Alternate Archives Zine Workshop

Join us for a hands-on afternoon making a zine to document the lore you carry within. You are led by folklorist and archivist of Irish American song, zine-maker and performer Melanie Beth Curran. Curran will not only lead you through the process of preserving some part of your own heritage - - be it a song, a tale, or a sensation - - she will deliver a message, a rousing speech, on why we need to craft alternate archives, documenting ourselves, reclaiming fractured lines of local history before crumbling social media-scapes become the final resting place of personal meaning. The stakes cannot be higher for physical media’s comeback. Come put your dreams on paper; regain the autonomy of your imagination. 

What is a zine? A zine is an independently made publication that follows a do-it-yourself philosophy emphasizing expression and connection over exploitation and alienation. -Brooklyn Museum. In other words, it’s a homemade book about whatever you like. 

This workshop takes place in The Burren Tea Room (Formally Keane’s) in the Woodlawn neighborhood of the Bronx. 

Food and refreshments available. Workshop is Noon-3pm with time for mingling before and after. 

Tickets are $15 if booked online and $20 at the door. Zine making materials provided, but please bring your own if you like!

Curran will be selling zines from her own series on Irish American life. You can browse the titles at this website: www.melaniebethcurran.bigcartel.com

Melanie Beth Curran is a New York City-based folklorist, traditional musician, Irish American Song Saver, and writer.

She is the author of “Happy Within: An Irish American Songbook”. Her live performance “takes you on this journey through the evolution of Irish American music” -Rick Steves Monday Night Travel, by “pulling field recordings through the annals of time and sharing them with a new generation of folk music enthusiasts.” -Courtney Fox (@thefoxandtheivy).

Curran’s performance transports listeners back and forth over centuries of musical history and landscape, all while “shifting narratives around the Irish-American experience through music” -Hannah Mayree, Black Banjo Reclamation Project. Fans of traditional American song, hidden histories, and Irish musicality will delight in Curran's performance of forgotten traditionals and “rousing originals” -The Irish Echo. Melanie was a Fulbright recipient for her work documenting the living musical traditions of Bretagne, France.

“We had the privilege of catching one of Melanie’s shows in Rhode Island a few months ago and were blown away. Her Irish American songbook is incredible, as well as her deep research and commitment to keeping these songs alive.” -Jason Principi, Thee Phibbs

WEBSITE: https://melaniebethcurran.com/ 

YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/melaniecurran 

SOUNDCLOUD: https://soundcloud.com/melaniecurran/sets/irish-american-songs 

BANDCAMP: https://melaniecurran.bandcamp.com/ 

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/the_melaissance/

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