Meet Ellie Kerns

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ellie Kerns. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ellie below.

Ellie, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

In 2024, with the help of some friends, I began to self-publish a cheap zine called i2i: a printed collection of writing, art, and interviews from locals of LA County. The experience has been so fulfilling and continues to remind me to support and uplift local artists.

I was a very naive child, and feelings of worldly uncertainty led me to devour all the art I could find. Those first few years of college spent educating myself on film, literature, and visual art helped me to develop a knowledge and appreciation for the role art plays in individual communities.

I’m still not sure I know what my “purpose” is, I’m only 21; but the tenacity of my community encourages me to keep moving creatively. i2i was born from my need to preserve and promote the artists that were changing my life to as many people as possible. Art is resistance, and consuming the work of local artists has not only educated me in more ways than I could’ve hoped for, but has continuously inspired me to do better for and by others.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I work to promote self-published zines, curate and distribute art, and throw community events through my business i2i! Early in 2024, I finished “Blackouts” by Justin Torres, and in the hours that followed I roped all of my friends and family into hosting a “Free Library” at the end of February 24′. The book has nothing to do with self-publishing, or event planning; but there’s a lot of talk about artistic legacy, and community impact. It gave me that last push I needed to put myself out there and do my part to support local creatives! We open submissions every few months and are always ready to accept almost anything sent our way: we want YOUR art!

i2i is a collective, with (as of the time I’m writing this) 4 editions out currently! Edition one was a labor of love and mostly contains the art and stories of my closest friends. After the success of our first release, I opened up submissions, and through the process have successfully curated and distributed the art of over 40 local artists!

My biggest hope in publishing is to encourage others to explore their own creativity and pursue artistic outlets.

Social media has given everybody a voice, but no way to process those thoughts. Part of the appeal of social media is the chance to feel connection, and to be seen by others. But, apps can only imitate the closeness of interpersonal connection: they show you everybody’s thoughts, feelings, and worldview with no filter. Art channels that craving to be seen and creates something entirely new, in a piece that connects with an audience in a more meaningful way.

You can find us on instagram ( i2i_zine) at our site ( i2izine.com ) or our shop ( https://i2izine.bigcartel.com/ ).

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

While publishing i2i, there were three attributes I feel helped me the most. An eagerness to connect to others allowed me to gain an audience, find places to host events, and helped me to convince artists to join the zine. Passion for creativity pushed me to not give up on the project; and, minor experience in writing, illustration, and graphic design kept me able and ready to design and publish successfully! For anybody on a creative journey of their own, I would encourage getting as much experience as you can, in every area of interest you can. Not only does working with creatives inspire you to create yourself, but the act of gaining experience in a multitude of different areas makes you versatile and valuable!

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

I am always looking to collaborate with anyone who is interested! One of the best parts of this last year with i2i has been meeting and working with new people every month. Our team loves to support local businesses, fundraise for the community, and give back when we can!

If you’re interested in submitting, you can follow us on Instagram ( @i2i_zine ) which contains links to our site, shop, and more!

In addition to the many art pieces we feature, we also do interviews! If you’re interested in the project, but can’t contribute visually, we are always looking for people to interview or connections to interesting creatives you think we should interview!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://i2izine.com
• Instagram: i2i_zine
• Twitter: @i2iZineLB
• Youtube: i2iTV
• Other: shop is https://i2izine.bigcartel.com/

Image Credits

Artist credit for the i2i logo goes to Ashley Le, owner of SIP coffee and goods. Artist credit for issue #2 is Maya Mehtar (@rasberryearinfection). Artist credit for issue #3 is Lena Zelenz ( @mothgirlll), and artist credit for issue #4 is Isadore Garcia (@customvampire.diy).