A group of socially engaged artists and activists walk 80 miles. Get the flavour of the journey through illustration, photos, poetry and audio in their print-it-yourself-and-then-use-it-as-kindling zine
This story is the next in our Trails series. We invited people to apply to assemble a group of friends and walk a multi-day trail of Slow Ways. They could submit the story of their adventure in whatever form they liked.
The Slow Ways routes from Leeds to Hull take in a medley of sights, sounds and scenes, both rural and urban. Four friends based in the North and who value nature and walking as a tool for connection, exchange and generating ideas that can lead to broader social change, make the 80+ mile long journey – and capture it through pictures, poetry, drawings and audio.
The four met during the Union 2023 professional development programme, and have since searched for opportunities to both give back and get together. Trails enabled them to do just that! Find out more about them and view their zine below.
We survived to tell the tale
“We are Lora, Nate, Monika and Anisa and we walked the trails between Leeds and Hull in March 2024 over three days with two nights’ stop over. It was a big physical and mental challenge, one that both brought us closer together and made us at times wish we had never met in the first place!
“Despite the blisters and the muscle aches, we survived to tell the tale and walk underneath the Humber Bridge. Everyone agreed that getting into our respective beds on the third day was one of the most wonderful feelings.
“To document our experiences and share them with you we chose to make a zine: a collection of images, anecdotes, soundscapes and poetry. You can print this as individual A4 pages and make an A5 booklet or print it as an A4 to make a small zine that fits in your pocket. You may choose to listen to the trails via the QR code, add your own doodles, use it to make notes or as kindling – once printed it is yours to play with!
Why a zine?
“By choosing to create a zine, we wanted an approach that would embrace our individuality and different creative practices.
A zine is a homemade magazine, sometimes independently created, and has a long history in creative, musical and social action, to name a few. It felt appropriate to use a zine for our group, as our practices can occur in many communities, sectors and flaming many voices.
We hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed completing this adventure.
Lora, Nate, Monika and Anisa”
Flick through the zine below
(and secret bonus material – those QR codes are audio messages from the trail!)
Lora (she/her) is a performance maker, cultural producer and professional development coach from Bulgaria based in Sheffield. She makes socially and politically engaged work that is intersectional and often multidisciplinary. You can see more about her work and get in touch via www.lorakrasteva.com
Nate (he/him) is a Qualified Youth Worker who has experience working with young people, children and community groups, using visual arts as a vehicle for conversation and connection. He is a keen print maker, and if he had the space would create large pieces of work on his love of nature and its positive impact on his mental health and the discovery and expression of his identity.
Anisa (she/her) has a broad range of experience supporting participation in the arts and cultural sector. She has also worked across a range of organisations to promote health & wellbeing as a facilitator, trainer and coach. She works as Training & Partnerships coordinator; working with Black Girls Hike to promote diversity and inclusivity within the outdoor sector.
Monika (she/her) is an award-winning artist and filmmaker. Her work is concerned with the tangible natural environment and the constructed realities of a culture driven by technology, as reflected through subtle and precarious relationships that exist between the Urban and the Rural. She is co-director of a little piece of land, alongside long-term collaborator Jake Harries.