A new Edmonton-based independent magazineMeet Marker, one of AMPA's newest member magazines. We asked Brnesh Berhe, art/editorial director and publisher, to give us the low-down on this bi-annual publication. What five words would you use to describe Marker, and why? Bold. Socially Conscious. Quirky. Independent.This whole operation is very small, and runs more like a zine than a magazine in a lot of ways. It's also been great to see the kind of interesting stories and visuals that have come from the writers, photographers, and illustrators who have contributed. Why did you create Marker?I've loved print magazines since I was itty-bitty. When I was a kid and obsessed with boy-bands I bought J-14 religiously. Then, when I got a bit older and actually developed some taste, I would pick up Radar (my favorite, but no longer in print) or Spin, Esquire, NME...I'm a fan of a lot of local publications too, and remember picking up Notebook or Parlour back in the day and thinking it was so awesome that they were small, local ventures. I honestly just felt I could add to the mix with a bit of a different perspective on things. I'm interested in local art and music, politics, activism, but I also like highlighting people, scenes, and stories that may otherwise not get as much attention in other publications; like the local punk scene for example.On a personal note, at the time of me actually getting the guts to do this, I was working for a company that I loved and respected with every fiber of my being (can you feel the sarcasm?). It opened my eyes to the idea of working for myself, and this sudden urge to be my own boss and do things my way really manifested itself during that time. It was great; even though I wanted to start a magazine for a few years at that point, had I not gone through that experience I probably would've never had the confidence to follow through with it.Where did the title Marker come from?It came from me struggling for a year to come up with a name, haha. I was looking for something that would tie in both the arts side of the magazine with the socially conscious side as well. After writing down a bunch of words in my notebook, the word "marker" came up and I had my a-ha moment. While a marker is literally a thing you use to write, draw, create, it's also part of a statement: "Make a Mark"; do something that will make a difference. It worked perfectly.How has Marker changed since your first issue?It's definitely evolved, both esthetically and editorially. I changed up the format of the last issue and have more consistent design elements that run throughout. Editorially, I've been lucky to have a few of the writers contribute quite regularly, and with that comes a level of trust which has allowed for some really strong (and sometimes out there) pieces, ranging from street art in Egypt to cock fights in Spain. With each issue there's definitely more confidence all around.Why should people read Marker?Because supporting independent magazines is good for your health.What makes Marker different from other literary magazines? I don't really think of it as just a literary magazine. It emphasizes art, music, and socially conscious stories, so that could mean publishing a piece of poetry about racism, to interviewing a local illustrator. I guess it's a bit broad, but that's a deliberate decision on my end. I like the idea of someone picking up the magazine because they wanted to check out an interview with a certain musician then coming across an article about press freedom in Canada. If you had to pick one Marker article/story as your favourite, what would it be and why?This one's tough because there's definitely at least a couple that I can think of right off the bat, but a personal favorite is a fiction piece called "Utility" from issue five. When the writer, Caleb, first pitched this to me I didn't really know what to expect. But I'm glad I trusted him, because when he sent me the final piece I was really impressed; it had me laughing out loud within the first few lines. It's also the story that people tell me about or message me about the most.I had always wanted to include fiction in Marker, and with the exception of one poem in the second issue, "Colorblind" by Alam Sadik (another personal favorite of mine) I never actually had any fiction pieces in the magazine. This pretty much solidified that this was something I wanted in every issue moving forward.Any hints/sneak-peeks you can share about what readers will find in the next issue of Marker?Well, the latest issue was released a couple weeks ago and features Reggie Watts on the cover, which is huge since I tried to get him in my first issue. There's also a profile on Edmonton artist, Jill Stanton, and a feature on local music venue owners. It goes pretty in depth about why they got started and what keeps them going, especially when they may not be making a lot of money in the process.Other than that, markermagazine.com is expanding quite a bit with more exclusive web articles and interviews, and we're developing video content as well which we're planning on rolling out later this year. We're bi-annual, so the next print issue is scheduled for release in April 2015.Where can people find Marker?The print version is available at select Edmonton locations around downtown, 124 Street, and Whyte/Strathcona, as well ad MacEwan and the U of A. We also sell copies at various zine and craft fairs, and will have it available for purchase online as well.
