On Wednesday, February 26, I had a great time at Baba Yaga in Pioneer Square, Seattle celebrating the launch of Disposable Parts second edition. It was incredibly cool to participate as a vendor alongside many different artists. Painters of multiple varieties, resin artists, sculptors, poets, and clothing designers were all present, alongside the main event, Veronica and Angel selling their zine! Meanwhile, two bands, Letterbomb and Tongues, played punk sets followed by TNT closing the night with a DJ set. All around, a great time was had, and I know the vendors were all selling their products. One highlight was the reopening of the bathroom partway through the night.
The evening seemed to reflect much of the energy of the magazine, a controlled chaos born out of the zine’s DIY aesthetic. Perhaps it is a bit cyclical, too, because the design choices of the zine seem to reflect a grunge style that came out of the Seattle and Tacoma area back in the 1980s and 90s. This was particularly clear in this edition, which focused on fashion creators working largely with found and reused materials.
From a personal perspective, I was very proud to participate because it was my first time as a vendor at an event like that. I was shocked how many people wanted to come and talk to me, to get to know a little about my work, and even more shocked to sell out the rest of my stock of books!
What I was most impressed with and happiest to see were the smiles throughout the entire party. To throw a party is a hell of a feat on its own. To throw one that keeps people engaged, excited, and having fun is a whole different thing. Not only did Veronica and Angel manage that, though, they were able to go beyond to a point where relationships and community were developed. I know this because I met other artists who I’d love to work with, and folks were coming up to me as I sat with my books and my painting eager to hear about my work and telling me how excited they were to see all my colleagues for the evening there.
Seeing so many people showing up and supporting each other’s work was a beautiful way to spend the night, made all the more significant by my chance to participate. Thank you Veronica and Angel for the energy you put into this. What a success it was. It’s a real honor to be included in the zine and the community, and I can’t wait for more Disposable Parts and more community parties. As Veronica wrote in this edition of the zine, “Wandering through young adulthood, I’ve realized that you often have no control over when and how dreams will become reality and hard work finally pays off. It often happens right under your nose, and you have to stay vigilant.” (Moretti Interview + Feature, pg 10).
Check out the instagram and DM them for a copy of Disposable Parts second edition!