Introducing: Kosmosis. A new Brooklyn-based art, writing, and culture zine & mixtape.
Kosmosisis currently accepting submissions for its inaugural Summer/Fall 2014 issue: “Retrograde”. If we’ve reached out to you, it’s because we admire and respect your work, and would love to give you a chance to be a part of this new venture.
Art submission guidelines:
Artists are welcome to submit work in any medium, including but certainly not limited to: drawing, painting, collage, mixed media, sculpture, design, illustration, photography, etc. Please bear in mind that the final image will be approximately 8.25 x 5.25 inches, or in some cases a horizontal 2-page spread of 8.25 x 10.5 inches. The zine will be printed in black and white so please submit work that is either already in grayscale, or that you feel comfortable having us (tastefully) convert to b&w. You are welcome to submit up to 5 pieces for consideration.
Writing submission guidelines:
We are really striving to include a diverse selection of writing in this zine. We invite you to challenge yourself and think about what message you want to send to the world. We, are, of course, seeking the talents of established writers and those who possess a true passion for the written word, but we also want to extend a special invitation to those who may not have as much experience writing seriously, but may possess a unique perspective, opinion, depth of knowledge, or maybe just a “voice” that they want to share with the world. That being said, we are seeking entries that include but are not limited to essays, poetry, prose, short fiction, editorials, interviews, articles of all kinds. Review an album! Profile an artist! Interview a local business owner! Tell us how it is! Tell us your story. Give us a good dose of culture and a healthy dash of locality, and we will be super happy :-)
There is no limit on words, and writers may submit up to 3 pieces for consideration.
Is there something that we’re missing? Something that you can imagine in the pages of a super rad zine? Do it! Crossword puzzles, optical illusions, horoscopes, recipes, a guide to bird watching, anything! Really! Your brain is going to be what makes this zine super special, and we look forward to seeing what you create.
Following the tradition of zines past, the inaugural edition of Kosmosis will be released with a corresponding mixtape, which will be available for free streaming online. The purchase of the physical copy of the zine will include a download code, as well. The mixtape will not necessarily be thematic, but will rather be curated to create a cohesive collection of music that you will want to listen to over and over again! So get in on it! Artists are welcome to submit up to 3 songs for consideration.
We’ve written something to give you an idea of what we’ve been thinking about for this first issue, but entries do not have to be in response to the prompt. At the end of the day, the works that we select will be chosen based on overall merit, as well as how they fit into the cohesive structure, balance, and aesthetics of the zine, rather than how well they adhere to the theme.
Stepping backwards. Things don’t seem to go as planned. Something is lost in translation. Letters are lost in the mail.
The path ahead of you is winding. The path behind you doesn’t look so familiar anymore. It’s a cosmic caucus race, and you’re in first place.
But there is beauty in the chaos. For every time a bridge collapses beneath your feet, another, smaller, path appears and leads you to a completely unexpected place. Sure, the way may be rocky & full of obstacles, and you may fall and scrape your knee- but that’s the spirit of true adventure.
There is something to be said for going against the grain. The herd is moving one way- and you are high-tailing it clear in the other direction. Carving out your own path. Carving your name in the side of a mountain. Telling your own tall tale.
It’s all about perception, anyway. Sometimes things appear to be moving backwards, but really everything else is just moving too quickly and blindly forwards to truly understand the bigger picture.
Do you know where you are in the universe? And the real question is: are you moving in retrograde?
-The deadline for submissions is Friday, August 1st. Submissions can be sent via email to [email protected]. We plan on launching the print version of the zine at the end of the summer with a multifaceted art and music event where zines will be available for purchase. If you have a diy space or venue that you think would work, or if you have any ideas for performances or installations, get in touch!
-Kosmosis is run entirely by volunteers. Any money made from the sale of the zines will go towards cover printing costs, and hopefully will help us in producing a higher quality zine next year. Maybe even in color! If you are interested in volunteering, please get in touch!
-There will be a very limited amount of space for advertising/sponsors, with priority given to local businesses and services. Rates are extremely reasonable. Please get in touch for details!
-Based on past experience, we anticipate a high volume of quality submissions for both the zine and mixtape. While this is super amazing, it also unfortunately means that we may not be able to include every artist in this edition. Please know that we appreciate each and every one of you, and have respect for the hard work and creativity that you put into your craft. Even if we are not able to include you in this edition, we hope that we may be able to in the future, and we thank you for your support!
-Sarah Rayne is the curatorial director of Kosmosis.She is currently working on a comprehensive online archive of her past zines and mixtapes, but for the moment you can find a selection of previous works at www.sarahrayne.com/compilations .
That's it! Feel free to share this with other artists, writers, musicians, and creatives that you think might be interested! And be sure to email [email protected] with any questions, comments, or concerns. You can always check back on this tumblr page for any updates along the way. We love you, and we hope you're as excited as we are about this new venture!
