Sprig has sprung
Ezri Chestworth is the
founder, editor-in-chief and
senior graphic designer at
the newly launched Sprig
Magazine.
Words by Phoebe Smallwood
Photos by Rhoen Kennedy
Tell us about Sprig!
Sprig Magazine is an inclusive arts magazine created to showcase emerging and established Australian artists. It is built on the premise of creating art for the sake of creating art, and to promote the idea of imperfection. It is here to be a space for art, literature, staying educated, creating and maintaining off-screen connection, and preserving print publishing in the age of AI and digitalisation. We aren’t limited to medium, subject matter, age or demographic. We want to hear from everyone and we want everyone to feel like they could find a space with us.
What was the inspiration behind it?
It has always been something I wanted to do but thought I didn’t have the skills for it. I’m a writer and I can appreciate visual art, but I’ve never had the hand for it. I’d just come back from six months overseas and the lack of community felt particularly stark to me. I had time before I went back for my thesis year, so I figured it was a good creative outlet that would challenge me. There’s a social epidemic happening in my generation––we’re all allergic to talking to people for the sake of talking. Communities are becoming collateral because of it. It was also spurred on by my own experience as an artist in Brisbane. I found I was surrounded by institutions that were cutting arts programs, and I always thought the arts scene in Brisbane was too fleeting or too exclusive to certain niches. I wanted to create a safe space for everyone so we could all hang out.
What is the story behind the name?
I was on a plane and I was staring at the word ‘spring’ (our first issue was our spring edition). The name sort of just popped in my head. Not very exciting, but I thought it was fitting. Sprig is a small stem or shoot from a plant, and I think that aligns with a large part of the magazine. Most of our con tributors are emerging artists; we’re all only at the beginning.
What is your favourite part about working on Sprig?
Personally, I enjoy the design process—I do spend hours (and hours and hours) in front of my laptop, but it’s nice to step back and see how it all comes together. It’s also incredibly touching when people approach me at launches or send us mes sages expressing what Sprig means to them. I’m confronted with an overwhelmingly positive response and I don’t really know how to respond. But it’s really fulfilling to know the thing I set out to do is being accomplished in so many small ways.
Who are your personal creative/entrepreneurial idols?
I don’t think I have idols. I admire a lot of artists and academics. I’ve always been impressed with Emma Chamberlain’s business pipeline. Creatively, I admire anyone who genuinely loves their craft and is dedicated to it. I also think it’s cool when people don’t give a shit about traditional timelines when it comes to pursuing what they love. In just one year, you’ve already published three issues (with a fourth coming soon), doubled your editorial team and acquired a significant following.
With that in mind, where do you see Sprig in five years?
I do have long-term goals for Sprig, but I won’t be revealing a great deal yet. I would like to continue building in the current trajectory we’re on. We currently have stockists in Victoria and Queensland—I’d really love to infiltrate all the states and territories. By 2027, we will be growing our issues to a larger size and cutting down to two issues per year. In five years’ time, we’ll be on issue 14, which is bonkers. I want us to still be here, still creating community. I don’t intend for Sprig to be another fleeting scene. T
If you would like to learn more about Sprig,
check out sprigmagazine.cargo.site or their
Instagram @sprigmag.