FK chats to Jo Ellis from Sydney based Zine collective The Rizzeria
Can you tell us a little about the Rizzeria and the concept behind it?
The Rizzeria is a non-profit stencil press collective. We have a Riso RP3700 which prints one colour at a time from a wacky selection of nine spot colours. We make the machine available to people who want to use it through Open Print studio sessions and we teach people about stencil press printing in workshops. Stencil press printing has a unique DIY look and we love seeing what people create.
What are your backgrounds and how did you get involved?
A group of artists including zine-makers, illustrators and performers got together to purchase our stencil press. We operate through an organising collective and are always open to new volunteers.
What do you love about zines?
We love the democratisation of art production and consumption – almost everyone can afford to buy or make a zine.
Who or what inspires you and your work?
We’re inspired by amazing exhibitions at the Paper Mill (our current home), our stencil press cousins Blood and Thunder and others who help people learn old-school printing techniques, like Big Fag Press and Arcade Screen Printing.
