I recently mused on Twitter that I wanted to create a mini zine library. I envisioned a rotating collection of zines that people could peruse and perhaps if they promised to return them also borrow. Naj Austin saw my musings and generously offered Somewhere Good’s new Brooklyn location as a potential home to realize my idea. I jumped at the opportunity. Somewhere Good is a platform for conversations on your phone and IRL. They recently opened a free community space in Bedstuy, Brooklyn designed as a respite to relax, rest and connect with like-minded people. The space is open Friday-Sunday, 12-7 pm for anyone who uses the Somewhere Good app.
I’m so excited to partner with Somewhere Good on “Zines & Tea.” Beginning in October, I will be curating zines focused on a different theme each month. One month you will find recipe-themed zines, in another you can engage with zines about plants and in still another you will encounter zines about self-care. The project will run for a year (12 rotating collections of zines) – we’re excited to see where it grows!
After zines, tea is my second favorite thing. I love tea. So when you drop by to browse the zine collection, you can also make yourself a cup of tea.
Somewhere Good is partnering with local Black designer Teah Brands to build a custom display piece for Zines and Tea. Inspired by her research on Black aesthetics, Teah’s “Bobby” shelf works to rearrange collage printed matter, creating a fresh narrative for each monthly iteration of the zine library.
Everyone is invited to visit Somewhere Good during their hours of operation to browse the rotating collection of zines. The zine collection is available to anyone. For now, it will be a browsing zine library. Perhaps in the future, it will expand to a circulating one. Please stop by and make sure to tell your friends & family about “Zines and Tea” at Somewhere Good- Bedstuy.
