Looking through the oldest issues of UPPERCASE magazine and bringing them back to (digital) life!
Through CD-ROMS, external drives, and documents "in the cloud," I have compiled digital versions of the first six years of the magazine. This was a time-consuming task, as I didn't create a full, final PDF of each issue back then, so I had to piece together the cover, interior pages, and any revisions made at the printer stage. Thankfully, I became more systematic and organized over time.
When I founded UPPERCASE magazine in 2008 (the first issue was released in April 2009), I did not foresee that I'd still be publishing it all these years later.
Of course, I hoped it would be a worthwhile creative endeavour and that it could eventually support my family (my son was born in 2010), but I had no idea how much work, time and dedication (stubbornness) it would entail. And that's a good thing—since I likely would have been significantly deterred.
With each quarterly issue, I learned and grew. With each passing year, my editorial vision came into focus. I'd say that around issue 12, I was starting to feel more confident. By issue 14, I felt like I had a "real" magazine (a commissioned photoshoot of children's book illustrator Oliver Jeffers and a cover by Jon Klassen—two of my book heroes when my son was small.)
By issue 16, I felt more familiar and comfortable with what I was doing in both my roles as editor and designer.
Issue 24, with a swatch of feed sack fabric hand-applied to each cover, will always be a favourite.
I invite you to discover these issues—you'll see how much UPPERCASE has evolved since the early days. All for the better, I think! But the youthful earnestness of the very first issues will always be close to my heart.
Accompanying the back issues is the "Re:issue" where each month a set of unearthed and updated articles are resurfaced in new, serendipitous ways. It's a fun way to get to know UPPERCASE, be reminded of creative stories that have influenced us in positive ways, and the people who have inspired us over the years. Even if you already have some of these back issues on your shelves, Re:issue will encourage you to look at them in new ways.
For me, looking through the UPPERCASE magazine archive is like going through a personal photo album. Each issue corresponds to a particular time in my life and the ups (and downs) of creating an independent, quarterly print magazine.
Although these back issues remind me of personal milestones, they also reflect moments in culture and world events. Illustration styles, visual motifs, typographic choices, pop culture references... these design and editorial choices mark a particular time.
When deciding on a theme to tie together this first re:issue compilation, I reminisced about the launch of the first issue of UPPERCASE when it was all about new ideas taking off and soaring, limitless dreams.
And the funny (early) meme: "Put a bird on it."
Remember that skit from Portlandia? That came out a few years after I launched the magazine (upon which I have put many birds on and within!)
So, it's a little tongue-in-cheek that "birds" are the theme of this launch re:issue!
The next re:issue with a new theme will be released in May. I'll keep adding to the archive until all hard-to-find back issues are available once again.
To find out more about the archive, please watch my videos and discover the archive features. Access is available via monthly or yearly plans. I greatly appreciate your support in this new way of discovering this magazine. Thank you!
Best Deal: Annual Access Plan The $120 Annual Access Plan, paid in full, works out to just $10 per month, and you'll save $72 compared to paying the monthly rate of $16. If you decide to cancel your access plan, you will retain access until the end of your current billing period. The cancellation will take effect on the next billing date, and you will not be charged further.
Most Flexible: Monthly Access Plan $16 per month ($192 per year) Cancel the Monthly Access Plan anytime. If you enjoy the Archive, Re:issue and UPPERCASE Circle, upgrade anytime to an Annual Plan.
Of course, UPPERCASE will always be a print magazine first and foremost!
Submit jewellery and other creative adornments (made for you, others or the environment). Jewellery can include necklaces, bangles, rings, earrings, etc, but I am looking for other kinds of adornments as well! An adornment could be a hat, scarf, belt buckle, or other kinds of accessory, or even a tattoo or other sort of cultural or aesthetic decoration of oneself (keep in mind UPPERCASE aesthetics and our family-friendly content). What adornments do you have in your environment, in your home, yard or neighbourhood? (ie decorations adorning your garden, or yarn-bombing adorning an urban space.) As with all UPPERCASE open calls, I'm looking for creative and curious interpretations of the theme. DETAILS & FORM
Canvaswork Designs by Linda Lachance: "These designs are counted so they must be 100% accurately counted while being stitched."
Attention to Detail
Submit artwork and creative projects that demonstrate your attention to detail. Is the detail in the intricacy of your designs and work? Is the detail in the amount of attention and focus that your art requires? DETAILS & FORM
Design your own dingbat!
All mediums and styles are welcome to create typographic ornaments. Dingbats, fleurons, initial letters, borders and glyphs provide decorative options to typographers and designers.
You don't have to be a designer or typographer to participate!
Here are some historic inspiration images from The Little Book of Typographic Ornament.
Carved stamps, engraved, hand-drawn, painted, stitched or produced via digital tools like Adobe Illustrator or Procreate... anything could be used to create a black and white dingbat or typographic symbol. DETAILS & FORM
Author Linzee Kull McCray explores the history of the humble feed sack, from a plain burlap or cotton sack to exuberantly patterned and colourful bags that thrifty housewives repurposed into frocks, aprons and quilts in the first half of the 20th century. Extensive imagery and reproductions of these fabrics create an inspiring sourcebook of pattern and colour—and offer a welcome visit to a slower-paced way of life.
