N.Y.C.-based editor/designer Hamish Robertson is a busy man. You would think that being the online design editor of Vanity Fair would be time-consuming enough, right? Yet somehow Robertson finds time to create websites for well-known businesses (like vegan treatery, Babycakes), publish zines and prints as Brown Griffin (from his Brooklyn apartment), and curate Afterzine, a beautifully compiled arts and culture publication.
Featuring a collection of works that surround a particular theme per issue, Afterzine showcases ultra-cool photography, illustrations, stories, and more by ultra-cool people from around the world: Mike Mills, Alexa Chung, Miranda July, Zooey Deschanel, Tavi Gevinson, and on and on. With a limited edition run of just 1,000 copies, Issue No. 2’s theme “coincidence” is loosely threaded throughout its colorful loose-leaf newsprint pages. And when Robertson gathers submissions and finds other commonalities, those are woven in as well. So, in essence, the artists dictate the direction of the contents en masse. It’s like a temporary collective. Brilliant! Case in point: Issue 2 ultimately evolves (unintentionally) into an exploration of the city of Los Angeles. Who knew?
What I love most about Afterzine is its warmth. It is artistic yet unpretentious, intimate yet all-encompassing. For example, writer Andi Teran’s interview with film director/designer Mike Mills about his recent movie, Beginners, includes a large spread of the artist’s drawings. It’s like checking out his personal sketchbook. And the interview isn’t…well, stuffy like some arts zines can be. Overall, Robertson’s Afterzine is the perfect accessory for a sunny autumn day. Just tuck it under your arm and head to the coffee shop. I’d like to add a big-ass chocolaty concoction with whipped cream to this fantasy. Perfect. Why can’t I be doing this right now? Anyway, you can buy Afterzine at Brown Griffin’s website for $10.
images (c) Afterzine, Hamish Robertson, Brown Griffin
