North Country Zine Fest
Saturday, October 18, Noon-5pm
Strand Center Gallery
We’re so excited to host the 2nd annual North Country Zine Fest this fall on October 18th from Noon-5pm. This event is co-produced by local zinesters Erin Dorney & our very own Megan Charland. This is an event not to be missed!
What’s a zine?!
So, WHAT exactly is a zine? A zine could really be ANYTHING.
A zine (pronounced “zeen”) is a self-published print-work that is typically produced in small, limited batches. (Think magazines.) Zines are created and bound in many DIY ways, but traditionally editions are easily reproduced—often by crafting an original “master,” and then photocopying, folding, and stapling the pages into simple pamphlets. Zines may also be sewn, taped, glued—or even exist in unbound and other non-folio formats. The main rule is that there are NO RULES!
“Zinesters” (people who create zines) are likely to be more motivated by self-expression and artistic passion than they are by profit: zines are usually inexpensive and sometimes distributed for free or in trade for other zines. The history of zines is super fascinating!
Zines can touch on a variety of topics from music and art, to politics, to self-portraits, and MORE! Their content may be written, drawn, collaged, or any other form of combining words and imagery. A zine really could be ANYTHING.
Meet the Zinesters!
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Cat Snapp Studio
Cat Snapp is a visual artist exploring human connections and our relationship with nature. Through abstract marks, repeating patterns, and textural surfaces, her work represents the intangible aspects of life in a tactile, physical manner. The artwork is grounded in printmaking and book arts and incorporates various hands-on media.
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Anna May
BREAKUP ARCHAEOLOGY VOL. 1 (perzine with old diary entries and other documents related to the worst breakup of my life)
DO YOU SUFFER FROM: CHRONIC PAIN (a mostly collage-focused zine about suffering from chronic pain)
PAINSOMNIAC VOL. 1-9 (mini zines that I make during the night any time I cannot sleep due to chronic pain)
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Bear Grove Press
Éditeur de zines et relieur de livres
Zine Publisher and Book Binder -
Boreal Zine
Boreal Zine is a comp-zine based in the Adirondacks focused on more gentle living. Place-based, seasonally inspired, and intimate, Boreal brings together artists in the community by giving them a platform to express their ideas without the constraints of traditional publishing. Ethics of DIY, cheap art, and anticapitalism are imbued in each issue, which is loosely-themed and in-line with the seasons. Pro-joy, pro-wonder, pro-dirt.
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Canto Cutie
Canto Cutie is a juried art and literature zine that publishes the work of Cantonese artists and writers. It is a publication for the diaspora, about the diaspora, founded in 2019 by Katherine Leung.
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Jennifer Giambruno Gordon
A local zinester. "Portable Inspiration" with inspiring quotes. I am also working on a seasonal series and hope to have a couple of issues available.
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Jenny Curtis
I got Daddies, I got Mommies, I got space stuff and bugs, its all collage its just for fun.
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lalaLaMonique
"Imaginary Houses of the Adirondacks", "Imaginary Roadside Adirondacks", other titles TBD. Art zines in my quirky drawing and painting style. Often imaginary landscapes, but not necessarily. Am planning for some future more interactive zines, e.g., with stickers.
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The Rev Art Shop
I have several photography zines including "Elements" A collection of my Hip-Hop photography, "Scenes From The 518" a new zine with my photography around NY's capital region, "Good Trouble," photographs of various protests I've attended, "History in the Making," a collection of photos from Barack Obama's first campaign stop in Hartford, Ct. In addition to my photography zines my wife has her book of poetry "Dreaming in Kreyol," a collection of poems about her Haitian American heritage.
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Potsdam Salvage
Potsdam Salvage, a new bimonthly community zine co-edited by Potsdam DIY and Potsdam Pride, featuring art and writing from folks in and around Potsdam NY, plus event listings. Distributed free around the community.
