“Wow. Just wow.” This is how the March newsletter of the “Turtle Magazine(s)” the first big appearance in the Monacensia together. It was, unmistakably, a success: the hall of the Munich Literature Archive was packed with people, mostly young people, on that Saturday evening at the end of February. Some of them had already attended a workshop in the afternoon, now artists explained their pictures from the freshly printed magazine, authors read their texts, in between there was time for discussions, and of course there was a celebration.
If you meet two of the “Turtle” makers a few weeks later, they still seem enthusiastic about the interest that their project as a whole and the new magazine issue in particular. And the “insane support” she received from the Monacensia in her current #WriteResi experience; After the residency of the writer Dana von Suffrin last year, it is now the second of the archive, which has become experimental under the direction of Anke Buettner.
But back to “Turtle-Magazine(e)”, whose ending E refers to bilingualism, which is important to the makers as an inclusive idea. But the collective doesn’t just want to exclude anyone in terms of language on this platform, which was founded three years ago by four students. Editor-in-chief Lara Wüster and social media editor Sabrina Laue are still with us from the beginning; The core team also includes editor Leonie Winter, who is responsible for sales.
What unites the team, which has many more employees, is above all the desire to make art a common cause: “Connecting people with one another” is what Lara Wüster calls the driving force, and by that she means experienced and not yet so experienced people the art and literature industry. “Promote exchange”, adds Leonie Winter, “inspire one another, learn from one another”.
The “Turtle Magazin(e)” team: in front from left Lilly Gladenbeck, Leonie Winter and Pia Stautner, behind them from left Lara Wüster and Sabrina Laue.
(Photo: Turtle Magazine(s))
Originally, “Turtle” was only intended as an online platform, but Leonie Winter campaigned for additional printed editions. So far, four themed booklets have been created, for writing and for keywords such as “very close”, “invisible” and “physical”. An astonishing shift to the analogue of a younger generation that is actually digitally influenced? “Back to print!” affirms Winter, “it brings everything to life.” But the digital should continue to contribute to visibility, for example with a blog that you want to expand into an online magazine.
But a printed magazine has a different aura – especially if it is laid out as lovingly as the current issue on the subject of “physical”. In response to an appeal, the somewhat surprised editors received “many dark, traumatic” works, Wüster said at the release event; Labors ranging from anorexia and illness to death. The contributions finally selected show touching photos and pointed collages alongside poems and prose. Not everything is great art and literature, but one notices “a certain claim,” as Wüster himself puts it. You get better with every magazine, she says, “and we have to learn that we also have to say no”.
Cover image of the fourth issue on the topic “Physical”.
(Photo: Turtle Magazine(s))
After all, you don’t want to be pigeonholed as a student magazine, even if some of the participating artists and authors are still studying. On the contrary, they want to unite cultural workers of different ages and knowledge, offer them even more events and workshops in the future, and become even more professional. Of course, the Monacensia writing residency, which is supported by the CH Beck Foundation, helps here. Because money is undoubtedly an important factor in the implementation of ambitious plans.
So far, the non-profit “Turtle” project, which is at the Munich Kulturator Foundation docked, financially from issue to issue. The makers try to get all kinds of funding, selling not only the magazines but also T-shirts and postcards via their online shop. And they work on a voluntary basis (“Noch!”); at the monthly events in the Monacensia they can pay fees for moderation for the first time.
A day about money
So it’s obvious that the next one Theme day on March 25th will be determined by money. Group coaching by the artist Verena Kandler and a panel discussion with Dana von Suffrin, the playwright Raphaela Bardutzky and the artist Gabi Blum will address the question: “Can you still afford it? Creative professions between the independent scene and market orientation”.
Hopefully the answers won’t be too frustrating. In any case, it’s certainly not bad that the motto for the next magazine, which the “Turtles” want to develop together with interested parties by July, is based on a good mood: “Light (be)” it says. Summer can come.