| « The Open Door Presents Brett Foster & Srikanth Reddy | Short and Sweet: A Conversation with Chicago Writer Stuart Dybek » |
Events Wed Mar 12 2014
Chicago Zine Fest is Back for its Fifth Year!
Don't let green sprouting up around the city fool you; there's much more going on this weekend than St. Patty's Day. Friday, March 14th marks the beginning of fifth annual self-pubstravaganza Chicago Zine Fest, a weekend-long showcase dedicated to celebrating the work of small presses and independent publishers.
There are few instances in which so many creatives occupy a single space, and the effect at Zine Fest is awe-inspiring, as one might guess just taking a look at the Fest's impressive exhibitor line-up; bursting with stories, illustrations, and the powerful perspectives unique to zine work. Absorb their work through readings and exhibitions throughout the weekend, and jump into the process yourself with any of the many workshops and discussions scheduled for Saturday, March 15!
The festival kicks off this Friday at 1 pm at Columbia College's Conway Center (1104 S. Wabash Ave.) with an opening panel entitled In it for the Long Haul: A Discussion on Longevity in Zines with Cindy Crabb (Doris), Tomas Moniz (Rad Dad), and Alex Wrekk (Brainscan). The panel will be moderated by Quimby's Bookstore's own Liz Mason (Caboose)
Fittingly, this discussion of the future of zines will be followed by the future of zines: young writers! From 6 - 7 pm, the Hairpin Arts Center (2800 N Milwaukee Ave.) will host grade school and high school students as they read from their very own self-published zines. Follow up the emerging talent with self-publishing staples at exhibitor readings, which run from 7 - 9pm.
And whether you're sticking around post-readings or you've yet to set foot in the Fest, be sure to make your way to Hairpin by 9 pm for the CZF Kick Off Celebration and Dance Party! Five years is a long run, worthy of overflowing drink and sweaty dancing, DJ'ed by CHIRP Radio. When you've danced every dance you could possibly dance, go sleep, wake up, and start it all again with day two!
Plan your weekend with a printable Chicago Zine Fest schedule here! Special thanks for this amazing lineup of events goes out to the Fest's sponsors: Quimby's Bookstore, 826CHI, CHIRP Radio, CHI PRC, and the Hairpin Arts Center.
