In January 2024, Feminist Border Arts (FBA), a research and creativity initiative at New Mexico State University’s Gender & Sexuality Studies unit, launched a collaborative zine-making project involving local educators and 234 students in Las Cruces, NM. Led by Dr. L. Anh Williams, the zines, varying in length from 54 to 158 pages, were presented at a panel during the 19th annual J. Paul Taylor Social Justice Symposium on April 10, 2024. The endeavorbegan with workshops led by Williams, who introduced the students to the transformative potential of zines in feminist and LGBTQ+ movements and social justice expression. Subsequently, educators developed lesson plans and engaged students in creating zine content, which Williams shaped, laid out, and transformed into printed zines.
Cooking With Friends
Cooking with Friends
Feast Your Eyes and Minds: "Cooking With Friends" Comics Group Zine Cultivates Graphic Narrative and Food Studies
Come along on a multi-sensory journey where food meets art and storytelling in "Cooking With Friends," a group comics zine. Organized and edited by L. A. Willaims, this innovative zine intertwines graphic narrative and different approaches to food and food studies in a feast of textual flavors. We’re delighted to announce its recent premiere at the 2023 Albuquerque Zine Fest and its feature in our upcoming Feminist Border Arts 2024.
With Williams editing, creating the cover design, and layout, the zine features the contributions of eight other talented artists, each section offers a story alongside a recipe, creating a space for the reader to engage with both art and sustenance.
About
A Multidisciplinary Approach to Zine and Comics Production
At Feminist Border Arts, we are committed to interdisciplinary research-creation, practice-based methods, and social transformation. L. A. Williams's involvement in the creation of FBA zines and comics is comprehensive, embodying the multidisciplinary ethos that characterizes the work undertaken by Feminist Border Arts and the Gender & Sexuality Studies at NMSU.
Conception and Ideation
L. A. Williams initiates a dialogue between theoretical frameworks and visual storytelling. Her ideas originate from a place of critical inquiry, often resonating with complex social issues and interdisciplinary research questions.
Illustration and Visual Communication
Taking her ideas a step further, Williams transforms conceptual frameworks into compelling visuals. Her illustrations serve as integral components that add multiple layers of meaning to each narrative.
Editing and Refinement
As an editor, she ensures that each project adheres to a rigorous standard of quality, fine-tuning both visual elements and written content to create a coherent, meaningful piece.
Assembly and Curation
Williams also takes on the task of assembling the various elements of each zine or comic. Through meticulous curation, she arranges text and imagery in a manner that maximizes their impact and coherence.
Printing and Materialization
In some instances, Williams even oversees the printing process, aligning the material aspects of each project with its intellectual and artistic goals.
Organization and Coordination
By wearing multiple hats—from conceiver and illustrator to editor and printer—Williams demonstrates the kind of comprehensive, practice-based approach that Feminist Border Arts advocates. Her work embodies FBA’s commitment to research-based, innovative methods and contributes significantly to the mission of social transformation championed by both Feminist Border Arts and the Gender & Sexuality Studies.
