Today we’d like to introduce you to Camille Lema.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I first moved to Austin in September of 2014, completely new to the city. Austin, I had heard, had a good reputation for a thriving art and music scene which was what drew me in. Ready for a fresh start, I moved from Portland Oregon down to Texas with not a clue as to what I should be doing next. I am an artist at heart and have always loved zines and comics. To meet other artists and make friends, I had this idea to start a zine that would share the work of artists to help them gain more exposure. Never did I think we would be where we are now 4 years later! The first issue of Free Rent was a collection of work from friends who supported our dream. My friend and I took the first few issues around to bars to get our name out there.
Eventually, as we got to make more connections in the art and music scene, we began hosting house show for our zine release parties. Over 100 people started attending these events which made us move to venues in town. As we continued to grow, Free Rent was ready to take off to other cities. Our team has been setting up at zine festivals around the country every year, making new friends and partnerships in the zine community. I have always loved the idea of Free Rent being a collaborative collective and we are finally reaching the point where we can do more than just make zines. It’s exciting to work with other artists who want to contribute to the art community as much as we do. I hope to see us evolve more and make a positive impact in our world today through the arts,
Please tell us about your art.
Free Rent is a submission-based art zine that is open to all types of artists looking to reveal their work to the world. We like to keep the material we produce diverse and full of a variety including photography, poetry, comics and more. I’ve always had a love for zines as well as comic books and wanted to be a part of that world. Sharing art creates community. It inspires and encourages others who may be shy about their own work to break out of their shell and pursue the gifts they have. As an artist, I also find this fueling to my own creative energy. I have been able to work with so many talented people! What our team does should be a positive experience to those we encounter AND support the creative community.
What do you think about conditions for artists today? Has life become easier or harder for artists in recent years? What can cities like ours do to encourage and help art and artists thrive?
I believe it will always take a lot of hard work to get to where you want to be as an artist. None of that journey is easy. However, social media has made it easier for artists to get their work out there and be recognized. With everyone on the internet and on their phones there really is no excuse as to why your work isn’t being seen. If the community can stay strong and work together to keep the art scene alive and thriving, that will encourage people to keep creating. I am seeing art events of all sorts everywhere these days. To be apart these events makes one feel like they have a place in this world. Art is meant to be shared. We can make more when we work together.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
We mostly sell our zines and comics at events which we often either participate in or host. Our team works hard to get out to zine festivals around the country so we can not only expand our audience, but also the audience of the artists we work with and distribute for. You can follow us on Instagram to keep up with what we are doing or Facebook to get involved in the events we throw.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.pressfestatx.com
- Email: freerentcrew@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/freerentatx
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/freerentatx
Image Credit:
Illustration by: Quimvaa
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