Shotgun Seamstress

Shotgun Seamstress is a fanzine by, for, and about black punk rockers published by Osa Atoe since 2009. The first six issues are compiled in Shotgun Seamstress Zine Collection, a book published in 2012 by Mend My Dress Press.

Description of Shotgun Seamstress zine from Shotgun Seamstress on Facebook:

"Based on the experience of isolation in being one of the only black kids in the punk scene, Shotgun Seamstress exists for those of us who grow up in the margins of subculture. This fanzine proves that punk isn't a 'white thing' through countless examples of intersecting identities and black creativity, mostly within the realm of punk rock. Black folks need DIY culture. That way, we can be encouraged to be active participants and creators instead of passive consumers of corporate culture. Shotgun Seamstress includes tons of interviews with the likes of James Spooner ("Afro-Punk" director), Brontez Purnell, Mick Collins of The Gories, Kali Boyce of Nasty Facts, Trash Kit (UK), DJ Soul Sister, Poly Styrene of X-Ray Spex, and more."

Anthology book

The first six issues are compiled in Shotgun Seamstress Zine Collection. A first edition was published in 2012 by Mend My Dress Press.

A second edition of the book was published as Shotgun Seamstress: the complete zine collection on November 29, 2022 by Soft Skull Press. To celebrate the launch of the second edition Osa held a panel launch with Osa in discussion from Black zinesters including Alex Smith (Arkdust), Ray Aggs (I Trust My Guitar zine), Ambrose Nzams (Demystification zine) and Fabiola Ching (Hermetic State) at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington D.C.

Shotgun Seamstress is one of the titles featured in the 2023-2024 exhibition at Brooklyn Museum devotd to artist-made zines, Copy Machine Manifesto.

External Links

• Shotgun Seamstress website
• Anthology second edition launch event information at DC Public Library website