Zine workshop participants hard at it. Photo: Renée Harper.
by Kaihen Harwood
For those of you who aren’t familiar with me, I’m Kai. I do art. I try to do activism, and I try to make both those things come together. Somewhat recently, I’ve gotten into zines: little self-published books made up of poetry, collage, comics, stories, instructions or other forms of visual art.
What I love the most about them is how “underground” they are. Zines are meant to be hidden between shelves in the library, exchanged or shared in a variety of other ways. They’re raw, genuine, unpolished and are fairly accessible to make.
This got me thinking about other kinds of underground art happening within the Kootenays—art that often goes unrecognized but is vital to our culture, communities and arts scenes. So I set out to investigate. What other underground art and artists could I find?
I only got a chance to chat with five different folks, but each of them told really neat stories about art, community and relationship. This sample barely scratches the surface of the cool, subversive artists in the area, but I wanted to give the people I spoke to a bit of a shout out. Be sure to check them out if you’re interested in learning more about their art and community impact.
Sylvie Le Sylvie
Sylvie Le Sylvie (they/them) is a tattoo artist working in Winlaw, who has been tattooing for nearly 20 years. They also do painting, lino printing, drawing and make queer pride flags out of felt and fabrics.
Sylvie has been living in the Kootenays for 11 years. “Part of moving to Slocan Valley,” they say, “is that there are so many artists and musicians. It’s a little off-cuff and a quieter space, but there’s still stuff going on.”
When discussing tattooing, they say, “it’s not entirely an art form. It’s also a service and a craft. Tattoos can help people feel more grounded in their body or appreciate it in a new way.”
To them, connection and art go hand-in-hand. In the future, they want to bring more community arts events to the area. “You’re often stuck making art on your own,” they say, “but I want to create opportunities to make it with more people.”
Instagram: @sylvielesylvie
Brittan McClay
M.A.M.A.S. Mini Gallery. Photo: Britann McClay.
As a final project to complete her (she/her) art therapy diploma, Britt created the M.A.M.A.S. project, or Mini Art Museum and Supplies. The idea was to create an accessible art space where anyone can showcase their work, swap art supplies and reduce the waste that often comes along with having too many unused art supplies.
McClay was surprised by the amount of human-to-human connection the project has generated. She’s watched as the galleries have shifted over time and observed how the art reflects the people living close by. “There’s a lot of mutual care for the galleries,” she explains. “I think they bring a lot of joy and an increased sense of faith in the community.”
Her advice for folks interested in starting their own mini galleries? “Just do it!” she says. “If you don’t have the skills to do something, just reach out to the community. I’ve seen lots of people interested in helping, and it’s an opportunity to get to know other folks in the area.”
Facebook: M.A.M.A.S Nelson BC, Instagram: @m.a.m.a.s_nelson_
Renée Harper
Zine workshop participants hard at it. Photo: Renée Harper.
Renée (she/they) is primarily an instructor of literature, creative writing and comic books at Selkirk College, but she’s also a painter and writer, and has brought her experience with zines and self-published mediums to the Kootenays. Working with fellow writer Leesa Dean, she also helped co-create Selkirk’s literary magazine, Black Bear Review.
“The future of the Kootenays is underground art,” she says, talking about zines and other self-published models of artistic creation. With the rise of AI and its dehumanization of artistic voice, she says that “creating art in community and embracing non-traditional publishing models is increasingly important.” Art isn’t always meant to be polished, clean or perfect, but rather, “the future of art is in embracing the messiness of human voice and real-life connections.”
Black Bear Review was established for this reason, to bring students (and eventually the wider community) together to create something that “celebrates the diverse voices of the region.”
Black Bear Review Instagram: @black_bear_review, reneeharper.ca
LBee the Drag Jack
LBee the Drag Jack in character. Photo: Alisha Kastrukoff.
LBee the Drag Jack (she/they) is a Kootenay-based drag artist and producer. Don’t know what a drag Jack is? That’s because they made it up! In their own words, “I didn’t feel like a drag king or queen, and those terms feel binary when gender’s a spectrum. Jack gives a more ‘every person’ feel. Jack of all chaos, master of fun!”
To LBee, community comes first and foremost. “Punk and drag are intrinsically connected,” they explain. “It’s a place where the misfits are able to come together in counterculture, underground spaces. It goes beyond inclusion and into belonging—something that’s often missing in society.”
LBee strives to not just create artistic spaces that are physically accessible, but also considers things like transportation, aid networks or ticket pricing when it comes to inclusivity. “If the table’s too small,” they say, “we just keep adding more table sections. I think of it as a beautiful, limitless, mismatched kind of table, and that’s how art and community can thrive.”
Instagrams: @lbee_thedragjack, @hardleatherhoney, @the_flailinglovers
Mary—Niight Janiitor
Mary (she/her) is a multidisciplinary artist. While she’s more known for her tattoo work, she has a formal education in fine arts and had previously been working as a painter. Tattooing is “kind of an amazing medium,” she says. “Your canvas is sentient and talking back to you.”
Working out of Strange Society Tattoos in Nelson, Mary was able to find support and acceptance exactly when she needed it. It’s about the art, but it’s also about how that art and the people who practice it were able to create a space for her to “become who I am as both a person and an artist.” Having found that, she said she’s “forever grateful and wanting to pass that on in the best way she can.”
Mary holds occasional “Queer Speakeasies,” places where queer folks can gather, connect and celebrate their various art. “I want to create spaces that people can walk past and just know that it’s safe for them, spaces where people can come together and practice their art.”
Instagram: @niightjaniitor
