The new ‘Half Lit Zine’ showcases movie pictures from close to and much

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achel Dickson, a Reno-based artist and photographer, has been creating since she will be able to keep in mind. In faculty, she initially studied biology, then switched her focus to artwork, incomes a BFA from the University of Nevada, Reno, and later an MFA in studio artwork from the University of Connecticut. Her work—primarily pictures, but in addition video and stop-motion animation—has been proven in exhibitions all through Reno, throughout the U.S., and even in Italy.

Film pictures has grow to be Rachel’s main medium, she finds the sluggish and intentional course of—“taking the photo, not knowing what the photo actually looks like until you develop your roll”—deeply rewarding. “Having a physical material that that photo lives on, it’s kind of cemented in permanence,” she mentioned. “I also just like the idea of slowing down and being more patient when you’re photographing.”

Rachel’s newest venture, Half Lit Zine, is an impartial publication devoted completely to movie pictures. “I think I’ve always been interested in creating publications or small little projects,” she mentioned. “I just like how fast you could make something happen and get it into the hands of people.”

“Jumper” by Reno artist Hannah Cardwell is among the many movie pictures in Half Lit Zine’s first situation.

Rachel spent 5 years on the East Coast and returned to Reno in 2023. “I was coming out of teaching college, working a second job to make ends meet, and didn’t have the space for creativity,” she mentioned. The zine grew to become a method for her to reignite her inventive vitality.

The first situation of Half Lit Zine options photos from locals together with Hannah Cardwell—a multimedia artist, musician, illustrator, and photographer. To Rachel’s shock, she additionally acquired submissions from outdoors the U.S. The zine options just a few worldwide artists like Mikael Jalonen, a photographer from Turku, Finland.

Each contributor might submit as much as three pictures, and Rachel included one from each photographer, rigorously pairing photos to create visible conversations between them.

For Rachel, movie pictures and zines are pure companions as a result of each mediums embrace sluggish processes and a tactile reference to the work. “I think making it strictly film was very important to me,” she defined. “When you talk about film to someone in a digital age, they’re like, ‘Why would you do that?’ It takes a lot of money; it takes a lot of time. But it also allows us to slow down and pay attention. It’s kind of the same concept with the zine. …Having someone have a bond with a piece of paper that gives them feedback that feels good—it’s important.”

The zine’s title, Half Lit, displays each its aesthetic and Rachel’s connection to Reno. “Half Lit to me is like the ‘in-between.’ It’s that zone of being sort of cognizant and sort of sleepy,” she mentioned. “I also think it reminds me of Reno because the city is so vibrant, yet it has these little pockets of dinginess.”

While the primary situation is open-themed, Rachel plans to discover curated themes in future editions, doubtlessly inviting different photographers to co-design and curate.

She described her expectations for future submissions like this: “Even if you take film photographs casually … I think it doesn’t need to be new. They can be old. They can be snapshots. They can be candid. They don’t need to be this precious photograph. Don’t be afraid to submit, even if you don’t think that your photo fits—it probably will.”

For now, 200 copies are printed, and he or she is worked up to share the debut situation with the group on the official launch occasion.

The launch occasion for Half Lit Zine will happen on Saturday, Aug. 9 from 10 a.m. to midday at Magpie Coffee Roasters in Reno. The occasion will function a DJ, stickers on the market, and copies of the zine ($10).

To buy a duplicate of Half Lit Zine on-line, go to Rachel’s web shop.