Twigs & Apples zine started in 2009, in the rainy northern city of Preston. It came about as a collective of four friends, Sarah Riddel, Stuart Saint, Benedict Rutherford and Steph Fletcher, each with different creative backgrounds but a shared interest in writing, art and activism. Here, Steph Fletcher tells us more…

The first few issues were produced as basic, hand cut ‘n pasted photocopied zines, filled with drawings, rants, reviews, poetry, photography, and more. As we continued it as a biannual publication, we refined the design and now make it as a digital, quality print on recycled paper.

It was really important to us that, from the start, we had an ‘open submission’ policy – that anyone could submit anything (within reason) and we’d print and distribute it. We really enjoy offering an open, non-commerical, non-profit platform for alternative views and creative output.

In the past few years we’ve expanded to design, publish and distribute other titles, from solo photography zines to event guides, and we also produce lino and screen prints. We’re excited to be launching screenprinted t-shirts later in the year, as well as two new regular titles – focusing on photography and arts/activism.

We really enjoy the sense of community around the zine scene, whether receiving submissions, orders and comments from around the world, or travelling to zine fairs.

You can find us online at: twigsandapples.tumblr.com, @twigsandapples, and ‘Twigs and Apples Publishing‘ on Facebook. We have an Etsy as well as being stocked in shops across the North (see our blog for a list of stockists) – and we’re always looking for new stockists!

If you’d like to contribute, take a look at our site for more of an idea of our content. Topics regularly include: film, music, philosophy, poetry, vegan recipes, anarchism, fiction, environment, politics, travel, art, craft, and more.

More: Website | Etsy | Facebook | Twitter

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Find more zines we’ve featured here.

Are you an Artist? Writer? Musician? Critic? Has the recession and past year of cultural, social and political unrest affected you or your practice? Or what you or your work now explores, engages, and deals with? The aim of this project is to challenge the notion that art and artists must passively engage with politics. Why aren’t we on the front line – Or more appropriately the front bench?

I feel passionately about this project as I am a part of the 99%.  – A young artist, a woman and a human being. It is so important that a strong and equal relationship is cultivated between those in power and those affected by the decisions made by the government, universities or the police force for example. Our generation must care about politics. We need to engage, challenge and construct a future for ourselves we feel comfortable and empowered in. We need to have a voice – A voice that does not necessarily have to shout, demonstrate and riot. There is a huge and justified frustration within my generation but we need to have a clear direction and ultimate goal that is driven by the youth of today.

On a personal level I am developing this project as I feel my engagement with politics is too basic; I want to challenge and refine my political and intellectual knowledge and become more involved with politics. And within my practice I want challenge myself conceptually and aesthetically – How do you convey a movement, a frustration, a collapsing society? I want to use my practice to push my creativity and political voice. I have always been interested in politics but am only starting to find my own point of view and position both as an artist and person. I also think it is important that this struggle is kept in the newspapers, minds and convocations of the public. The Occupy movement is brilliant as it has highlighted and raised awareness of the issues we face globally but there needs to be a considered and direct approach within the UK surrounding issues such as the enforcement of university fees, the dismantlement of the NHS and unemployment.

I am looking to work with and document people who feel they have something to express. If the ideas I have talked about engage your mind, values or political voice I would like to explore you ideas visually and also take your portrait.  I have already had some great responses to my photographic social documentary. Painters. Students. Photographers.  Friends. Business owners. Gallery workers…

This is an ongoing project and I would like it to reach as wider breadth of people as possible. I want to represent people from the 99%…

Where can art go next?

This is the way the artist’s world ends. This is the way the art world ends. This is the way the world ends. Not with a bang but a whimper.

If you would like to get involved please don’t hesitate to contact me on stellaheathkeir@aol.com or you can reach me by phone on 07733320110.

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