FM Magazine: Denver Art, Culture, Fashion

Lately, I've had two Denver projects on my mind: 1) a Denver based experimental cultural space bringing together people from various races, cultures, disciplines, and media; 2) a Denver-based cultural magazine highlighting what is amazing in Denver. When I got to work today, on my desk sat a copy of FM Magazine (Fucking Mountains). It does a great deal of what I envisioned a Denver-based magazine could/should do. Good job. Now someone simply has to start an intersectional, experimental cultural space, put it on my desk, and let me keep enjoying the city.

Art In Motion's Weekend Event

Yesterday, my friend Jerrilyn and I stopped by an incredible event put on by Art in Motion. The event took place at Aztlan Plaza near 8th and Federal. Families were out at the event getting hair-cuts, painting murals, eating corn, nachos and fruit. Community activists working on health issues, safer-sex, ending violence in LGBTQ community, and others were out in droves. The event did a great job bringing together art, activism, intergenerational families and community, and food! Mystic performed at the event. Sadly, I had to go to a meeting and missed her. I wish I could find the Art In Motion website to show you a link! If you have a website for them, let me know!

Community Cultural Centers

In looking at Denver, one thing we are desperately missing is a community-based cultural center--especially a place that actively brings together multiple cultures, races, disciplines, and media in a spirit of solidarity, learning, and action. In conversation with my roomie Jessi, we often talk of the East Side Cafe in Los Angeles as an example of an incredible cultural space. My own personal favorite is Mess Hall in Chicago. Hopefully, as Denver grows, we can create a space to fill this need.

Nia King's Borderlands Project

Many of you are probably familiar with Nia King's zine Borderland: Tales From Disputed Territories Between Races and Cultures. Its available at The Queer Zine Archive Project. If not, not you should get familiar. And in the meantime, Nia has put out a call for submissions for Borderlands 2! The call is below:

I am currently seeking personal stories and visual art on the theme of FAMILY for the upcoming issue of my compilation zine about mixed-race, bicultural and transracial adoptee identities. Stories should be
non-fiction and no more than 800 words. No poetry please. Visual art should be black and white and replicate well in a copy machine (minimal grey tones). Submissions are not due until JUNE 1st, 2008, but please don't wait to start writing! Your stories are valuable, and it's time to bring our often neglected cross-cultural and multi-racial experiences from margin to center by telling our own stories!

Send submissions to oxette    (at)   riseup.net. -- Nia King