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Power Vacuum Projects
I make a zine called Pig's Digest, I currently have 4 issues out and am working on my 5th currently. It is a zine filled with all original artwork, mostly drawings, photography, and collage, it also has original poetry, as well as an album review in each issue.
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Jill Florence Brooks
mini zines about ecology, visual poem zines, autobiographical zines
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Michelle C. Moode
Michelle C. Moode is a book and installation artist. Her work is informed by an interest in curation and collection, as well as a passion for growing things and wandering in the woods.
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Like the Shirt!!
“Like the Shirt!!” is a silly and sweet zine about the diversity of queer identities. Other zines will include one about funny text conversations, one about different vampires in media, two of my illustrated poems, at least two silly “hear me out” zines, one about my text reactions to watching an X-Men movie for the first time. They do not have titles yet except for the first one that we named our zine project after. I will be able to give more information and photos eventually over email if needed.
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Jane Boxall
Freelance percussionist and writer.
Please Don't Need Everything It Hurts' (predictive-text haiku flipbook), 'Transience' (ditto), 'Freedom Is Impossible' (erasure poetry), 'Mourning Again' (perzine about my own band, Doll Fight!)
FAQs
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There will be a bunch of tables set up around the gallery at The Strand. Behind each table will be a zinester/vendor showcasing their zines and other items available for sale. You can chat with them, look at their zines, and buy what you are post interested in! It’s a really fun environment filled with cool, creative folks from all different backgrounds. Some zines may look really polished and fancy and others may be homemade and DIY and that’s the beauty of zine fest!
The fest itself will run from 12PM - 5PM. From 3-5PM there will be an interactive option for attendees who want to make their own zine, using materials supplied by The Strand.
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Established in 1892 by the State of New York amid concerns for the water and timber resources of the region, the Adirondack Park covers an area larger in size than Yosemite, Yellowstone, Glacier, Grand Canyon, and the Great Smokies National Parks combined. The Park encompasses millions of acres of public, constitutionally protected forest preserve, as well as privately owned land.
While Plattsburgh is not located within the ADK Park boundaries, it is nearby, and zine fest attendees should definitely plan to spend some time in the beautiful nature surrounding our region! There are opportunities to camp, hike, swim, paddle, birdwatch, and more.
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Water bottle - The Strand has refill stations & we want you to stay hydrated!
Cash - Some vendors may only accept cash, so it’s good to have some on hand. Other payment options may be available, but they depend on each vendor and what they’re set up to accept.
Your own zines - Some vendors may be interested in trading a copy of their zine for a copy of yours.
Curiosity - Each zine fest brings together a different group of people. You might encounter zines that make you think or smile (we certainly hope so!) or even challenge you in some way. Zine fests are a great place to make new friends and learn about new topics - we encourage you to keep an open mind & embrace your creativity!
Call for Zinesters!
Do you create zines? Join us in Plattsburgh, New York to bring your work to a new audience! Attendees will be coming from all over the northeast including: NY, VT, PA, and Canada!
Readers here in the North Country are eager to experience perspectives from outside our rural environment! Diverse voices are welcome!
We look forward to having you joining us! If you have any questions, please reach out to us: zinefest@strandcenter.org
Event Details for Vendors
Day of timeframe: Saturday, October 18
10am-Noon: setup
Noon-5pm: vendor fair & DIY zine station
Table Fees & Details
Full table - 6ft: $45
Half table - 3ft (share with another vendor - you can say who you want to share with if you know and if not, we will pair you randomly): $25
Vendors are encouraged to bring their own tables. We do have a limited number, please note in your application if you need to borrow one.
No wall space. Gallery walls will have an exhibition on display - more details soon!
Vendor Application Timeline
April 9: vendor applications open
July 1: vendor applications due
July 15: notifications go out to vendors
August 1: payment due
October 18 - EVENT!!
Questions? Contact Us!
Event organizers Erin Dorney (left) and Megan Charland (right) tabling at the Ithaca Book & Zine Fair at Buffalo Street Books produced by Illuminated Press in 2022.