We were lucky to catch up with Stephanie Gonzales recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Stephanie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
I’ve been appreciating/collecting/making zines for close to 15 years now and I love being a part of this community. I started making zines as a way to calm my anxiety and to give my artwork tangibility. I found that photographic themed zines didn’t really have a place in the zine world, so I created a photography only zine library called Wallflower Zine Library.
Wallflower Zine Library is a photography only zine library that currently lives at the Gowanus Community Darkroom in Brooklyn, NY. We are dedicated to sharing and preserving zines made by underrepresented artists from all backgrounds. Our mission is to give fellow photo-zine makers a platform to share their work and encourage them to keep making it, as well as inspire anyone else interested in creating zines and self-published works.
I started out cataloging from my own collection and then began receiving and reviewing submissions from all around the world. It’s just been so much fun for me, sometimes I feel like I’m the one getting the most out of this library! It feels good to create something and share it and I hope our library inspires more people to do that.
Stephanie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I’m not surprised you’ve never heard of me before! I’m a photographer (mostly) and most of my photography is lifestyle based. I shoot with film because it’s just simply better than digital and just way more fun. I love people and you’ll notice most of my work is portraiture, of those close to me and sometimes of strangers. I try to take photos of everything I love so I will never forget. I prefer for the viewer to create the meaning.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
“The role of the artist is exactly the same as the role of the lover. If I love you, I have to make you conscious of the things you don’t see.”
― James Baldwin
Read Art and Fear by David Bayles and Ted Orland
I thoroughly enjoy proving people wrong and dominating male dominated spaces. Anger and spite are big motivators for me as well!
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
Simply being around fellow weirdos and outcasts. It’s so much less lonely here.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.gonzagraphy.com
- Instagram: foofina666
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/gonzagraphy
- Other: Wallflower Zine Library on Instagram @wallflowerzinelibrary
Image Credits
Me :)