MALA LECHE is a radical art and writing zine showcasing the work of women, non-binary, and genderqueer creatives in the Central Virginia area. MALA LECHE is produced by Sri Kodakalla and Ramona Martinez, co-directors of Bad Milk Press. We believe that all art is inherently political and has the power to reshape society. We believe that authentic creation is a radical act, even more so when it is shared with others. May this zine be a testament to our inevitable future, one without fascism, capitalism, and white supremacy.
A note for our reader: This special edition issue of MALA LECHE, Uncovering / Apocalypse, is produced in collaboration with The Fralin Museum of Art at UVA, alongside a mini exhibition of creative work on display in The Little Museum of Art. This issue invited creatives to explore the word “apocalypse” as a potential for an unveiling or revealing of what is hidden or perhaps purposefully obfuscated. How do we create space for dis-covery, where things that are hidden can be seen, known, and tendered for purposeful renewal? We’re grateful to The Fralin @ UVA, the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation (CACF), and The Bridge Progressive Arts Initiative for their support of this issue. xo Sri & Ramona
Table of contents 0 Unveil (Front and back cover) / Sri Kodakalla 1 About MALA LECHE 2 A note for our reader 5 UFO (Unidentified Feelings of Overwhelm) / Ari Mosqueda 6 vidanta nocturne / Marie Gaglione 8 Bite of Truth / Ari Mosqueda 9 Apocellipses / Sarah Lawson 11 Would anyone care for a chemolithotroph? / Zoé Edgecomb 13 Nuclear Spring / Meesha Goldberg 15 A New Earth / Abigail Wilson 16 Three of Earth / Jam Chookaew 17 You grow up at the end of the world / Cassius Le 19 117 billion before me / Jade Dickinson 21 Ecdysis / Jess Walters 23 substrate for a new common ritual / Taylor Hanigosky 25 We Shed Until Bone Meets Breath / Sri Kodakalla
27 Pumping Breast Milk in Spite of the Apocalypse / Jessi Giannini 29 What Kind of Nothing / Joumana Altallal 31 In This, the Here and After / Kori Price 33 Support MALA LECHE & Bad Milk Press
vidanta nocturne / Marie Gaglione the apocalyptic riptide of crackling panic when you’re lying in liminal and it’s too early to wake but you’re going to be dreadful in a few hours at this point anyhow and you close your eyes and feel briefly cosmic like if all your atoms splice and split and become part of the whole thing like your body does not end at your fingertips or skin but spreads in all directions and the mattress could just fall away completely, and has, and will and the plummet alights the flashbulb awareness of your cells their sense memory as for one moment they know they are recycled and can remember their past, as elvis, as teacup, as bomb and your blood dances through your veins a nauseous jitterbug pulsing and pulling away from your heart and the expansion hurts because a body is so finite 6
the deep and fleeting recognition that yes you’ve been here before and you’ll meet yourself here again and hold hands and nod and know, and forget 7
Apocellipses by Sarah Lawson
the space between the apocalypses (apocalypsi?) ...the space between the apocalypsi continues to close. soon the caesuras will cease, the ellipses will become a line break. a fresh start. a blank page.
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Support MALA LECHE & Bad Milk Press Based in Charlottesville, Bad Milk Press is an arts organization creating paying opportunities for women, non-binary, and genderqueer artists in the Central Virginia area. Through a fiscal sponsorship with The Bridge Progressive Arts Initiative, Bad Milk Press is able to collect donations to support contributor stipends, layout, and production of MALA LECHE as well as subsequent programming such as annual exhibitions, visual art and writing workshops, and community-building social events. LEARN MORE & SUPPORT / Please consider supporting MALA LECHE and Bad Milk Press’ growth through sharing the physical zine, liking and reposting our work on social media (@badmilkpress), or donating directly through our website (QR Code). 33