Make your Holidaze a little brighter with a subscription to SAD Mag!
From now until December 31st, if you buy a subscription to SAD Mag and you’ll be entered to win a custom light-up sign by Woodtype!
Purchase a Subscription! – $30 (1 year), $55 (2 years), or $80 (3 years)
Proudly made in Vancouver, Canada, Woodtype signs are designed to give your space that cozy ambiance that welcomes you home every day with a warm glow. They light up yo! SAD Mag has been proudly showing off our Woodtype sign all over town along with Prado Cafe, Real Vancouver Writers Series, and more.
If you win the draw, you’ll be able to customize your 1-letter sign, ready for you to take home by the end of January.
Draw will take place on January 1st!
Start off the new year with your name in lights!
–Or at least part of it.
BUYING FOR A FRIEND?
A subscription to SAD Mag is a nice way of saying, “you have impeccable taste in art, stories, and design.” Buy a gift subscription by December 16th and we will mail your recipient a custom SAD Mag Christmas Card advising them of your generous gift! The first issue is out this January, so they’ll be able to enjoy the gift of SAD right away! Click the button below to subscribe and enter your shipping details for your recipient.
Don’t know their address? Don’t worry! We can mail the holiday card to you to present on Christmas and you can email us their address later (hello@sadmag.ca).
Look at these adorable cards designed by Pamela Rounis for SAD Mag:
Giving feels even better because you’ll ALSO be entered to win a draw for a free custom sign by Woodtype!
Ahhhhh, I love the holidaze.
Purchase a Subscription! – $30 (1 year), $55 (2 years), or $80 (3 years)
Sad Mag sits down with the founder and master of literary “Realness”, Sean Cranbury, about their five year anniversary party this Saturday.
SAD Mag: First of all, congrats on turning 5! We are co-toddlers in this city, also turning 5 this year. Can you tell me a bit about where you were in 2009 and how Real Vancouver started? There are rumors that Real Vancouver was born in a burning building. Is that true?
Sean Cranbury: Thank you for the kind words. In 2009 I was beginning to build projects like Real Vancouver Writers’ Series via my main project Books on the Radio, a radio show, blog, and literary project incubator.
That year (2009) I had created BOTR, helped to plan the first Bookcamp Vancouver Unconference, created the Advent Book Blog, and I also started writing and speaking publicly on things like digital file-sharing, piracy. It was a creative time and I had a certain amount of momentum.
In early 2010, with the Olympics on the doorstep, I helped to create the Real Vancouver Writers’ Series as a response to the Vancouver Cultural Olympiad’s decision to ignore our city’s incredible and world-class literary community with their programming during the games.
Fire with Fire by Isabelle Hayeur
The original Olympics Editions of the RVWS were held in the Perel Gallery in the W2 Culture and Media House at 112 West Hastings Street. The building was the site for an installation by Quebec artist Isabel Hayeur. The piece was called Fire with Fire and it consisted of a digital projection of flames looping across the windows of the building’s top three floors.
It’s a powerful image and one that reflects the circumstances of our origin.
SM: Give us a snapshot of where you are now:
SC: Real Vancouver is growing but still very much a grassroots, volunteer-based literary reading series. We are now a non-profit society with a Board of Directors that we’re very proud of and who will help to steer the series into the future.
We’re still putting on events with the best writers in the city and we’re still collaborating with the likes of Project Space, Verses Festival of Words, Geist, SAD Mag, and others.
We’re still learning but we’re getting there.
SM: And what’s on your hit list for the next 5 years?
SC: We’re looking at doing unique events and collaborations that draw in other art forms and interesting, perhaps unexpected, venues. We’ll stay true to our roots by supporting emerging writers and more contemporary voices from across genres, schools, and sensibilities, and mixing poetry with non-fiction, fiction, memoir, spoken word, short stories, whatever people who are talented with the language are producing.
We’re going to get better and we’re going to try new things and we’re going to try to change people’s perceptions of what a literary reading can be.
SM: Tell us what we can expect by attending the 5 year anniversary party this Saturday at 434 Columbia.
SC: Good times! You’re going to be in a room full of good music, great writing, and even better people. We’ve got lots of prizes and gifts to give away. We’ve got a special occasion license and we’ll be selling beer and wine. And books. But even those things are beside the point.
