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Events Thu Mar 08 2012
The Third Annual Chicago Zine Fest this Weekend!
Chicago Zine Fest returns for its third year this weekend, March 9 and 10, with a packed schedule of activities, workshops, discussions and more. The zine exhibition is the weekend's main attraction, and will be held on Saturday from 10am to 6pm in Columbia College's Conaway Center at 1104 S. Wabash Ave. The expo will showcase work from over 200 small press and independent publishers. Demand for such a festival has grown notably, as table registration sold out in 24 hours. Jen Twigg, festival organizer heading up exhibitor coordination explains, "We've had overwhelming support and enthusiasm from the zine community all over the country, from Canada, and even as far away as the UK this year!"
Friday events kick off at 1pm with a reading and panel discussion sponsored by Columbia College's Silver Tongue reading series. "Our Friday afternoon event will discuss Race, Gender and Sexuality with three amazing women in the self-publishing scene: Anne Elizabeth Moore, Mimi Thi Nguyen and Cristy Road," says Leslie Perrine, an organizer focused on event programming. "We couldn't be more excited!"
Friday night continues with help from two more festival sponsors. There will be a youth reading at 6pm, followed by a 7pm reading with zine exhibitors at 826 CHI, located at 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. Festivities are capped off with the city's first Zine Olympics (it's exactly like it sounds; there will be rounds of zine related activities such as speed stapling, precision folding, and a medal ceremony), at 9:30pm at Quimby's, located at 1854 W. North Ave.
Saturday welcomes the zine expo with ancillary activities such as a DIY film fest, kids' zine making area, workshops, and panel discussions. "This year, we are excited to offer attendees a chance to preview exhibitors' publications in our Reading / Art Room," says Heather Colby, volunteer coordinator for the festival. "It's a quiet space where they can look through some of the self-published works that are being sold at the event, and view artwork created by zine fest participants."
The festival has something for everyone. All events are free, open to the public and wheelchair accessible. All Friday readings and the panel will have ASL interpretation.
