This is where thoughts become things.

Hi, I'm Daniela. Welcome to my personal lair on the Internet. This is where I write about storytelling, activism, technology and pop culture. Sometimes I post videos. I update my lair when the mood strikes me. Follow me on Twitter for daily updates (@dcap).

Tag : poc-zine-project

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Daniela Capistrano’s Artist Residency At The Ace Hotel In 2015

I’m doing a one night residency at the Ace Hotel New York as part of their ‪#‎24BY36‬ series the night of January 30, 2015. I will be making art zines that tell my story/experiences as the founder of POC Zine Project. This will be the first time I’ve ever participated in a publicly promoted event where my public face alone represents the POC Zine Project.

Daniela Capistrano, Ace HotelEver since I founded POCZP in 2010, I’ve always made an effort to not be “the face” of the work. The project was never about promoting myself – it started as a way to share and curate information about zinesters of color. I was always very uncomfortable with being the literal face of POCZP (I talk about why in an interview here) and would avoid interviews and public appearances that intended to center me as a spokesperson. I would pass on opportunities to other POC or include them in opportunities so I wasn’t the only person standing in front of a crowd functioning as a “representative” of POC zinesters (there isn’t one person who can represent all people of color).

After five years of resisting my face/identity being the representation of POCZP, I’m no longer afraid of anyone’s potential misunderstandings or assumptions. I’m taking opportunities tied to POC Zine Project’s work that support my own self-care process and my creative goals. I’m now OK with being the literal face of POC Zine Project in strategic ways that support the sustainability of the project and contribute to my own healing process.

The residency at the Ace Hotel New York is an opportunity for me to give 100 percent of my time and energy for one night into creating zines that help me to reflect on the past four years of running POCZP. I will be sharing these zines in print and online later this year and I look forward to all feedback. The Ace Hotel New York will also be adding the zines to their permanent collection of art.

My upcoming residency at the Ace Hotel New York isn’t my first artist residency. In 2010, I co-organized a 30 day artist residency in Paris with AM, a friend and collaborator. This residency in 2015 will be my first solo residency and I’m looking forward to seeing what I’m capable of creating in one night.

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SUPPORT POC ZINE PROJECT

We’ve been working on ways to remain sustainable in the long term while individually practicing self-care. In the meantime, you can support the cause by sending us a gift of any amount. All funds go to ongoing advocacy costs, the Legacy Series and the poverty zine series. If everyone in our community gave $10, we would more than meet our fundraising goals for 2015.

DONATE link via PayPal: http://bit.ly/SHdmyh

A @dcap recap: Daniela Capistrano’s favorite memories from 2012

I remembered that I did some sort of “2012 recap” a few months ago, and that a lot of significant stuff had happened since then, but I couldn’t remember what. I had to spend several hours eating chocolate and racking my memory banks, but the result of that sacrifice is the list of moments* below.

my feelings about access to air conditioning in #miami #hallelujah
Daniela Capistrano, self portrait (Nov. 23, 2012)

What you are about to read are the events from 2012 that make me feel good about being alive. What I am taking away from these memories are the following three lessons:

1) It’s really important to make yourself leave your house, even if it’s the last thing you want to do.

2) Channeling your anger into fuel for doing good things in the world is a lot less expensive than drinking a lot.

3) Sometimes you just need to take a self-timeout and have a popsicle before reacting in a harsh manner. Give yourself time to consider your response.

Enjoy the memories! It might make more sense if you scroll to the bottom and read it from January to December instead of December back to January, but, you know … do you 🙂

December 2012
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DCAP compendium: what’s happened so far in 2012, what’s to come

I’m constantly writing – just not on danielacapistrano.com, it turns out. I’ve found that it’s faster and more effective to connect with folks and access needed resources through my various social platforms – it works for me. And right now, with everything that is going on in my life, speed and ROI (investment being my time) is critical.

Later in the year, after some of the things go down that I’m about to list in this post, I am going to turn back to my website and make some decisions:

1) What do I want to do with danielacapistrano.com in 2013 and beyond?

2) How am I going to optimally incorporate danielacapistrano.com blog posts and other content into my already active online networks elsewhere?

3) Where will danielacapistrano.com end and dcapmedia.com begin (my in-progress business site)?

While I chew on these very important-to-me questions, here’s a compendium of links that represent my endeavors this year and upcoming things I’m excited about:

DCAP LINKS COMPENDIUM

POC Zine Project
I founded the People of Color Zine Project in 2010. Since then, a rotating cast of volunteers and I have organized events, provided mentorship to POC creating zines and supplied mini grants to several POC who needed them for zine-related costs and travel. I also, through POCZP, successfully advocated for more visibility and inclusion for people of color who create their own publications, particularly those who make zines.

Things really took off this year:
– I scanned and shared the first “Race Riot” compilation as a free e-zine/download (with permission from the author).
– My organizers and I successfully planned and booked (and are really excited to begin) the Race Riot! tour through twelve cities, kicking off in NYC on Sept 24 and ending back in NYC on Oct 7.
– I successfully booked multiple paid speaking gigs on the tour route for POCZP to cover the costs of this 100% volunteer tour (big thanks in part to supporters who did email referrals).
– I partnered with Carey Fuller through POCZP to work on a zines series by and for folks living at or below the poverty line.
– I partnered with an amazing teen through POCZP to produce a zine series by and for black youth ages 15-25.
– I coordinated a partnership between Mimi Thi Nguyen, POCZP and Lisa Darms at the Fayles Library at NYU to receive a donation of zines by people of color for their collection, which will be referenced in an upcoming book through Feminist Press.
– I spoke about POC Zine Project and DIY community strategy at mediabistro’s inaugural Social Curation Summit.
– I went to Chicago in March with other POC Zine Project members to participate on a panel at Chicago Zine Fest … but I had the flu and just managed the livestream details from a friend’s guest room, snotty and barfy and miserable, then caught a plane to Cali for work.

I don’t want to give everything away right now, but next year is going to be huge for POC Zine Project. If you want to get a sense of what we’re about, you can watch the archived video of our first MEET ME AT THE RACE RIOT panel held at Barnard in November of 2011:

Ready for more! Yeah? OK, let’s do this:
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