We’re going to have a warm room full of great and talented people.
You’ll hear some of the best contemporary writing in the city and country and you’ll get to meet great new friends. It’s going to be an amazing night.
SM: All of your authors at these events are outstanding, but is there one particular reading you are extra excited about?
SC: I’m more interested in the chemistry that we can create on the stage and in the room by curating the placement of the writers throughout the night. Any time you can put put Chris Walter on same stage as Jennica Harper and Jen Sookfong Lee you’ve got yourself an interesting mixture. Sun Belt is a very interesting project and I’m curious to see what they do. I know that Daniel and Dina have something weird and probably ridiculous planned. The roster is stacked. I can’t wait.
SM: In your opinion, what is the single most important thing someone can do to help the literary scene in vancouver become the pinnacle of awesome?
SC: Come out to one of our events, or to any of the other amazing literary events that are currently being put on in Vancouver, and meet writers. Talk to them, listen to them reader their work, buy their books, take them home with you – the writers and the books, I mean.
We want to reduce the distance between the writer and the fan. We want to create a new kind of intimacy in the world of literature and books. Books and writing are very sexy things and we want people to understand and explore that perspective.
Read the books, share them with your friends, get to know the writers. Put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard. Get involved. Treat it like it matters.
SM: What do you do when you’re not working on Real Vancouver?
I work on my radio show, Books on the Radio, and my podcast, The Interruption, which is a collaboration with 49th Shelf. I also freelance as a communications consultant and I advise arts organizations on technology, social media, and stuff like that.
I am also the General Manager of the Storm Crow Tavern where I work with the greatest team in the city.
Carleigh Baker – indefatigable bookseller, canoeist, confidante of Carrie Brownstein, crafter of memoir. Jennica Harper – poet, RVWS alumni from the original Olympics Editions, pure sunshine. Jen Sookfong Lee – novelist, broadcaster, RVWS alumni from the original Olympics Editions, haunter of hospitality suites. Amber McMillan – poet, islander, friend of many Easterners, our friend, too. Rachel Rose – Poet Laureate of Vancouver, award-winning poet, essayist, fictionist, literary sh*t disturber. Sun Belt – experimental literary multi-media project. Chris Walter – the O.G. of independent authors. Been doing it since before you even thought of it. He wrote East Van, Beer, and I was a Punk Before You Were a Punk. Self-published under GFY Press. RVWS Alumni from the original Olympics Editions. Daniel Zomparelli – yes, that Daniel Zomparelli. Honcho of Poetry Is Dead Magazine, author of Davie Street Translations. Serial collaborator. RVWS Alumni.
We’ll be kicking things off with a feline-inspired fashion show, curated by Blim and Keiko Boxall, at 9PM. Then we’ll knock your cat-themed socks off with a dance number by the infamous Light Twerkerz dancers ft. MC AutoKrat and DJ Rich Nines.
Party hosted by Cynara Geissler: writer, editor, book publicist, and fierce defender of the selfie. Cynara is a print enthusiast (in both reading material and frocks) and her closet houses a litter of cat dresses. She co-hosts Fatties on Ice, an independent feminist podcast on pop culture, film, and new media.
