What is Rabbits of Realness?
Why we do what we do
Rabbits of Realness is a publishing project that emerged from cross-country phone calls and letter exchanges. The joint pursuit of peace, liberation, and compassion united artists and poets Spoon Jackson and SaraMarie Bottaro. They envision a world full of equal and open access to creative expression that connects everyone to their inner rabbits.
Both born and raised in California, SaraMarie moved across the country to obtain degrees in Studio Art and Peace and Justice Studies from Tufts University while Spoon found language, poetry, and literature close companions during incarceration. Spoon proceeded to establish a global network that unites activists, creatives, and supporters across the social spectrum. Working as an extension of Spoon’s Realness Network, Rabbits of Realness centers a growth narrative and encourages its audience to believe in the power of their creativity and experiences.
“The personal is universal,” is one of Spoon’s most repeated reminders when discussing artistic inspiration. Rabbits of Realness hopes to build a community welcoming personal (and therefore universal) truths in many mediums. Its first project, a children’s zine titled How to Write Your First Ever Letter, distills letter writing into approachable steps that center meaning. A continuation of Rabbits of Realness’s vision manifests in subsequent zine publications that combine art and poetry, such as Ancient Bee Being, Break Open, and the first in the Spoonful of Wisdom series. Poet and teacher Mariah Swartz has joined as a project management and social media assistant. Design intern Alice Fang designed Rabbits of Realness’ first multi-page zine, Communion, a jointly written Where I’m From poem written by Spoon and SaraMarie about their different experiences of California, and how Spoon has never left it.
Rabbits of Realness envisions the freedom of heart and spirit like rabbits roaming freely on a boundless terrain. “Our wisdom and art will continue to mesh together like clouds in the sky and rain down inspiration, magic, love and beauty seen and unseen…[What we’re doing is] only felt by the heart and spirit,” Spoon wrote in one of his letters to SaraMarie about the project. Rabbits of Realness looks forward to spreading its message through future publications and productions in various genres and mediums. Recent projects include Spoon’s new album No Moon with multi-talented composer Nicolas Snyder, a collaboration with A Revolutionary Press on a letterpress printed zine by Spoon and SaraMarie titled Writing Space to Heal, and a radio interview for iOn Modesto featuring poetry read by both Spoon and Mariah. Upcoming projects include a series of interviews with the Rabbits of Realness network. The first few have already been recorded and are in the editing room now.
From SaraMarie: Follow Rabbits of Realness and you will find a consistent source of creative encouragement. We want everyone to find mutual flourishing through creative self expression. Let’s make more art together, and help the world be a place filled with Realness. The posts on this substack will be free to all, in line with our mission. If you choose to become a paid subscriber, you will be directly supporting our creative labor (and printing costs) and helping us bring more of our many many many ideas to life. Thank you so much for being here!
A note: Spoon always enjoys letters - he will write you back! Feel free to reach out to him at this address:
Spoon Jackson B-92377
CSP – Solano
Level II, Bldg D24, 150
Vacaville, CA 95696-4000