AQUÍ NO HAY NADA #2
by Efrén de la Cruz, Martín Eskerra, NHSR, José Miguel Salcido, Marisol Valdez and edited by Héctor J. Herrera
Aquí No Hay Nada, published in Mexicali, Mexico, translates to “there is nothing in here”. What Héctor is referencing with the title is the boredom many residents of Mexicali feel in their small town. Within the black cardstock folder there are five zines by five different artists from Mexicali, each with a sewn binding and soft cardboard covers. All of the written works are entirely in Spanish, but if Spanish isn’t your native language, do not fret! All you need is a good background in the language and a Spanish dictionary by your side! If you are fluent in Spanish, this collection of zines is not to be missed. Even if you’re not, the three zines with text also include drawing and/or photography. One of the most interesting zines included is Marisol Valdez’s portraiture of mentally ill young women. It is entitled “No estamos locas, somos de un estilo especial” [we aren't crazy, we are of a special style] and frames mental illness as not something scary or tragic, but a unique set of challenges these women deal with. All of these zines are beautiful and deal with culture, identity, place and self. Aqui No Hay Nada #2 proves that there is a flourishing artistic community in Mexicali, and though there may not be much to do, there is lots of art to be made.
5 10-page zines with cardstock screen printed covers and sewn binding, screen printed cardstock folder
$15