Come early to see the magazine & check out the art show (by Ola Volo), stay late for tunes and drinks. This magazine was created through the generous contributions of countless Vancouver artists, writers, photographers, and cat enthusiasts including:
Contributing Writers
Kristin Cheung
Dina Del Bucchia
Alice Fleerackers
Jackie Hoffart
Megan Jenkins
Adrienne Matei
Kaitlin McNabb
Genevieve Anne Michaels
Nina Paula Morenas
Pamela Rounis
Rebecca Slaven
Farah Tozy
Jennifer Truong
Daryn Wright
Contributing Photographers
Jackie Dives
Angela Fama
Robyn Humphreys
Shane Oosterhoff
Sarah Race
Gilly Russell
Rob Seebacher
Katie Stewart
Jennifer Truong
Contributing Artists
Portia Boehm
Kamila Charters-Gabanek * (not placed)
Kristin Cheung
Shannon Hemmett * (not placed)
Andrea Hooge
Roselina Hung
Pascale Laviolette
Coreena Lewis
Jessie McNeil * (not placed)
Aili Meutzner
Sherwin Sullivan Tija
Ola Volo
Carrie Walker
Contributing Stylists
Leigh Eldridge, Makeup Artist
Jenny-Lynn of Oh Hey Style, Hair Stylist
Monika Koch Waber, Stylist
Contributors to SadMag.ca
Alexandra Bogren
Cianda Bourrel
Alice Fleerackers
Kyla Jamieson
Megan Jenkins
Shmuel Marmorstein
Lise Monique
Cole Nowicki
Shannon Waters
SADCAST: The SAD Mag Podcast
Jackie Hoffart, Producer, Host, Editor
Stu Popp, Co-Host
Board of Directors
Sean Cranbury
Megan Lau
Mac Lugay
Amanda McCuaig
Amanda Lee Smith
Pamela Sheppard
Daniel Zomparelli
Thank yous
The Cobalt
Lily Ditchburn
Rommy Ghaly
Yuriko Iga of BLIM
Lizzy Karp & Rain City Chronicles
MAKE
Madeleine Michaels + Luna the Cat
Mr. Diva
Patrick Winkler
Teresa Watling + Enoki the Cat
VOKRA
Bijou, Nico, Frankie, Mr. Darren Lovenstuff, Indy & Eliot
It’s time to reclaim Valentine’s Day from the Hallmarks of the world and dedicate it to the ones we really love: CATS.
They are the ones that offer endless snuggles, unconditional love, and endorse your plans to lay on the sofa all day watching Angelina Jolie movies. Their fluffy physique demonstrates the need to delete My FitnessPal off your phone for good, because really, if I eat a serving of Oreos, I don’t really want to know how many grams of sugar that is, thank you.
Don’t have a cat to snuggle? Now’s your chance to see what all the fuss on YouTube is about.
For the month of February, SAD Mag has teamed up with the Vancouver Orphan Rescue Association (VOKRA) to help connect you with the life-partner you’ve always dreamed of. It’s simple:
Adopt a cat or kitten from VOKRA in the month of February and we will give you a free 1 year subscription to Sad Mag, starting with the Cat Issue!
The Cat Issue, launching February 21st at Make Gallery (257 East 7th Ave)
Simply email hello@sadmag.ca your address along with proof of adoption, and we’ll hook you up with some thematically appropriate reading material for your long stints on the sofa in a puddle of cuddles.
Happy Feline-times day!
SAD Mag and BLIM present CAT WALK
Want to celebrate your love of cats? Join us in fawning over SAD Mag’s latest release: the Cat issue (no. 18), dedicated to our feline friends (somebody had to do it)!
A 48-page full-colour stunner filled with original art, photography, and stories by Kristin Cheung, Dina Del Bucchia, Ola Volo, and more!
We’ll be kicking things off with a feline-inspired fashion show, curated by Blim and Keiko Boxall, at 9PM. Then we’ll knock your cat-themed socks off with a dance number by the infamous Light Twerkerz dancers ft. MC AutoKrat and DJ Rich Nines.
Come early to see the magazine & check out the art show (by Ola Volo), stay late for tunes and drinks.
Party hosted by Cynara Geissler: writer, editor, book publicist, and fierce defender of the selfie. Cynara is a print enthusiast (in both reading material and frocks) and her closet houses a litter of cat dresses. She co-hosts Fatties on Ice, an independent feminist podcast on pop culture, film, and new media.
SAD Mag chats with Jamie Smith about her upcoming collab involving 18 local artists, hundreds of anonymous letters and a whole lotta love.
Shannyn Higgins Photography
SAD Mag: Hi there! So tell us who you are, and a little bit about how the Love Letter Project came to be:
Jamie Smith: I am Jamie Smith. I am an artist myself and I have started getting more involved in creating shows and experiences for people, such as ROVE. Within this community-based art activity I naturally meet lots of different people, one of them being Fiona McGlynn.
Fiona and I met because we were at a little dinner with a group called Loaded Bow, run by a group of sweet ladies who do lots of interesting things in the city. At the dinner, we all had to share a story and so I shared a confession. I had just finished a project called “Confessions” where I painted different anonymous confessions and so I read someone’s anonymous confession as my story. Fiona read a love letter from someone else–also anonymous—so afterward we both came together and thought, “Ok, who are you and what do you do?” (laughs).
