This year’s symposium (the 10th!!) was held in the rather huge gym at PSU…I snuck in after 12:00 and was immediately and utterly overwhelmed by how many folks were there and how many zines were on each of the many long rows of tables. I’m a gal who relishes gazing over a few zines in minuscule independent stores (Reading Frenzy, Guapo), peeking into them like a tiny secret written just for me. I was a little inhibited by the prospect of peeking into the lives of the people who were sitting directly across the table from me. Also, nervous about potentially seeming to reject the creative expression of the person who had the chutzpah to put themselves out there into the wider community.
Even though most folks who know me would never name shyness as one of my qualities, I become bashful and in the presence of arty folk who are getting their stuff out into the world. Even the little books I make, I tend to leave around in random spots around the city as mysterious little treasures to be found by whoever finds them intriguing enough to pick up. Or I somewhat furtively hand them to people and then skitter away quickly. So, in this room filled with zinesters, I was wishing for that magic oil that makes you invisible.
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| the library copy of Clutch's zine |
Despite my attempts at invisibility, I happened to meet Greg Means, the guy who drew one of my favorite zines,
You Ruined Everything! He told me that this title is out of print and gave me permission to make a copy of the library copy I’ve been hording. You can check out some of the illustrations from
You Ruined Everything! here:
http://tugboatcity.livejournal.com/?skip=20&tag=100%20themes He also edits Papercutter from Tugboat Press:
http://tugboatpress.com/
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| ee dumas' little zine Be More Awesome |
Mostly, I skirted each table by at least five feet, gazing a little longingly but distantly…I would venture in close only if a cover really called out, “Shy Girl…Shy Girl…come look at meeee…” or if the vendor/author managed to catch my eye with a matching shy smile. This is how I met E E Dumas, an artist with an open face who makes quite a few delightful how-to zines including my favorite,
Be More Awesome. This zine is free, but I gave him a $1.00 beause really, it takes time and money to copy, assemble and staple the small little things…He writes a blog called Expert Enthusiast that you can check out here:
http://www.eedumas.com/blog/
Also checked in with Julie Sabatier, the host, creator and producer of
Destination DIY – a radio and podcast show about “revolutionary do-it-yourself projects. I really enjoy her show and the accompanying zine. (purchased copies of both since I’ve misplaced the library’s copy of one and need to replace it…oops) You get some of the podcasts at her site:
http://destinationdiy.com/audiolibrary.html
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| the cool boots with kitty |
Managed to get in and out within 40 minutes, proudly clutching a small stash of zines under my arm…on my out of the building, I got a bonus gift: a young man (looked to be a 19ish PSU student likely still drunk from his Saturday night adventures) said, “Hey! I like your boots!.........You look like Annie Oakley…” These boots were a gift from my father – we found them at his retirement community’s thrift store. Annie Oakley...I wonder if she was sometimes a shy girl too?
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| spot on the sidewalk |
Oh, and this heart was on the sidewalk as I skipped down to my car...
