Tess. Lotta is a Los Angeles native. She holds a BA in Liberal Studies from Antioch University,Seattle and an MA in English from California State University, Dominguez Hills. Currently, she teaches at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. She has taught creative writing to youths in juvenile detention facilities and in the LAUSD school system and zine making workshops for various youth-centered organizations.

 

Her recent publications include poems in Blood Orange Review and Falling Star. Her journalism has appeared in such publications as Clamor Magazine,The Stranger, Bust, and The Raven Chronicles. Her ongoing writing projects include Media Cake eMagazine and Perjurious Strumpet (blog).

 

Tess. has read at a variety of venues, including Rebar (Seattle), The Knitting Factory (Los Angeles), Rhapsodomancy (Los Angeles), Beyond Baroque (Los Angeles), Bumbershoot Arts Festival (Seattle), Cornish College of the Arts (Seattle), The Hollywood Theatre (Portland), and The Unhappy Hour (Los Angeles).

 

A member of the 3^rd Curating Collective, Tess. co-curates The Third Area poetry reading at Pharmaka Art. She also curates the Literati Cocktail reading series, an annual event held at the West Hollywood Book Fair.

 

Her many editorships include music editor for The Belltown Paper, news editor for Rockrgrl Magazine, and poetry editor for poeticdiversity: the Litzine of Los Angeles. She has served on the editorial boards for Knock (literary journal of Antioch University, Seattle) and Enjambed (the literary journal for CSU, Dominguez Hills).

 

Tess. co-founded the Hero Sisters Project (1998-2003), and her speaking engagements include the first Ladyfest in Olympia, Washington, Mills College Women’s Leadership Institute, and Experience Music Project.

 

Tess. is half of the LA-based rock outfit Quality Audio and co-owner of Quality Audio Publishing, projects she shares with her partner David. Her film scoring credits include the soundtrack to the short film The Dinner Party (von Tongeln Films, 2009). Her band credits are extensive, and she has released music on several labels, including CZ Records, Last Chance Records, and Crunch Melody Records.

 

A crafter and visual artist, Tess. has shown work in Seattle and Los Angeles, including a recent solo show of paintings and photography at Sirens (Los Angeles). She channels her addiction to fabric through Bici Chica LA, her clothing label.  

 

When not riding her bike or busy with any of the above projects, Tess. might be found examining the phenomenon of deep fried Oreo cookies.

Unless otherwise noted, everything on this website is © 2008 Tess. Lotta and cannot be used without permission.