Long before there was such a thing as the internet, zines existed as a way for people to communicate complex ideas across long distances. Originated by fans of underground music and alternative literature, zines soon spread throughout popular culture. They allow people to discuss the sorts of ideas that can be hard to communicate in casual conversation, from complex political discussions to intimate personal matters that are hard to bring up face to face. Today, there are as many different thematic approaches to making zines as there are different people making them, and a great deal of those approaches will be available for perusal at the fourth annual Richmond Zine Fest, taking place this Saturday from 11 AM until 5 PM at the Gay Community Center Of Richmond (1407 Sherwood Ave, next to Diversity Thrift).
This event, which is all ages and free to attend, makes clear that, for most people in the zine community, participating in zine culture is a labor of love. It's rare that anyone who publishes a zine makes money. In fact, for most, publishing is a money-losing endeavor. However, there are other benefits to making a zine that outweigh any financial considerations. Foremost among them is the creation a record of one's thoughts and ideas with a longer shelf life than that of a blog post on the internet. Like the internet, though, it can be isolating to feel like everyone you connect with is at the other end of a long trip through the mail. This is what makes gatherings like the Zine Fest so important--it's an opportunity for creators who normally only communicate through the written word to meet in person, get to know each other, discuss ideas and strengthen the underground information network that is the world of zines.
Even for people who don't themselves create zines, the Zine Fest holds a wealth of opportunities. With dozens of publishers and distributors together in one place, you'll be able to obtain in one brief trip through the festival what would normally take weeks of searching and correspondence, as well as mountains of postage, to get. For both newcomers and longtime zine aficionados, the Richmond Zine Fest has plenty of awesome opportunities available.
A full list of the publishers and distributors who will be in attendance is as follows:
Approaching Apolcalypse Distro – Mo Karn
The Black Hand Collective – Megan Osborn
Black Light Diner Distro – Erica Satifka
Celestial Bodies & My Sex – Elizabeth Albrecht
Chelsea Dirck & James Payne
Click Clack Distro – Nicole Harris
Copy That! Distro – Cheyenne Neckmonster
Cup & Saucer Chronicles/Silk City Series – Eric Nelson
D.C. Conspiracy – Matt Dembicki & Andrew Cohen
Fanciest Lumps - Mark Delboy
Firefly Blind Press - Aijung Kim
Flying Brick Community Library – Nathan Stickel
Full Sanction – Joe Mochove & Rusty Rowley
Gatherings and Scatterings, Zebra Spit – Luke Stroud
Hoax/You’ve Got a Friend in PA & Uni(un)verse – Sari & Rachel
Honey Flow Distro – Jillian McGrath
JMS Books LLC – J. M. Snyder
Ksen Zines - Matt Carman & Kseniya Yarosh
Lips: Expressions of Female Sexuality – Annie Brown
Microcosm Publishing – Adam Gnade
The Order of Seven Hills – Mitch
O’Shell – David O’Shell
Oura – Oura Sananikone
Parcell Press – Taylor Ball
Richmond Industrial Workers of the World – Kenneth Yates
Richmond Poetry Miscellany – Addison Herron-Wheeler
Sassyfrass Circus & Femme A Barbe – J Bee
Sassy Jr. – John Reaves and David Marie-Garland
Scribble & 111 – Jane Lucas
Sink/Swim Press – James Moffitt
Substance Ink – Sean
Wooden Shoe Books – Jini Kades
Workshops scheduled for the Richmond Zine Fest:
Copwatch by Mo Karn at 12-12:45
Security Culture by Daveigh at 1-1:45
Zine Making for All Ages by Jane at 2-2:45
LIPS by Annie at 3-3:45
Rock Camp for Girls in Richmond by Melissa at 4-4:45