2023Volume 4Number 14(1)
Cut in the Fence
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Cut in the Fence
Adam Void & Chelsea Ragan, Black Mountain, North Carolina, USA

Cut in the Fence is more than a graffiti zine distro, we are a celebration of evasion. Barriers only last for so long, and soon a new path will be created. Holes will be cut, locks ground off, barbed wire and fence spikes bent over; all done to allow for the natural flow of travel. Property owners and lawmakers call this trespass or a criminal action. Pedestrians and citizens call this freedom of movement or a short cut. This collection of photos is a sampling of images sent to us by observers from around the world. We feature these small acts of reclamation on our Instagram page along with the zines we support. Hopefully, in this context, they point to something greater; a worldwide phenomenon of people finding their way despite blockades, a natural inclination towards freedom.

Figure 1: Richmond, Virginia, USA, 2020.Photograph ©Dylan M.(@theleonard_o).
Figure 2: 2022. Photograph ©@imagenarynmbrs.
Figure 3: 2021. Photograph ©@zaviahhaas.
Figure 4: 2022. Photograph ©@professr.finessrr.
Figure 5: Oakland, California, USA, 2022. Photograph ©Ollie Phillips (@phillips18east).
Figure 6: San Diego, California, USA, 2021. Photograph ©@svensonandhedges.
Figure 7: Park City, Utah, USA, 2021. Photograph ©Cam Starke (@elmutantecalle).
Figure 8: Park City, Utah, USA, 2021. Photograph ©Cam Starke (@elmutantecalle).
Figure 9: Asheville, North Carolina, USA 2021. Photograph ©Pat Mcgroin (@pat_mcgroin).
Figure 10: Rotterdam, the Netherlands, 2021. Photograph ©Jelle Seinen (@jallasinn).
Figure 11: NYC, New York, USA, 2023. Photograph ©@goodbye.wcc.
Figure 12: Nashville, Tennessee, USA, 2022. Photograph ©@bikespokecypher.
Figure 13: Essex, England, UK, 2021. Photograph ©@weights.and.measures.

Adam Void has been producing graffiti zines for almost 25 years, starting with the Permanent Ink series in 1999 and continuing today. The underground graffiti zine bookstore Cut in the Fence (est. 2018) resulted from a culmination of influences; the Do-It-Yourself culture of folding-table and milkcrate distros at the back of punk shows, scamming photocopies from print shops like Kinkos through machine modifications and esoteric discount codes, and the strange world of outsider mail artists who send notes and objects across the world using the postal service. Now five years strong, Cut in the Fence is growing to produce an annual magazine and exclusive graffiti books, while continuing to support independent makers and writers by sharing their limited edition creations with the worldwide graffiti community. Meanwhile, Void continues to lurk in freight yards and write his name on other people’s stuff for fun and excitement.

Chelsea Ragan is a paper cut collage illustrator. Her collages have been featured in US magazines, greeting cards, board games, and murals. Before she was an illustrator, Ragan worked in the fine arts making paintings, sculptures, installations,and music. She has been showing art in galleries since the early 2000s. As an artist, Ragan has worn many hats including gallery director, professional framer, teacher, executive director, cake decorator, and serial entrepreneur. She is passionate about making and sharing art with others, is full of ideas, and continues to try new things.

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