#sparkchamber 112723 — Alina Cerminara
The couple months between Halloween and the New Year often blur into an endless to-do list of hurry and worry. We have the antidote for that in the #sparkchamber today, welcoming Alina Cerminara, publisher of the beautiful lifestyle magazine FOLKLIFE. Her premium, semi-annual print publication celebrates folk who live close to the earth, move with intention, and craft life as an art form. Evoking fine craftership with its minimalist design, matte aesthetic, poetic editorial, and vibrant photography, the magazine honors art and agriculture, business and creativity, food and farming, and dwellings and nature, all with a goal to “slow the FOLK down.” Each issue explores one theme through engaging interviews, stories, photographs, recipes, and artwork, celebrating and connecting those who live simply and sustainably.
Alina’s degree in Creative Writing and Theatre, and Masters in Publishing drives half of the story. The other half is environmental, experiential. She came from an urban center with that “rat-race feeling,” fueling a major motivation in her adult life to find a culture where people care more about quality of life. She was drawn to and inspired by “island dwellers on the west coast of Canada who live such interesting lives outside of the mainstream.”
A strong believer in the power of art and the power of people and their brilliance, Alina has always been a supporter of artists in all the work she does. In addition to publishing FOLKLIFE, she works for New Society Publishers, whose vision is to provide the world with fundamental tools to help build a just and ecologically sustainable society — books as tools for social change.
Alina lives her truth, “with my wee dog and wee daughter on a Gulf Island on the west coast of Canada. A bunch of FOLKLIFERS, lovely people who live with passion and intention, close to the earth, and with an aim to connect and inspire. FOLKLIFE is still in its infancy, and we know you'll hear about it one day.”
1.] Where do ideas come from?
An invisible muse
2.] What is the itch you are scratching?
Community. Helping people to be less lonely in all that they’re going through [because we’re all going through it].
3.] Early bird or night owl? Tortoise or hare?
I work in bed in my PJ’s, and I don’t like any distractions. Not even a good view, and definitely no song lyrics. Morning with my work and my laptop and my oat milk mocha is my jam. I wish I could start the moment I wake, like I used to, but my dear toddler daughter has put a stop to that. I am also very fast, which is why our tagline “slow the FOLK down” is such an inspiration to me.
4.] How do you know when you are done?
When enthusiasm/passion has waned.