She had started a project and a blog, based on her own experience. She was going through a difficult time and didn’t really have a lot of direction and people gave her all sorts of advice, but a mentor said to her, “Why don’t you stop worrying so much about yourself and instead think about how you might make something better for someone else?” And that clicked, so she thought about her life, and difficulties, and her parents’ divorce when she was young, which was really hard on her. So she decided to write a children’s book, to help kids navigate around divorce. Surprisingly, there are very few books that deal with divorce.
The book is beautifully illustrated, so very kid-friendly, but really about communicating the message: “it’s not your fault.” So this jumpstarted her life in a totally different direction: then she thought, what if I gave people a platform where other people could write letters about an experience they had, but directed at someone else going through a similar problem? So that’s how The Love Letter Project blog, started! Now it’s been a year and there have been over 180 letters from all across the world.
SM: And so are these old-school letters, with pen and papers and coming through the post? Sorry, I’m totally an analog girl over here.
JS: No actually, most of them come through online. That being said, they’ve done different letter-writing parties at a community center and that’s all hand written letter writing. Whether they’re submitted online or in person, the letters are written to help others overcome life’s greatest challenges. Topics cover many areas of life including relationship, loss, self image, illness, and many others. Authors can write anonymously or under their own name. Letters are then posted on www.theloverletterproject.ca where readers can go to find support and encouragement, and be inspired to create change in their lives.
SM: That sounds amazing! What can people expect at the opening tonight at Omega Gallery?
JS: What you can expect is a spectacular little event in a cute, small venue that is perfect for an art show/book launch. The art show includes all of the works which appear in the book, with the letter displayed beside it. Each artist chose a letter that resonated with them and responded to it in a 20 x 20 canvas. If you feel moved to purchase a piece, all of the funds go directly back to the artist and the book sales go back into producing other Love Letter Projects. We’re going to have beer and wine for $5 and cupcakes for $3–then of course all of the art with the letters.
DEETS:
Friday February 6, 2015 from 6:30pm – 10:00pm
Omega Gallery (4290 Dunbar St.)
FREE
RSVP here
The Capture Photography festival is in the works, hitting Vancouver full-swing with a knock-out line-up of photo shows, events, and workshops during the whole month of April. But for now, you can support the festival–and help make is even more amazing–by attending their fancy-pants Capture Photography Festival Annual Fundraiser.
For those who love all things miniature (as much as we do), Capture’s Annual Fundraiser marks the launch of ‘Mini” Artist Editions, while being hosted at the MINI Canada dealership in Yaletown. Along with the chance to go home with a mini photo series, you could also have yourself immortalized in mini-bust form by local 3D-printing company Tinkerine.
The Tinkerine team will be onsite capturing scans and printing complimentary miniature 3D busts of each attendee. In addition to cocktails and canapés, guests will graze on food and wine from Gotham Steakhouse and premium wines, and have the opportunity to speak with Capture’s participating artists and galleries.
Funds raised go towards Capture’s programming and installations, including major works at the Dal Grauer Substation, Lonsdale Quay, and other public spaces. Tickets for the Annual Fundraiser are on sale now through Eventbrite. Though the ticket prices may not be “mini”, we still think this event is going to be an amazing boost for the photo community in Vancouver.
The Essentials
The 2015 Capture Photography Festival Annual Fundraiser
When: February 5, 2015, 7:30–10:00 pm Where: MINI Yaletown, 1039 Hamilton Street Vancouver, BC, V6B 5T4 Ticket price: $175
A point of inflection is the focal moment of a period of change, the specific instant where the situation shifts from one state to another, from positive to negative, from before to after.
PROJECT OVERVIEW:
The project is called Point of Inflection. It’s a collection of short pieces of writing (150 words or less each by approximately 12 writers) around the idea of the focal moment of change (a “point of inflection”), expressed in any way the writer chooses. Local artists Christoph Prevost, David Phu, and Michael Champion will then create a cinemagraph and accompanying musical composition that interprets that piece. We will showcase the collaboration in a final gallery exhibition where the pieces of writing are displayed next to the cinemagraph that they inspired (likely displayed on a TV). The event would be held as part of an upcoming issue launch for Sad Magazine, and there may be an additional opportunity for your piece of writing to be published in the Movement issue.
