Month: April 2015

Blog

Huge thanks to everyone!

Post author By LB Zine Fest
Post date April 13, 2015
788 Comments on Huge thanks to everyone!

THANK YOU SO MUCH to everyone that came out! It was such an amazing event and we owe it all to each and every one of you who was there! Everyone from our awesome zinesters, artists, writers, poets, illustrators, photographers, musicians, workshop advisors, panel guests, volunteers and organizers and OF COURSE all the attendees that poured in throughout the day! Double Thank You to our sponsors, food folks, coffee brewers, craft vendors, and especially The Museum of Latin American Art, this event was possible because you gave a group of LB zinesters the opportunity to dream big. Huge thanks to the entire MOLAA staff for helping make Long beach Zine Fest the success it was. It was an absolute pleasure and joy to be able to spend the day with each and everyone of you! Hope you guys had as much fun as we did! We really couldn’t have done it without all of you!!!

LBZF 2015

The first LBZF is HERE!

Long Beach Zine Fest 2015 Details

April 12, 2015 • 11am to 5pm
FREE • ALL AGES

Located at MoLAA (Museum of Latin American Art)
628 Alamitos Ave • Long Beach, CA • 90802

Zine Marketplace
Workshops & Panels
Live Music

Biking

LBZF is hosting a FREE bike valet at MoLAA … you can even get a basic bike tune up FOR FREE while you’re at LBZF!

Click here for bike routes to MoLAA from various points in Long Beach, including all the Blue Line stops.

Parking

There is free, but limited, parking in the MoLAA parking lot!

There is also lots of paid parking available in lots within walking distance of MoLAA, click here for a paid parking lots map!

Updates

LBZF’s own Sarah Bennett (LA Weekly, LA Record) will be stepping in for Myriam Gurba to moderate THE ZINE TABLE and navigate the discussion on Long Beach and SoCal’s history of DIY, zines, and counterculture. And that’s not all! Added to the panel, The Wild Librarian herself, Stacy Russo, who, besides her poignant poetry and zines, is also writing a history of SoCal punk, interviewing women from the 1980s punk scene in Los Angeles and surrounding areas.

Food & Drinks

There will be food and drinks available for purchase throughout the day, including coffee and ice cream from Rose Park Roaster and Marko’s Frozen Treats

Questions?

Tweet us at @lbzinefest!

Tag us!

Instagram: @lbzinefest
Twitter: @lbzinefest

#lbzinefest
#lbzf2015

Blog Featured Zinesters

LBZF Featured Zinester: Erwin Recinos

Post author By LB Zine Fest
Post date April 9, 2015
105 Comments on LBZF Featured Zinester: Erwin Recinos

Name: Erwin Recinos
Zines: Photography / Graphic Design
Website: losojos.photos
Instagram: @losojosdemuerte

1. What kind of zines do you make?

I create photography zines. All photographs are taken by me either by digital, mobile or film.

2. What do you like about making zines?

Zines can take many forms and with DIY publishing it is exciting to what people create and see their ideas on paper instead of being locked up inside their heads with no way of reading or viewing it.

3. What are your zines about?

My zines are centered around my photographic journeys in & around Los Angeles. Either by car, public transit, or foot. I am also the events photographer for LATACO.com, a Los Angeles based website dedicated to the “taco lifestyle”.

4. How did you get started making zines?

After going to zine events, I saw the possibilities on what a zine could be. So, I made one titled “Metro Anonymous” all centered around my love of transit and commuting from home to work. Riding the Blue line and observing all the interesting visuals on that 45 minute ride from Long Beach to downtown Los Angeles. My commute varied in the last three years from train rides in the mornings, mid-day and evenings, so my visual perspective always varied and I believed it to be zine worthy.

5. Besides zines, what else are you passionate about?

Family, photography, tacos and art. Exactly in that order.

6. What advice would you give a new zinester?

Just try it. I fell into doing zines by chance and it seems like I can’t stop thinking making them. Write your ideas down on paper or put them in a random picker app on your phone. Do a drawing every month. Make that idea into a zine. See where it takes you.

