ROOT-ed Zine
IG: @rootedzine
ROOT-ed (Revolution of our time) is an independent quarterly magazine and social platform, co-founded by Amber Akaunu and Fauziya Johnson, that promotes and supports creative people of colour based in the North West. They have participated on panels at Tate Liverpool, The Bluecoat, Liverpool’s centre for contemporary art, and have been awarded an artist residency with FACT Liverpool. They are currently selectors for the recently launched initiative Black Artist Grant. We talked to Amber and Fauziya about their important work in pursuit of representing and celebrating their community of artists in the art world.
You are both artists and met as fine arts students at university, what led you to start ROOT-ed Zine and platform?
AA: We both were in our final year of university and actually wanted to just collaborate on a piece of artwork. We were the only Black students and the work we were making was quite similar in theme. Through many discussions, that collaboration turned into ROOT-ed Zine.
FJ: We really wanted to platform artists like ourselves – Northern and non-white. We were very aware that we didn’t have the same access or opportunity when it came to pursuing a career in the arts and so we hoped ROOT-ed Zine would act as a space where creatives can be their authentic selves and get the praise and recognition they deserve and may not find elsewhere.
Amber Akaunu and Fauziya Johnson. Photo edit by Bido Lito.
From the start, you have done fundraising to support the creation and printing of ROOT-ed Zine. Could you tell us why this is important?
AA: We’ve naturally had to fundraise as the running costs of ROOT-ed are too large for us to fund from our own pockets. It’s such an honour to have people support the zine by both engaging with the things we do and also financially. Fundraising allows us to be authentic and not have to conform to criteria that may hinder some of the things we do.
FJ: I feel like ROOT-ed is truly a community led space that would not exist without the collective effort from the incredible artists we collaborate with and this really motivates us to do more to better serve our community.
You publish your magazine quarterly and are now going on your 11th issue under the theme ‘Work.’ Could you tell us a little about the themes and submission process for artists interested in being featured in your magazine?
FJ: Yes, so we have just released our 11th issue which was all about work. We tend to come up with a theme through inspiring art discussions and then invite creatives to submit a response to that theme with the medium they work in whether that is poetry, painting or hair styling.
AA: Actually, the first theme in our zine was our 4th issue called ‘Hair,’ which was actually based on our individual practice.
FJ: Yes, hair is such a big part of our identity so we were trying to provide a resource where people could talk about hair types, figure out what to do with it and also have a bit of fun. During the time of the hair zine was published we were doing a residency at FACT in Liverpool where we had panel discussions and events about hair. We’ve been very lucky to be within the arts to know how to navigate it.
AA: We have a page on our website dedicated to the submissions process (rootedzine.co.uk/submissions), however we are looking at ways to make the process simpler for both us and those who are submitting in the future.
ROOT-ed Zine, Hair, Issue 4.
What are you looking forward to next?
FJ: We plan to do more things in Manchester and support people in smaller towns in the North West as well. We should get more funding soon, which means more opportunities and office space.
AA: It has always been our dream to have our own community space where people who want to do podcasts, photography and creative can come take advantage of that.
Could you tell us about the Black Artists Grant?
AA: The White Pube are the minds behind the formation of this revolutionary grant and they put us in contact with Creative Debuts to be the selectors for the grant.
FJ: Over 2000 artists have applied for the Black Artist Grant and we can only give it to 9 people over the course of three months so that’s incredibly difficult.
AA: We’ve always wanted to do something like this as access to money and opportunity as a Black artist is very very limited – which we know first-hand as Black artists ourselves - so it’s really a dream to see something like this happen let alone be part of this incredible initiative.
ROOT-ed is excited to share with us the second recipients of the Black Artists Grant:
Isabelle Peters – Soprano
IG: @isabellepsop
Isabelle Peters.
Artist Statement:
Isabelle is a classical soprano from Bristol and a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the Royal Northern College of Music. Isabelle was a BAME Fellow at the English National Opera for their 2019/20 season and her recent opera roles include 1st Bridesmaid (English National Opera, The Marriage of Figaro, Mozart), ‘Pamina’ (Waterperry Opera Festival, Die Zauberflöte, 2019) and ‘First Lady’ (Cover/performed ‘Opera First’, Garsington, Die Zauberflöte, 2018). In August 2020 Isabelle looks forward to her role debut with Waterperry as ‘Fiordiligi’ in Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte. She regularly collaborates with pianists to perform Art Song repertoire and take part in music competitions. Most recently she was a 2020 ROSL Annual Music Competition Finalist and was due to begin rehearsals with the Welsh National Opera in August 2020 as an Associate Artist.