Cinemagraph of NYC Fashion Week
WHAT WE WANT FROM YOU:
LENGTH 150 words or less.
CONTENT Express the concept of the point of inflection however you may interpret it.
DEADLINE Submissions due December 15th.
COLLABORATION Work with us to tweak your piece as needed.
WHAT YOU WILL GET OUT OF IT:
The satisfaction of meeting new people, collaborating on a cool project, and seeing your piece put to video and music.
YOUR NEXT STEP:
If you choose to accept this challenge, please let us know at: stephanie.orford[at]gmail[dot]com
ABOUT THE ARTISTS:
Christoph, Michael, and David are accomplished artists in a variety of mediums, and all three have worked together in their video production company, Unfamous.
TEDx Vancouver is here this Saturday October 18th for your mind-expanding pleasure. Inspired by the infamous TED talks, TEDx is a program of self-organized events that bring together a diverse group of people in the spirit of “ideas worth sharing”. Rest assured that TEDx is not akin to a little brother desperately aspiring to be like his pimple-faced older brother. TEDx Vancouver is in its fifth iteration and is proving to be the largest TEDx to ever hit Vancouver.
The folks at Sad Mag are stoked to hear an incredible line-up of speakers including sexologist Dr. Jessica O’Reilly on the commandments in the New Sex Bible (2014), Victor Chan on coming face to face with the Dali Lama, and Lesley Kim on loosing an eye to Halloween firecrackers. Even though the conference itself is stacked with 12 speakers, TEDx is also dedicated to sharing the stage with 13 different performance groups, including a 30-person Indie Rock choir, The Kingsgate Chorus, hailing from East Vancouver. Please take a look at the soprano section for a gander at Pamela Rounis, Sad Mag’s Lead Designer and the reason our new Suburbia issue will blow your mind.
Considering this line-up, the theme of this year’s TEDx is “Tilt” or the notion of changing perspectives, altering experiences, and launching outside of your comfort zone. To assist the common Vancouverite in this task, the TEDx menu is stacked with exotic exoskeleton-riddled salads where a “bug bar” awaits you. Hopefully this won’t tilt and sway your belly in the bad way. Make sure you take a peek at #TEDvan to see what the buzz is about. Oh! Punny!
Angela Fama is no stranger to Sad Mag. Her images have been featured in several issues, most notably the (unprecedented) 10-page fashion spread in the Suburbia issue launching this fall. We love her. This love and admiration is not limited to an affection for her work alone–we relish in sitting down with Fama on a semi-monthly basis to hear about her new fixations and the new projects+ideas she is sizzling over.
During our most recent brain-sizzle, she described a photography project that will take her across North America in a pop-up photo studio to capture micro-expressions elicited by subtle questioning about the nature of love. As Fama outlines, “What Is Lovewill reveal through comparative photography the strength and beauty of vulnerability that can be found within all adults, regardless of age, nationality, income, sexual orientation or gender.”
It’s about community. We’re into that.
With our Movement issue on the horizon for this winter, we want to throw the weight of our summer carb-intake behind a project we believe in, and encourage you to do the same. Want to help an extremely talented local photographer create a body of work that explores a universal human emotion? We thought so. Check out her kickstarter campaign here and stayed tuned for updates on her progress. If you’re independently wealthy and want to be featured in Fama’s book, you can pledge $1500 and receive a 2-hour “What is Love” session for your friends and family. Your face might just end up in a book. Just sayin’.
Q: WHY SHOULD YOU FUND THIS PROJECT?
A: My Kickstarter goal is researched and set for how much is needed for the motorhome/pop-up studio itself and including funder’s rewards.
The rest of the costs and other expenses (gas, camera, equipment, food, emergency) are covered through hopefully some grant funding and definitely through personal savings I have been building this past year and will continue to build this coming year.
I have to ask YOU, my community, to help me build this project, it cannot happen any other way. The collaboration begins here!
Q: WHY SO LONG A WAIT?
A: I have to prepare. If the funding goal is met, I will purchase a Class-C “pre-loved” Motorhome and create the pop-up studio.
