Meeting Rocky is an interactive zine, reminiscent of early 2000s flash games, that highlights the intimacy of finding stability and comfort in the midst of uncertainty.

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Project Statement:

Meeting Rocky is an interactive zine reflective of the 2000s era flash games that lives as a memorial piece for Rocky, Emily’s dog. The story shadows the uneasiness of growing pains and maneuvering a period in life where things are uncertain. Finding a sense of stability and consistency in a friend where times are uncertain is the focal point of Meeting Rocky. Each flip of a page in Meeting Rocky allows the user to “control the timing of the changes” in the zine. QR Codes are located within the zine that lead to secret video components. In this memorial piece, Emily honors her pet by making him the hero of the zine—in the same way he was a hero to her.

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Artist Statement:

Emily K. Chavez is a native New Yorker and new media artist who specializes in graphic design, zines, and videography. As a first generation Ecuadorian, her life at home mirrors the busy city she grew up in—she’s surrounded by constant flows of conversation and sound. Emily is passionate about showcasing the livelihood of her surroundings in her art, whether it be focused on her world as a New Yorker or a Latina. Emily’s art emphasizes her personal experiences, highlighting that we are all a part of multiple stories and the way people are intertwined together. She navigates her numerous identities and explores them through video games, her closest family members, and her own memories growing up. Her work gives an insight into a scrapbook of her personal life. She transforms moments of happiness and places them in a new light, showcasing her favorite parts of life in various media. These art pieces are intertwined with handwritten fonts, home photos and videos, cut outs, and paper textures. She compiles these pieces together to discuss hispanic family dynamics and growing into adulthood.