A new lifestyle magazine is emerging in Buffalo titled Buffalo Black Book. The coffee table lifestyle magazine is the brainchild of Elizabeth Siematkowski who is the sole founder, owner, creative director, editor… yes, she’s the only person who is cranking out this demanding project presently. That means that she has total control of the magazine and its direction. It also means that she’s working her tail off to get the first limited edition print out on the streets.
Elizabeth got the idea to create Buffalo Black Book when she was a councilor at Niagara University (NU). As a grad student at the university she had toyed around with ideas, but as a counsellor she found herself showing up early in the morning, to work on her passion play project. “I moved to the WNY area eight years ago,” said Elizabeth. “While living in the Lewiston area, I began to spend a great deal of time in Buffalo. The magazine started in my spare moments – I would interview people of interest and then print tiny fold up papers that would fit into the palm of your hand. It was like origami, and it looked like a little black book. I would leave them all over Buffalo. People would read them, and actually reach out to me. I couldn’t believe it.”
After her initial foray into the world of printing/publishing, Elizabeth decided that she would take her coveted project to events such as the Sugar City Buffalo Zine Fair. She even upgraded to a stapled version. That’s when she really got hooked. It’s also when she discovered that she was made for this type of work.
It was around that time that she left her job at the university and moved to Buffalo, where she has been living for two years. Elizabeth said that “it was insanely hard to leave NU – a steady job with “benefits” that I had gone to school for ten years, to pursue my crazy dreams.”
Elizabeth is now moving forward with a 9″x12″ quarterly print coffee table magazine that features many of the underground Buffalo players and places that might not get the recognition that they deserve – artists, DJs, writers… urban monks. The theme of her first official publication is “The Body”. “In NYC, my friend introduced me to the zine culture,” Elizabeth reflected. “I wanted to create something that was timeless, with beautiful color photos. I took a look around at what was already out there – in Buffalo and elsewhere – that’s when I knew that I wanted to do this in Buffalo, because there was nothing else like it.”
The idea is kind of going to be “Who’s in the black book this time?” kind of thing – so some mystery and excitement.
Soon enough, Elizabeth was conducting interviews and setting up photo shoots (with the help of her sister who lent her a professional camera). She soon had a killer following on Instagram, taught herself Indesign, and began looking around to have a website built.
After piecing the final project all together and sending it to the printer, she finally got the prototype back for a one time limited run. “I wanted to create something that was aesthetically pleasing,” Elizabeth stated. “I hope to create a dialogue and open doors. I am hoping that this project goes beyond Buffalo, so that people can see the incredible culture and the people who live here. I’m trying to make magic happen. The magazine is off the beaten path, highlighting the human spirit. Along the way, I have learned to face my own fears and turn them into empowerment. Because I was able to do this, the magazine is edgy, raw, and pushes the boundaries of what most people believe this city is like. In the process, I am attempting to push my own boundaries. Buffalo Black Book is wild and beautiful and speaks to the heart and soul of the city.”
I go into people’s homes, studios/daily life and shoot them doing what they do everyday so it’s kind of like you get a glimpse into what you wouldn’t normally see. Which is super interesting because we humans are curious about each other you know. Like does this person drink coffee or what does their bathroom look like… that kind of stuff.
On September 10, Hydraulic Hearth in Larkinville will be hosting a launch event for Buffalo Black Book from 8pm to 11pm. The 80-page lifestyle magazine (only two pages of ads – back cover is still available) is for sale for $25 preorder with free shipping. After that, the zine will hit the shelves of select stores in the area on September 15. This first issue will assuredly become a collector’s item, so get one while you can. Even Urban Outfitters has expressed interest in carrying the publication. “I just asked,” said Elizabeth, when I inquired how that introduction came about. “I kept bombarding them on Instagram until they answered and agreed to meet with me. So we met a few times and then they loved the magazine and said they would do a product shot of it on their UO upstate account. And then they invited me to do a launch event in their Buffalo or Syracuse stores in early October, and if that goes well then the store will consider picking it up and then it just kind of goes up the food chain from there and hopefully will eventually be offered on their website.”
Buffalo’s Premier Zine ~ Highlighting and exploring Buffalo culture, sub-culture, love and people through candid conversation and busting of stigma.
I asked Elizabeth how she is feeling at the moment, considering that the magazine is about to drop. “I’ve lived in this area for eight years now. I’ve observed the changes. This city is so special. I could have lived in NYC or other places – I’m not even from here. Eventually I would like to get out of my apartment and open an office on the East Side, in an old print shop. In the meantime, I will continue to hit up festivals and markets – it’s a beautiful publication with beautiful messages. It’s the power of print – it has enabled me to be brave and not afraid. I have turned my fear into empowerment, which shows on each of the pages.”
You can pre-order a book at BuffaloBlackBook.co. Also, tune into Facebook.