I have PR, marketing and conversations to continue creating with social media, radio stations, magazines, national and local newspapers, locations, events, festivals and volunteers.
Q: WHY MAY?
May is Sexual Assault Awareness month, the perfect date to officially begin this adventure. It is also the beginning of the two months both Joel and I have committed solely to this project.
Q: HOW CAN I LEARN ABOUT THE JOURNEY AS YOU GO?
A: I can be abundantly found on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and/or my blog. Once the project “officially” begins, I will update these daily with stories, thoughts and/or images.
Q: CAN I BE A PART OF IT?
A: Yes of course! Both here on Kickstarter and on www.wabisabibutterfly.com. I will have locations listed with corresponding dates, addresses and times.
??Q: DRIVE ACROSS NORTH AMERICA IN A MOTORHOME?!? EWWW! AREN’T YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THE ECO-FOOTPRINT YOU’LL BE LEAVING BEHIND??
A: YES! ?I intend to DIY the motorhome to be as eco-friendly as a “pre-loved” motorhome can be. In addition to solar paneling for the interior electricity that will recharge my photo gear between locations, I will be looking into rain harvesting, wind energy and composting toilets.
26 years and still going strong, The Vancouver Queer Film Festival prides itself in presenting over 80 films ranging from Disco-themed coming of age stories to musicals about Grinder. As per usual, the film festival is jam-packed with stellar queer films interlaced with gala events and parties where you can brush shoulders with local filmmakers, or just have a few cocktails on the dance-floor. And if your bank-account is still in recovery-mode post-pride, there is a 2 films for $20 promo available online through the festival webpage.
Sad Mag has cruised the program for you, watched a shit-ton of trailers, and made some well-informed recommendations. Here are our QFF 2014 MUST-SEES:
Must-sees for the 2014 Queer Film Festival
By Sad Magazine
There are so many rad films in this year’s line-up! How do you decide? Let us peer-pressure you into sitting beside us to watch these stand-out films.
Appropriate Behaviour
By Sad Magazine
Some say she’s the queer Lena Dunham, Desiree Akhavan (known for the web series The Slope) presents her outrageously funny and irreverent debut feature.
A Street in Palermo
By Sad Magazine
Absurdly funny, A Street in Palermo is saturated with pitch-black humour and satire. And lesbians, italian lesbians.
Crashing the Porn Party
By Sad Magazine
Erotic shorts of the lesbian-persuasion. You’ll wanna crash this party and stay the night.
Bad Hair (Pelo Malo)
By Sad Magazine
Hey, if the folks at the San Sebastian Film Festival loved it, odds are, so will we. Junior wants to straighten his hair, so let him be a star already.
Boys (Jongens)
By Sad Magazine
Sun-drenched cinematography + 2 teenage boys from the Netherlands = MAGIC
I Feel Like Disco
By Sad Magazine
Slightly socially awkward German boy likes to dance to his favourite German disco star with his mother. Sounds adorable to me. Disco-fuelled coming of age story. Guilty pleasure.
Love is Strange
By Sad Magazine
John Lithgow. John Lithgow. John Lithgow. A tender tale of love in the big city between big ol’ gays in smart suit-jackets. We’ll save you a seat.
The Coast Is Queer
By Sad Magazine
A festival favourite which is THE must-see for all festival goers. Not as many lady-filmmakers on the bill as we would like to see, but you can always google Queers in Canoes.
Of Girls and Horses
By Sad Magazine
I really wish that I didn’t want to see this film, but I secretly love ponies, summertime, and gorgeous wide-shots of the German countryside.
GIRLTRASH: All Night Long
By Sad Magazine
The Closing Gala film–you can’t miss it. Music, parties, and babes. Don’t miss the latern-lit procession to the Closing party at Junction Pub. Follow the Sisters Of Perpetual Indulgence.
Angela Fama is no stranger to Sad Mag. Her images have been featured in several issues, most notably the (unprecedented) 10-page fashion spread in the Suburbia issue launching this fall. We love her. This love and admiration is not limited to an affection for her work alone–we relish in sitting down with Fama on a semi-monthly basis to hear about her new fixations and the new projects+ideas she is sizzling over.