Reg and I attended Canzine Vancouver, picked up some zines and then went to hang out at Our Town at their Mount Pleasant location for some coffee and treats.
I knew immediately that I would like Stacey when I saw her Anxiety Comics Vol. 1 Edition. Her zine reveals the internal dialogue she has with her inner “ghost” who tries to censor her at every turn.
By purchasing this copy at the fair I also received her micro zine Nice Veggies for free. Nice Veggies?! Seriously! It was at that moment I knew I had to interview her.
The Interview
When did you discover zine culture and know you wanted to participate?
I discovered zine culture at a very young age (around 10 ish) after watching a Canadian television show called ‘Our Hero’, which is about teenagers that make zines. My first zine was born approx. 5 minutes after watching the first episode haha. I’ve been making zines ever since.
Why are they nice to you in “Nice Veggies”? I would love to hear more about the inspiration of this mini zine?
Nice veggies was inspired by a former roommate of mine who worked at a farmers market. I had always loved veggies, but she absolutely adored them. People were always giving them to her as gifts and she was forever sending people photos of particularly lovely vegetables at the market. Vegetables truly meant love to her, and that idea made its way into my mini zine. Compliments and affirmations from people can feel contrived or hollow, but a compliment from a radish!? How could you not believe these beautiful plants that provide only nourishment and joy?
I’m rambling, but my main goal with zine-making is to reach my audience in a way that leaves them feeling better after they’ve read my zines than before and making a zine about nice vegetables seemed a sure-fire way to accomplish that goal.
What is it about vegetables in particular that speak to you?
I find vegetables to be very comforting. I grew up on a farm with a very large garden, and vegetables have always evoked feelings of calm and happiness for me. Vegetables are also very accessible characters. Whether you like them or not, most people know what a carrot is and it helps me to form a bond with audience.
Would you consider yourself a foodie?
I would consider myself a foodie in the way that I really love food. I love making and growing food. I would not say I have any particular skill in the kitchen, however. I’m a recipe follower for sure, and my tastes lean towards the unbearably simple. Give me a slice of roasted cabbage with salt and pepper and I’m a happy bean.
What is it about food art that inspires you?
Food art inspires me because it’s universal. Everyone can relate to food and recipes. Not everyone can relate to the obscure pop culture reference in your super hero comic, but people understand food. Resonating with my audience is inspiring. I have fans of ‘Nice Veggies’ that pull the comic out of their wallet and tell me that it changed their life, and it’s literally just a bunch of plants! There’s power in that. There is power in food art because food is completely essential to every single person on the planet.
Do you eat your veggies?
I absolutely eat my veggies! I’m that person who clears out the raw broccoli on the veggie tray at parties.
Cake or pie?
Pie. Specifically maple pecan pie.
Love it Stacey! Thank you so much for answering my questions and bringing us foodie and artistic inspiration. You can find Stacey’s Tumblr page here and her Etsy store here.
Very cool! I’m going to check out her sites!