The deadline for zine artists is fast approaching for this year’s Squamish Zine Fest. Applications must be in by Wednesday, Jan. 21 in order to participate.
Non-artists can pencil in Zine Fest, for Feb. 21 between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the Squamish Library. The event is free and open to anyone.
For the uninitiated, a zine (pronounced “zeen”), is a low-budget, self-made print publication.
“Anybody can make a zine… I just love that sort of underground feel of it,” said Rachel Bergquist, Squamish Library’s programming coordinator. “It also ties really well into the purpose of the library, which is to support freedom of expression and accessibility.”
The Squamish Zine Fest was launched by the Library in partnership with Squamish Arts last year, to kickstart the library’s zine collection.
“It was just a huge hit,” said Bergquist, who has since made the event a yearly staple at the library.
Zines can take many forms, from personal reflections, to comics, to social commentary. Last year’s selection covered everything from dating woes to bicycle repairs.
Matt Sipple is a local Squamish photographer and one of the artists who participated in last year’s Zine Fest.
“I made a couple [zines] back in high school, almost pre internet days,” Sipple said. “I hadn’t made one since then, and then a friend and I wanted to get some photos in print instead of just living on Instagram.”
Zine Fest isn’t just a place for established artists though, anyone can produce a zine.
“There were artists who had never made a zine before, but wanted to participate and so made their first zine for Zine Fest,” Bergquist said.
For those looking to dive into the medium, there will also be zine-making kits offered at the event.
