Submitted by Timberland Regional Library
“Tell It Like It Tiz!” is an anthology of comics and stories created by elders at the Marie Smith Center (MSC), an adult day center in North Portland, Oregon that serves seniors who are functionally or cognitively impaired. Portland writers and illustrators Nicole J. Georges and Marc Parker will read from and talk about the book at the Olympia Timberland Library from 7:30 to 8:45 p.m. on Thursday, January 16.
Georges and Parker, who have been volunteering to facilitate a weekly zine workshop at the MSC since 2006, produced three issues of Tell It Like It Tiz, the zine, now out of print. The anthology compiles these issues as well as over 60 pages of new material into one volume.
The zine provides a voice for MSC participants by chronicling their experiences through comics and writing and is also intended to serve as a model for other adult day centers interested in blending storytelling and art therapy.
An award-winning writer and illustrator, Georges has published the autobiographical comic, Invincible Summer, since 2000 and has toured the country extensively. Her work has been featured in many publications and her critically-acclaimed graphic memoir, Calling Dr. Laura, was published in 2013. Visit Georges’ website here.
Parker has created numerous zines, including Azmacourt, Breakfast for Dinner, and Zine Crush. A youth worker as well as a writer and zine publisher, he is pursuing a degree in Clinical Psychology. Visit Parker’s website here.
The blog of the Marie Smith Center Zine, a collection of stories, interviews, comics, illustrations and advice from the senior citizens of the MSC can be found here.
The Olympia Timberland Library is located at 313 8th Avenue. For more information, call the library at (360) 352-0595 or visit www.TRL.org.
