Zines, Risographs, and Resilience: Teaching Art at Odyssey Charter

Graduation Flyer by Jack, an 8th grader at Odyssey Charter School. "You're the zine teacher!""I have heard so much about you!"

Over the past three weeks, I’ve had the pleasure of teaching zine-making and risograph printing to the eighth graders from Odyssey Charter School. Earlier this year, a devastating fire damaged part of their campus, displacing students and faculty. Since then, they’ve been holding classes at ArtCenter College of Design until a new space is secured.

I met this remarkable group of students toward the end of their school year through colleagues at ArtCenter. They were especially curious about the MakersLab, and the risograph duplicator quickly became a favorite.

On the final week, I baked brownies to share with them as a small gesture of welcome. The students lit up with excitement—not just for the treats, but for the opportunity to continue creating. I was deeply moved by the care and collaboration they brought to their projects. One group created a zine made entirely of blind contour drawings of their classmates. Each drawing was unique, and together, the zine became a portrait of their community—one that valued inclusion and connection.

Using donated magazines from the ArtCenter Archives, students hunted for images with focus and creativity. One group assembled a clever zine of celebrity cutouts, each framed by smartphones—highlighting how media shapes perception. Another student used discarded risograph prints to craft a layered collage, arranging each element with care and intention.

What struck me most was the students’ resilience. Despite losing their physical campus, they remained curious, collaborative, and joyful. I learned as much from them as they may have learned from me.

Even the adults joined in. One of the principals, Danny, made a zine about dogs for his daughter—sweet and personal. Mr. James, the teacher’s assistant, created a zine reflecting on the school’s community. It was clear from the classroom dynamic that there’s a deep mutual respect between the staff and students.

Art doesn’t need white walls or perfect lighting. It flourishes in community, in moments of laughter, reflection, and shared effort. This experience reminded me that creativity lives wherever we make space for it.