Ames (Amanda Meeks) is a death doula, interdisciplinary artist, teaching librarian, and community archivist living in Tucson, AZ. As a doula, they are committed to building compassionate, creative spaces for exploring death, dying, and grief. In addition to offering individual and community-based doula support, their own creative work centers around themes of love, grief, and feminist care through zines, book arts, and participatory experiences that invite reflection. 

Zines and artists’ books have been an important part of Ames’ creative and teaching practice for over 20 years. Since moving to Tucson, Ames launched a social art practice project and zine bike called Outspokin’ & Bookish, which has been running since early 2020, bringing zines and zine-making activities to community events such as Cyclovia and art markets. Ames has also facilitated many collaborative zine projects and led dozens of in-person and virtual zine workshops for all ages in Tucson and beyond.