In Conversation with Marichu Jose: Exploring Changing Leaves
Let’s dive into a heartfelt conversation with Marichu Jose about her zine, “Changing Leaves.” Explore the creative journey and themes that highlight her unique take on rediscovering while ageing.
1. What inspired you to create Changing Leaves Zine: Garden of Life Reflections?
The novelty of the project – creating a zine, or if I remember more specifically, an art zine – inspired me to join the October Zine Challenge of 8Letters. It would be my first time ever to come up with an art-literary zine, which would require me to go out of my comfort zone as well.
It was providential that I had plenty of materials on file because I have been keeping all my poems and essays, including those I did for sheer fun and practice: digital artwork, photographs, and basic graphic designs. So I thought why not put together an eclectic collection of my creative works in just one literary piece. It would be something marvellous to look back on when I am very much older.
2. Is there a particular piece in the collection that holds special meaning for you?
The few digital paintings I included in the zine were inspired by my two young granddaughters. They’re good at painting with real brushes. They have a natural talent for the arts, and they started learning to paint when they were about three years old. They would often send me samples of their work and encourage me to try it myself.
Since I’m not a gifted artist like them, I tried digital painting on my laptop. But it was not that simple. I had to go to YouTube to learn some brushstrokes and colour combinations.
So, behind those few digital artworks was the process of learning and adapting—to come up with something my granddaughters would be happy with.
3. What do you hope readers will take away from this zine?
I do hope the insights and gems of wisdom reflected in each piece will resonate with my readers, not only seniors like me, but even the younger ones. I’d like them to be able to appreciate the beauty of life, as they see it from their own experiences and stage of life.
Most of all, I hope my zine inspires young and old readers to keep honing and nurturing their creative skills, share their work with the world, and contribute to the “ecology of talent.” I believe many creative Filipinos are out there waiting for the right time to showcase their creativity.
4. As someone entering your autumn years, how do you view this phase of life?
This phase of life—my autumn years—is a blessing from God. He still allows me the grace to be here and use the talents He gifted me with meaningfully, sharing something good with others.
In fact, I have started drafting a memoir—but not really a memoir in the traditional sense—that will serve as my legacy to my family.
Also, even when I was much younger, I often reminded myself, “time is running out.” This means whatever I set out to do, I must be able to accomplish it before it’s too late. Life teaches us – for as long as we are able to learn, grow, and share – we must seize the opportunity.
So, while this phase of life doesn’t mean the end of the line, yet it’s time to be fearless, do things I might have missed when I was younger, and embrace opportunities as they come.
As the saying goes, “Make hay while the sun shines.” I also love this phrase, “Ageing with audacity.”
5. What was the most rewarding and challenging part of putting this book together?
The most rewarding part is putting together the pieces I enjoyed creating—a mix of my old and more recent works, some of which I revised. The most challenging was deciding on an attractive layout that could engage readers—if my work would ever be accepted.
Finally, I settled on a more fluid layout for my content, eliminating sectioning or dividing it into chapters. I wanted a relaxed feel for my zine.
6. Do you plan for future projects or follow-ups to this collection?
I still dream of having a poetry collection. I have already conceptualized my poetry book cover. I would also like to write a fiction (novella) piece, even just once. So, I await 8Letters’ next writing challenge and do my best to join and complete it.
7. Where can readers connect with you and find more of your work?
Readers can visit my website: https://msmarichjose.wordpress.com/ They can also go to my blog there: https://msmarichjose.wordpress.com/blog/
