did it come about and will it be a permanent part of Sassify Zine?

Jason: I fund Sassify myself and this year was the first year that I did not publish a new printed issue of Sassify Zine. That meant the money I would normally use for printing could go towards funding the work of a fellow LGBTQ+ creative. I also find applying for funding to be a long winded process and I wanted to create a fund that was simple to apply for that would benefit those within my queer community directly. They can do whatever it is they want with the money.

The recipient of the queer creative fund receives £125 along with a written feature on the Sassify Zine website and across social media. This year I am working with Ben from Guy Cry Club who will be helping me judge the submissions. I hate the word judge as art is subjective, however we are looking for work that shows how you celebrate your queerness as a queer creative.

I try to keep the submissions process as simple as possible, and I recommend that those submitting do not spend more then 1-2 hours applying. Their time is important and should be valued. Selfishly the fund allows me to see what my fellow queer creatives are up to and the content it will create is so vital in raising awareness, kinship and safe spaces through creativity.

Shelby X: How does Sassify Zine use on and offline spaces?

Jason: Apart from the printed zines, Sassify is all online at the moment. Raising the profile of Sassify and its digital assets was vital in connecting with other queer creatives, especially during lockdown. Sassify gave me a creative outlet in a time of deep isolation. I did not realise how isolated I felt at the time.

Funding is always a big issue and I find applying for things time consuming so working online allows more more control. I would love to create a Sassify Zine queer library, where people can come and read zines in person. I would also love to create zine making workshops. That way people can create their own zines.

Shelby X: What's next for Sassify Zine? Have you got any exciting projects you'd like to share?

Jason: I am looking forward to seeing what submissions the queer creative fund brings. I am currently waiting to hear back about some funding I have applied for myself. I would love to commission more LGBTQ+ artists to create some new works for an online exhibition I intend to run.

I will also be launching another round of queer artist of the week features. These will run across out social media and website. I am lucky enough to get the opportunity to talk and share the work of queer creatives. And through that I hope to continue to educate myself and others through queer art.

Find out more about Sassify Zine:

Website: www.sassifyzine.com

Instagram: @sassifyzine