An Independent Arts and Culture Guide
MICE, the Massachusetts Independent Comics Expo, is back, live and in person Since 2010, MICE has been an annual community celebration of creativity and expression – the biggest and longest-running independent comics festival in New England. Now, after a 2-year pandemic hiatus, the show will return on October 22 - 23 to a new venue: Boston University’s Fuller Building, at 808 Commonwealth Ave. Boston, MA. As ever, MICE will host a dazzling and diverse crowd of independent comics creators from Boston and beyond. Over 180 exhibitors will gather to share and sell an enormous range of comics, from hand-crafted zines to published graphic novels. Best of all, MICE is free and open to all ages! Not to be missed is MICE’s free-to-all extensive programming which includes hands-on workshops, where beginners can get an introduction to the medium of comics, and even experienced creators can explore the craft from inking to Risograph printing. Panel discussions explore themes and issues in independent comics today such as challenged LGBTQIA+ graphic novels and a spotlight on the Puerto Rican comics scene. Special Guest creators include Sara Alfageeh (Squire), Gale Galligan (The Babysitter’s Club), Joel Christian Gill (Fights), Malaka Gharib (I Was Their American Dream), Alex Graudins (Improve), Maia Kobabe (Gender Queer), Jarrett J. Krosoczka (Hey Kiddo), Marika McCoola (Slip), Dave Ortega (Días de Consuelo), Aatmaja Pandya (Slip), Steenz (Heart of the City), and Molly Mendoza (Skip). Don’t miss this fun and inclusive community arts festival with free admission! MICE will be held on Saturday, October 22 from 11am 6pm, and Sunday, October 23 from 11am - 5pm, at the Fuller Building of Boston University, 808 Commonwealth Avenue in Brookline. Masks are required! www.micexpo.org
When: October 22 - 23 Where: Boston University
Enter the Boudoir: Queer Arts Collective Keeps the Beat Alive w/ Monthly Events Boudoir is a queer arts collective that organizes unforgettable underground events, blending dance music with other art forms to foster a vibrant and sustainable queer community in Boston. Founded in 2019, the collective consists of five of the city’s hottest and most beloved DJs: Adam Unknown, Bricklayer, Math3ca, Ms. Mango, and Mx. Blaire. “Having five of us on the team allows us to combine our individual creative inspirations and come up with something that feels fresh and unexpected,” Bricklayer notes. Boudoir’s music tastes, grounded in house and techno, mirror the dynamism and diversity of the collective as well as the trendsetting audiences who come to dance the night away. After all, the dance floor is a site of possibility and transformation. As Mx. Blaire says, “we build spaces for queer folks to gather, to be in community, to love. It’s important because so much healing can happen.” Besides its monthly parties at Union Tavern in Somerville, Boudoir has hosted popup events at some of the city’s most desirable venues, from the ICA Boston to Garage B to Boiler Room at Big Night Live. “We’ve grown,” Adam Unknown observes, “but our core party ethos hasn’t changed in terms of intended audience, music, and freedom of expression.” Nevertheless, the party is a response to the scarcity of queer spaces in the cityscape. According to Math3ca, “the lack of dedicated queer spaces has to do with gentrification as well as hyper-restrictive liquor laws. Allowing underground events to have access to more venues will allow a new queer scene to thrive.” How does Boudoir envision its future? Ms. Mango, for one, is excited for the party to expand while it continues to meaningfully use art to cultivate pleasure, intimacy, and togetherness: “Whether it’s more folks coming to our parties or having the opportunity to play at larger venues, I hope we can continue to give more safe spaces to queer people who want to hear good music.” See you at Union Tavern on October 1st! —Boudoir, @entertheboudoir LAYOUT DESIGN:
Phoebe Delmonte: p.1, 4, 5 Hannah Blauner: p.2, 3, 7 Adrian Alvarez: p.6, 8 THIS PAPER IS AN ONGOING PROJECT OF BRAIN ARTS ORGANIZATION, INC., A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT. PLEASE CONSIDER DONATING TO, VOLUNTEERING OR OTHERWISE SUPPORTING US: BRAIN-ARTS.ORG
THIS PROGRAM IS SUPPORTED IN PART BY A GRANT FROM THE BOSTON CULTURAL COUNCIL, A LOCAL AGENCY WHICH IS FUNDED BY THE MASSACHUSETTS CULTURAL COUNCIL, AS ADMINSTRATED BY THE MAYOR'S OFFICE OF ARTS + CULTURE