*

Rose Gardina is a small, petite woman, but her ambitions are large and expansive. She is a refuge from the male-dominated corporate world, and now uses her considerable talents to promote predominately independent female artists of all stripes. Rose wears many hats. She is a promoter of musicians, poets, writers, comedians, ( as well as being a poet and artist herself),and the publisher of the Boston Girl Guide,(http://www.bostongirlguide.com}  a biannual print and online magazine devoted to getting media exposure to emerging artists. In a press release Gardina stated: " We think real big here and the possibilities for us, in our eyes, are endless. There will always be hope on our pages." And indeed, Gardina is a high-energy, fast-talking, powder keg of possibilities. She has the acumen of a savvy buisnesswoman, but the heart of a true altruist; a rare combo in these bottom-line days. I talked with this unusual woman on my show Poet To Poet/Writer To Writer, on Channel 3 SCAT TV in Somerville, Mass.

 

Doug Holder: Rose, what inspired you to start The Boston Girl Guide?

 

Rose Gardina: It was the combination of a lot of things. When I was younger I was writing a lot. I submitted my work to quite a few places and I never got any response. You know--door slamming, after door slamming. In the back of my mind I thought if I had the opportunity to help people I would, especially people that I considered talented. So when the magazine started it was my way of featuring independent artists. I get letters from people who have had something as simple as a poem published writing" Thank you so much, you don't know what it means to me." After the magazine got bigger we started doing signed artists. The main foundation of the magagzine is to cover signed artists. So when we run the independent with the big names they are getting the secondary media exposure. Not everybody will pick up a magazine if they are not familiar with the artists. Its tough breaking into the industry at any level. We need venues like this for people to have a place to go.

 

DH: What was it about the corporate world that turned you off?

RG: It's almost like a love/hate relationship. As far as the corporate world, I was very good at what I did. I was a mangaer of a department that did quite well. I was in the top five in slaes. This was consistently for nine years. The thing about the corporate world is it is just so male heavy. There is a lot of discrimination against women. It's run by white males. It's really hard to move up. Women have to put ten years in before they can get the good salary and move up the ladder. Men often move up in two years, depending if they are playing golf with the CEO. Women have to work twice as hard in the industry. It's too bad because I really loved what I did. I really feel bad for the women I left there and who have put their time in.

 

DH: So this drive to promote female independent artists was a reaction to all this?

 

RG: I started the magazine when I was still working with the company. The magazine was something I did on my own time.

 

DH: If I went to your website  http://www.bostingirlguide,com, what would I find?

 

RG: The site is just a monster. It's a huge resource center now. It's an accumulation of the last 22 issues we printed, and everything we published since then. There is a photo gallery; we cover large venues like the "Earth Fest." I try to cover bigger venues that contribute proceeds to "causes.' We cover the Newport Folk Festival, and almost every concert that comes through town.

 

DH: You make no secret that you are a Lesbian and Gay / Activist. Is the magazine a "Lesbian" magaine?

 

RG: We are a women's creative magazine--period. It is a magaine for women. We do feature a section "Boys on the Side" that features male artists as well. Half my staff is Gay, and half is Straight. The magazine is about helping folks out.

 

DH: Can you talk about some Somerville area artists you've helped out? What do you like about Somerville?

 

RG: Monique Ortiz is from the Somerville area. We feature her a lot. I have very fond stories of Somerville because my mother grew up there. She would talk about how she would go to Davis Square and all the Malt Shops, not to mention The Somerville Theatre. When I started the magazine, I started to come to Davis Square. I just had a feeling about this area. I live in Brockton, Mass. but 85% of my meetings are at the Diesel Cafe in Davis Square. I like the environment. At the Diesel I would put 500 magazines out, and they would be gone in 5 days.

 

DH: You are a writer and artist. Can you talk about your work?

 

RG: I do some of the interviews. I personally interviewed Sara Lee, and Sophia B. Hawkins. My music editor is out on the West Coast. I use a pen name because I want people to feel the magazine is for everyone else, and it is not full of my own material.

 

DH: You have decided to manager Vocalist/Poet Jennifer Matthews.  http://www.jennifermatthews.com  What draws you to an artist, and specifically Matthews?

 

RG: Well we get up to 40 press kits a month, and I usually send it out to my Music Editor. Jen's kit came in the late Winter (2004), and I sent it out to my editor. She called and said: "Did you listen to Jennifer?" But I lost track of it. But then Deborah Priestly( co-founder of The Out of the Blue Gallery, Cambridge) started to put a buzz in my ear. Then I bumped into you at a book signing, and you gave me her book. I read it, and there was really a lot of stuff that I could connect with. We shared similar experiences. I sent her an email. Then I called her but I still hadn't heard her yet. I went to see her play at a club in East Boston. As I was coming through the door I heard her voice. Her voice just sucks you in. She was just incredible. When we spoke we had this great connection. I've never been blown away, and I've seen a lot of people perform, etc... She just crawls right inside of you.

 

* Rose is currently planning a tour for Matthews, and there will be a fundraiser for her new CD that is slated to be released.

Doug Holder is the founder of the Ibbetson Street Press of Somerville, Ma. He is the Arts/Editor for The Somerville News, and the curator of the Newton Free Library Poetry Series. His articles and poetry have appeared in The Boston Globe, The New Renaissance, Small Press Review, Arts Around Boston, the Boston Girl Guide and many more...