Mushroom Doodles

A few days before the Know Your Mushrooms Possible World's event at Red Rattler, I asked myself: Can I make a zine as well as help organise all the decorations/installations for the night? Zine making for Punk Monk Propaganda- involved events has become a tradition of sorts for fellow Punk Monkey Alexander and I and somewhat of an obsession since we thought we'd try it out at ALGAE RHYTHM 0.01 earlier in the year.

Crafting this zine was especially fun as I explored the mushroom santa theory, anti- drug propaganda posters, old shaman rituals and ancient cultural practises with mushrooms, subverted penis envy and with Alex's collaboration and ever-valuable contributions doodled my way until completed was a zine.

The feedback on the night was really flattering and I even spied some young men fleeing the scene with more than their share of zines and silver shiny mushrooms, magic glinting in their mischievous eyes. A zine with catcus mushroom smudges lay atop the tinned stash, Director Ron Mann tells me about his research on comics (Comic Book Confidential) and how much he loves our zine is and at the end of the night there are no zines left in the FREE ZINES box and not a single one is left behind abandoned. Very satisfying for what was meant to be a throw together zine.

Additionally we found the cheapest photocopying place thus far in the heart of china town (Thanks Karina for this one!). Listen up fellow zine makers:

"Design and Print"

413-415 Sussex Street, Haymarket 2000

0292800839

We photocopied something like 210 pages for 15 bucks. The crazy lady running the extremely busy shop said we could have 400 pages for 20 bucks... but we opted to pay 5 bucks less and not have to take care of that many pages. We were in and out in no time chuffed! Our new favourite hangout is Design and Print Chinatown, what an experience!

Ever want one of our zines just contact: clare@punk-monk.com (that's me). All our zines are a labour of love and therefore free to all.

Before Tomorrow: Why must we die?

Before Tomorrow is a unique cinematic experience. I felt incredibly blessed I was able to watch it- and it was only by random chance that I decided to go. Once the film begun I realized that I was meant to witness this beautiful and tragic tale. The film’s main narrative surrounds a boy and his grandmother dispossessed from their Inuit tribe whose fate they alone escaped. To survive they narrate and create stories. The grandmother leads with great burden in her heart but with complete love speaking of a greater place and they wander two lone seekers towards an unreachable horizon. What would it be like to be the last two people on earth?

The harsh and untamable force of the Arctic environment, the experience of almost complete loss and grief and the physical turmoil of desperate search for life presents a very different and pathos reality over idealized utopia of grandmother’s story. There is an underlying sensation of endlessness which brings out a vicarious fear for audiences, as they imagine the horror of being ‘left behind’. However, the film is an uplifting one, with a beautiful message and a powerful image of the Inuit as joyful, loving humans who depend upon the powerful ties within their tribe and laugh heartily at the very newly discovered oddities of western culture blissfully unaware of it’s threat. The film presents this full circle- the spirits of those passed are called upon for guidance throughout with a beginning and closure of complete joy as given by the gift of family.

Presently lusciously, the cinematography generously documents with great detail and affection both the breathtaking and encapsulating landscape of the Tundra and the genuine presence and poignancy of its inhabitants. Not unlike a dream or meditation, the filmic rhythm slowly laps onwards, each moment savoured and given time to settle and each small piece of the journey moving us towards an enlightened state. The all female Arnait Video collective of North Canada have community, cultural preservation and storytelling down to a beautiful art form. Find and See Before Tomorrow.

The Spores Have Been Released!

Know Your Mushrooms, gem of Possible World's Canadian Film Festival premiered in Australia last Saturday night alongside a psychedelic carnivale of kaleidoscopic colour, dancing glowing bodies, circus tricks and pure devotion to the fungi. All hailed the man (Ron Mann) who brought us this combination of tripped out adventures, scientific teachings, fungi worship, pop culture pastiche and eye opening knowledge about the magic, joy and healing functions of the mushroom. The message: we can save the universe with the help of this prehistoric fungi, we just need to know it, love it, embrace it- Fungi phobia ends here.

Ron Mann accompanied the Punk Monk faeries and curious Sydney siders, travellers and mushroom gypsies in what he described as the most amazing celebration of his 2008 documentary to date. Who are all these amazing fire twirlers, hula hoopers, musicians, street artists, projection bombers, liquid light alchemists and chocolate cactus wizards? They’re our friends and friends of friends and friends of friends of friends who have been drawn out of the cracks of Sydney’s underground to do something interesting with their Saturday night and contribute to what makes Sydney such a wonderful place for collaboration and celebration.

The Inner West’s current coolest venue The Red Rattler (Marrickville) played the perfect host for the bubbling activities of the night; an alley way warehouse rescued by five queer women with a mission; to lower venue prices and provide a platform for artist run events and experiments. Anything can go down at a Red Rattler event so check them out: redrattler.org.

A copy of the Know Your Mushrooms zine featuring an ominous penis mushroom cover and a short film capturing some of the psychadelia mushroom vibe are coming to Lilith’s blogspot soon.

Stay tuned for a totally different experience as I embark on my next Possible World’s festival adventure: Darryl’s Hard Liquor and Porn Festival at Bobbi’s Pole Studio.

Possible World’s Canadian Film Festival is still running until Wednesday so check it out: possibleworlds.net.au

(All photos by Susie Stavert: susie@susiejstavert.com.au except this last one by Punk Monk Andy Finn- see more at awolmonk.blogspot.com)