‘The Black Artists Grant is such a great help to me after a long period of cancelled work. Your support and celebration of black artists, of all genres, is a model for other organisations. Thank you.’ —Isabelle Peters
Web: www.isabellepeterssoprano.com
Email: isabellepeterssoprano@outlook.com
Tel: 07878757172
Chinaza Agbor
IG: @chinagbor
Chinaza Agbor.
Chinaza Agbor, Get Over it (You Think You Can Change Me), 2020. Oil on wood panel, 40x60.
Artist Statement:
Chinaza Agbor was born in Dallas, Texas. She is currently attending the Royal College of Art where she is pursuing her Masters degree in Painting. Chinaza’s current pieces focus on the conflicted reality of being a consumer whilst navigating a capitalistic society as a Black woman. She not only studies her own participation in consumer culture but the negative effects it has had on her psyche. Her work continuously dissects how economic mobility and class shape the Black experience.
‘Many people think that in order to discuss capitalism it must be obvious. Obvious as in painting jewellery and money and just ostentatious things and I understand where they come from because I once believed the same thing as well (example: my painting ‘Fine goods make the world go round’). However, as I’ve read more and understood capitalism more, I realised the very fabric of the black identity and how we live our day to day lives currently, is tied unequivocally to capitalism. When you were once the capital, your reality hardly shifts from that. So when I show a black couple kissing in a bar, I’m discussing capitalism. When I show three children staring at an audience from a beach, I’m discussing capitalism.’ —Chinaza Agbor
Brodie Arthur
IG: @Brodie_Arthur
Brodie Arthur.
Brodie's poem:
Stop looking for the flaws in your oh so perfect self. Your beauty can’t be matched nor can it be acquired through wealth. Your hair is not too tight and your legs are just right! You don’t need to lose sleep worrying through the night. I know the world around you is really dark and twisted, but you possess a power like no other you are gifted.
One day in the future you’ll see what I mean. Those nice things people said you’ll see what they seen. And when that day comes you’re gunna be ready. Your dreams will unfold fast and steady. You’ll see what you're worth and how your mind can be a liar. You're a living breathing truth that God truly loves a trier.
Now don’t go being wasteful with your precious time. You’re allowed to protect yourself and say ‘it’s not yours it’s mine’.
Pay no mind to what they do and say when things don’t go their way.
Because their times been and gone, you’re yet to have your day.
So to my baby self if I could tell you just one thing, you have no idea of the happiness you’ll bring. Love yourself with no single thought, because the love inside you can never be taught xxx
Brodie's statement:
My name is Brodie Arthur and I am a Liverpool-born actor, facilitator and writer. Starting off in 20 Stories High youth theatre in 2008, I went on to work professionally for the company with a number of plays which received 4 star reviews. I am currently developing my poetry and playwriting skills with ‘Writing on the Wall,’ as well as championing freelance artists in Liverpool as part of the National Freelance Task Force. I have written a piece in response to black lives matter which can be located on YouTube and my Instagram page. I am also an experienced workshop facilitator, specialising in theatre with young people. I have experience working with vulnerable adults and children also. I was lucky enough to work with a company called ‘TIPP’ (Theatre In Probations And Prisons’ where I was a freelance arts practitioner with youths on high intensive probation orders. This is where my true passion for facilitating workshops was born. I had learned about it when completing my arts award and done some workshops as part of it but that was my first paid role. I am currently touring a piece of doorstep theatre around the area and surrounding areas of Liverpool 8. The piece was created by Brodie and Keith Saha. Brodie is also performing in the piece. Brodie is also a budding entrepreneur and has just started up a beauty business, specialising in handmade eyelash strips.
My friend tagged me in a post about the BAG and I didn’t think for a second I would be chosen. I thought it was an amazing idea and also a great incentive for people who may not be feeling so creative in these trying times! I love my people so the fact it was for black people made it even better. I sent it to a few other people and posted it to my page and then a few days later I applied. When I received the email saying congratulations I literally screamed my flat down. I’ve been umming and ahhing about projects I want to do and now I can use the money to invest in those ideas! I’m completely overwhelmed and grateful. Thank you to the people at Creative Debuts and ROOT-ed magazine and also 20 Stories High for believing in me and my dreams!
All images courtesy of ROOT-ed and the artists.