You: I’ve been waiting forever for the next new issue of ARTitude Zine. What’s going on?

Me: Thanks for asking! Due to circumstances largely beyond my control, it turns out that Issue #26 / Women of Substance will be the final issue of ARTitude Zine. I gathered great material for an Issue #27, but suffered a catastrophic computer failure that wiped out nearly everything. Meanwhile, there have been numerous personal and family matters that have required a great deal of my time and energy, and there’s just no bandwidth left to try to pull together one more issue. I’m genuinely sorry, but also quite relieved.

You: Um, I wrote you an article to use in Issue #27…

Me: I apologize to the wonderfully talented artists who supplied fantastic artwork and projects for Issue #27 – your contact info disappeared in the Great Computer Cataclysm of 2009 so if you’ll be so kind as to email me, I’d love to discuss presenting your material here on the website…where it will probably garner much more exposure, actually!

You: I paid for Issue #27.

Me: Yes, there were a few dozen people who prepaid for Issue #27. Unfortunately, my subscriber database was lost in the computer disaster, too, so I’m not sure who you are or how much you paid (most of the orders were at a discount off the planned $14 cover price). If you can provide proof-of-purchase and would like to request a refund or an alternate solution, please contact me and we’ll work something out. I have tons of nifty art papers to share, or perhaps there is a back issue you’re missing… I promise I’ll make good on this.

You: Why did you decide to stop publishing the zine?

Me: Lots of reasons. Actually, the decision was kind of taken out of my hands. My mother has been ill for a long time, and her situation took a significant nosedive in 2008. I’ve spent the past two years with my time, focus and energy split between two cities while trying to manage Mom’s care and remain gainfully employed. In short, I’m exhausted. I truly need time to rest and regroup. There are a million creative ideas in my head but I never get to play around with them because there are always orders to ship and pages to lay out and ad space to fill and bills to pay and yada yada yada. Now I will have a chance to try something new.

Also, it seems like there are a zillion publications out there now, whereas back in 2001 when ARTitude Zine arrived on the scene, there were very few magazines competing for the same readers, artwork and dollars. In a world where Stampington publishes a glossy special-topic magazine on every conceivable special topic, how can a little zine like ARTitude stay afloat? I wish I knew.

It’s frustrating because I think the zine kept getting better and better all the time, but fewer and fewer people contributed their artwork to it because they preferred to be published in big-name magazines. And I can’t say I blame them!

ARTitude Zine was founded, in part, to provide a way for more people to share their artwork with the world. These days, it is so much easier to get your work into the public eye via the multitude of publications and the internet. It may be that ARTitude simply outlived its usefulness. Sigh! It happens.

You: I will miss ARTitude Zine.

Me: Me too! Believe me, nobody will miss it more than I. But I realized earlier this year that letting it go is the right thing to do right now.

I’ve read that, every seven years, our bodies have replaced every cell at least once. That means (literally!) that you and I are completely different people today than we were when ARTitude was born. We’ve come full circle. We’ve learned so much! We’ve gained a lot of confidence. We’ve discovered new avenues for expression. We’ve enjoyed being a part of this dynamic community of creative souls, and I like to think that that community is not going away.

Thank you again for your enthusiasm, encouragement, inspiration and participation over the years. It’s been a blast! I am so proud of all of us. :)

XO