A Q&A with Erica Wilk of Moniker Press

A Q&A with Erica Wilk of Moniker Press

Nestled underground in Vancouver’s Chinatown is Moniker Press, a small but mighty risograph print and publishing studio. Moniker quietly began 6 years ago when owner and operator Erica Wilk was helping out a studio mate with a book which they ambitiously decided to print themselves—all 400 copies. The next thing she knew she had a 300-pound risograph printer in her studio that she hadn’t yet learned how to use, and a whole lotta copies of a first edition that needed printing. It wasn’t until years later that Wilk developed a vision for the press, which has evolved into a collaborative project with other artists and writers to produce small editions of books, zines, and prints.

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MEET MARCH ARTIST OF THE MONTH: ARIELLA ILONA HORVATH

MEET MARCH ARTIST OF THE MONTH: ARIELLA ILONA HORVATH

Growing up experimenting with different art forms and media has turned Horvath into the multi-disciplinary artist she is today. “As a generalist, you have to choose something and stick with it for a bit, and then once you’re like, I feel like I’ve mastered this…you’re like, okay let me try something else. Let me add on to the skillset I have. It’s building blocks. You have to start with something that you know that you can master.”

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A MIXED PLAYLIST INSPIRED BY: Kaija Heitland

HANDMADE JEWELLRY BU KAIJA HEITLAND

HANDMADE JEWELLRY BU KAIJA HEITLAND

Featured Artist of the Kaija Heitland explained in her interview with Hannah Seraphim that she was raised not to waste anything. 

“The idea that we live in such a disposable culture that it extends to the way we raise animals, and how that has allowed us to disassociate with our food, that we find traditional practices, abhorrent, really confuses me” - Kaija Heitland

Kaija’s self-sustaining practices are transferred to her art and echoing the imperative connection with nature. This month's mix is a reminder to pause, close your eyes, and appreciate nature. Plugin your headphones and connect!

MEET JANUARY ARTIST OF THE MONTH: KAIJA HEITLAND

MEET JANUARY ARTIST OF THE MONTH: KAIJA HEITLAND

Métis artist Kaija Heitland sews fox fur trim to deer leather moccasins keeping her hands busy as she talks to SAD Mag about her multidisciplinary artforms. From her full-time job as a tattoo artist to her traditional Métis clothing and wildcraft designs through Indigenous Nouveau to her jewellery line By the Thorne, Heitland is always creating. "I really do feel that true artists have to create. Otherwise, they'll explode. That's such a truism for me that I know that I just have to keep creating constantly," says Heitland.

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A MIXED PLAYLIST INSPIRED BY: KC HALL

THE TRENDSETTER (9FT X 6FT) BY KC HALL

THE TRENDSETTER (9FT X 6FT) BY KC HALL

Featured Artist of the Month KC Hall shared in his interview with Hannah Seraphim that he dedicates much of his time to revitalizing Indigenous culture, language, and pride with youth in his community. This includes teaching kids how to spray paint their name in their language or word of choice onto a canvas, facilitating a youth skateboard building workshop with artist, filmmaker, and lands-based educator Calder Cheverie.

"I want [Indigenous youth] to set the greatest example they can for our people...They can be successful artists. They can do whatever they set their minds to.” - KC Hall

The inspiration for this month's playlist is KC’s grafitti artwork ‘The Trendsetter’ and his vision of a future tied to rewriting Indigenous history.

Meet December Artist of the Month: KC Hall

Meet December Artist of the Month: KC Hall

The unique mix of traditional artistic style with Hall’s colourful and abstract additions makes for eye-popping art. Two themes you’ll always find in his pieces are the Raven and a rope. “I use [the Raven] because it is part of my family crest and our lineage. The Raven has so many different stories behind what he’s done. The rope signifies every single thing I have created is tied together as one,” says Hall.

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