ARTISTS TALKING

Leisure Centre is a new art publication. It is A6, black and white and put together without staples or glue using a cunning folding technique that can be turned in on itself to reveal the Underside. This first issue is free, although future editions may have a cover price. It is, to all intents and purposes, a classic fanzine (despite stating in its opening spread that it is more “school magazine than fanzine”), and its content has all the idiosyncrasy that this genre implies. A ‘zine (in case you’re not sure) is a self-published magazine usually utilising lo-fi production values and techniques and is often devoted to a favourite band or football team.

So what about the content, you ask? Well, this is The Games Edition and to this end there are pieces on tobogganing, throwing dice and origami. Overall, however, the tone is mock magazine with fake small ads, a cross-stitch crossword, and pretend weather and horoscope columns. There are also art reviews, which really are the only firm indication that Leisure Centre is an art publication. I worry a little that the casual reader picking up the ‘zine in the various galleries it is available in around Portsmouth and Southampton, will not understand the point. It could be that it is all a little too esoteric and the mock magazine tone will hopefully be dispersed with in future issues as a more individual, positive personality is developed.

Really though, any criticism is superfluous, as there can never be too many publications out there. Each one affords a voice to its contributors and is a vital aspect in forming art identities. The next issue is the Location Location Location Geography Edition – so get your contributions in now and make yourself heard.