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The Student Newspaper of DePaul University

The DePaulia

The Student Newspaper of DePaul University

The DePaulia

The Student Newspaper of DePaul University

The DePaulia

Zine scene: Fourth annual Chicago Zine Fest this weekend, March 8-9

Since its conception four years ago, the annual Chicago Zine Fest is the cornerstone for the Chicago zine community. The fest brings together the work of more than 200 zine artists and enthusiasts from around the country and the world March 8-9. Events at this year’s festival include a panel discussion led by zine artists Kerri Radley, Maranda Elizabeth and Dave Roche on writing about health, disability and accessibility in zines, “Zine, Lose or Draw!” hosted by Neil Brideau at Quimbys bookstore as well as the annual exhibitions.

“There’s really something for everyone and the great thing about zines is that anyone can write one, so they are unfiltered information and stories,” said Coordinator Leslie Perrine. “The festival itself is a celebration of these things.”

The festival began in 2009, when coordinators Ramsey Beyer, Neil Brideau, Leslie Perrine and Matt Whispers realized that most of the exhibitors they saw at the Milwaukee Zine Fest were from Chicago. The festival has more than doubled in size since its first year, with youth readings at 826CHI, panel discussions and exhibitions at Columbia College as well as other special events at Quimbys bookstore.

“We thought ‘why not start a zine fest in Chicago?” said Perrine. “As a group, we really wanted to bring that kind of community to the Chicago zine scene that we had felt in Milwaukee.”

A staple of the underground since the 1930s, and popularized during the 1970s punk scene, zines, short for fanzines, are self published books and magazines whose subjects range from comic books to poetry, to the experiences of a deaf person. Zines are commonly characterized by their handmade quality, such as sewn bindings and silk-screened covers. Now though, with their new academic interest, zines have made the move from the underground, into the mainstream, Coordinator Jami Sailor said.

“The internet has helped those making zines find each other and find a community,” said Sailor. “In Chicago we have Quimby’s to help create a more cohesive community.”

Neil Brideau, the author of the zine “Minicomics” and a staff member at Quimbys, believes that the festival is invaluable in bringing zine artists and enthusiasts together, as well as introducing newcomers to the joy of self publishing. Brideau will also host “Zine, Lose or Draw!”, a Pictionary-style game with a zine theme at Quimbys March 8. He will also be showing his Minicomics at the festival’s exhibition table.

“I think the Zine Fest is a really great opportunity for zinesters to come together,” said Brideau. “During winter in Chicago, people tend to hide away in their apartments because of the weather. This brings people together and shows people how awesome self publishing can be.”

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