Since its conception four years ago, the annual Chicago Zine Fest is the cornerstone for the
“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
“We thought ‘why not start a zine fest in
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
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