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ZinefestZinefest

A zine is a small, self-published magazine. Zinefest is an open day to design and create a zine, talk about zines, and/or deposit zines. Free photocopying credit given to participants.

In 2009 Zinefest was held at Central Library on Saturday 22 August 22, 2009. View the photos on Flickr. The event was held as part of the library's 150th anniversary celebrations.

Download the poster (1.8 MB PDF)

See our Zines page to find out more about zine-ing.

The Pulse talks to Zinefest organiser Allison all about zines:

ZinesHow did you get into zines?
I was living in New York when the twin towers went down and had some anarchist/activist friends who made zines. The main reason that they made zines was to spread information like when and where to meet for protests, what the government was doing behind out backs, where the best dumpster to get food from was, etc. I was automatically impressed by how cool these hand-made publications were. They were anything and everything to do with their culture and activities. And, they were made without supporting big businesses, having to go to a publisher, or posting anything to the web! It was underground and effective.
What are your favourite zines and why?
I have always really enjoyed art zines - zines that include (most of the time) reproductions of artwork. The zines artists make tend to be made with really creative and interesting materials as like treated paper, different bindings, screen printing, stuff like that. Check out the John Dory Report, it's made in Christchurch and has been going for ages (which is really rare in the zine world).
What do zinesters think of scrapbooks/ scrapbookers?
Um, don't know. They both require putting images and words together, but that is probably where it ends. Zines are about communication or at least some kind of expression, whereas scrapbooks seem to be about preservation. Zinesters don't seem to care about their publication being around for very long, it's mostly an ephemeral thing.
How do you distribute your zines/get them noticed?
There are some people who sell or distribute zines in New Zealand, they are usually referred to as 'distros'. Katipo Books in Christchurch is the closest one I know of. There are a lot more shops that sell zines in Wellington and Auckland because there are a lot more people making them up there! If you're not concerned about getting money, which a lot of people aren't, then just ask at cafes, Comics Compulsion and other bookstores if you could put your zine there. Try to get into Craft 2.0 or Craftwerk. Also, donate one to the library! We would love to have a copy of Christchurch made zines.
Is there somewhere in Christchurch that zinesters get together or places to go to look at zines?
Not that I know of. Zinesters make their publications about whatever they want (favourite band, crap experience on the red bus, exhibition reviews, pictures of wobbly tables) so they might not have anything in common but the fact that they make a zine. I'm trying to get people excited about zines again here in the South Island. Hopefully something will happen.
What would your ultimate zine be about and what would it look like?
I have two ideas: One would probably have a really good soup recipe, a knitting pattern for a hat, some gardening in a small place tips and a review of a really good coffee shop. The other would have a screen printed cover and consist of someone's art work, perhaps someone trying to copy Caravaggio with spray paint or something. I might try to make the first one myself!

September 2009