Artist David Macke launches Riverzine, a tribute fanzine to actor River Phoenix. A new Black & White version of the zine, as well as three poster editions featuring spreads from the publication, are also available. Graphic design is by Olivia Smith.

The color staple-bound zine brings together collaged imagery of River Phoenix in a series of dramatic landscapes, overlaid into cosmic views of the Milky Way, shots of the New York cityscape and the LA hillside. For Macke, River serves as a source of mythic inspiration, a figure embodying something natural and elementally bound within the Hollywood structure. Following his overdose in 1993 at the age of 23, a fascination with River’s youth and heartthrob-looks turned him into an icon for devout fans who collectively mourned the loss. Macke’s work as a photographer holds up River’s ‘look’ as an inspiration and ideal. The zine is part of a larger photography project called “My River”.

A color numbered edition of 100 was produced on occasion of the 2014 NY Art Book Fair. Riverzine is available through the Printed Matter website here.

View David Macke’s photography at davidmodel.com