7. Where do you look for your inspiration?

I use to find inspiration through photographers that I admired such as Jae Bueno, Eriberto Oriol and Tony Stamolis, to name a few. My inspiration now is drawn from within my thoughts and perspectives of photography. Examining my work and drawing better conclusions and ideas.

8. Any funny/interesting zine-related moments or stories you care to share?

As I was preparing my last zine, my daughter, Rosie, was interested in what I was doing. She asked so many questions that I asked her if she would like to make her own zine. She answered yes and began to gather some drawings together. I xeroxed copies of those drawings. Bought some pink & purple paper and proceeded to print her first zine. Two color way zine, 12-14 pages with a cover, all of her original artwork.

Scratch Zine Fair opened on August 30 at ESMOA (El Segundo Museum of Art) and decided to bring her along for the experience of selling her zine. My recollection is that she sold about 20 to 25 zines. Rosie made conversation about her zine and was the only youngest zinester at this event. With her earnings she bought more art supplies and crafts to feed her creative passions. That was a great day, won’t forget it.

Blog Featured Zinesters

LBZF 2015 Featured Zinester: Julius Tanag

Post author By LB Zine Fest
Post date April 8, 2015
48 Comments on LBZF 2015 Featured Zinester: Julius Tanag

Name: Julius Tanag
Zine: “Sofa King”
Website: juliustanag.com
Instagram: @juliustanag

1. What kind of zines do you make?

Collections of my hand lettered art and photography intermingled.

2. What do you like about making zines?

The tangible-ness. With all the internet sharing, it’s nice to hold actual, printed art.

3. What are your zines about?

A lot of things really. Sometimes silly ideas, and sometimes “angst-y” frustrations. I use lettering as an easy means to express and vent. The photography is a gritty look into society’s complexities regarding antidisestablishmentarianism. Just kidding, they’re just photos I took ’cause I felt like it.

4. Besides zines, what else are you passionate about?

Espresso and early seasons of Bob’s Burgers. Maybe other things.

5. What advice would you give a new zinester?

When printing, do a couple tests to make sure you’re getting the “double-sided-ness” just right! When you got it down, use that fancy colored paper. Also, maybe consider using a thicker paper for your cover for added effect?

6. What’s the biggest challenge you’ve had making zines?

Honestly, not much yet. That’s kind of the appeal to making zines, there’s nothing really too hard about it. You just got to do it!

7. Where do you look for your inspiration?

For lettering: my own stupid thoughts, silly things friends say, and some gods/goddesses of typography I creep on the internet. For photography: the quotidian. I mean, what else right? Life’s beautiful, yo.

Blog Featured Zinesters

LBZF 2015 Featured Zinester: Sleep Talk Press

Post author By LB Zine Fest
Post date April 7, 2015
60 Comments on LBZF 2015 Featured Zinester: Sleep Talk Press

Name: Sleep Talk Press
Zines: Cover Ups, Shut Up You’re Not My Real Dad, Decay of Instant Gratification, Soy Un Perdedor, #fearofmissingout, MTWTHF(Weekdays), I See A Blue Shirt, It Feels Orange, #fearofmissingout Vll, First Frame, Mundane, Mundane , Perfect Day , Don’t Mind Me
Website: sleeptalk.storenvy.com
Instagram: @sleeptalkpress
Tumblr: sleeptalkpress.tumblr.com

1. What kind of zines do you make?

Photozines.

 2. What do you like about making zines?

I like that fact that I get to see my photographs in a different light. It’s off the computer screen and in your hands.

3. What are your zines about?

My zines are about the daily mundane observations I make through my photographs.

4. How did you get started making zines?

Two years ago I got fed up with being turned down for every “Open Calls to Submit” that I submitted to. Decided I should just make my own and haven’t stopped since.

5. Where do you look for your inspiration?

Perfect bound hardcover photo-books.

6. What advice would you give a new zinester?

Just keep creating zines and ask for help whenever you need it.

 7. What’s the biggest challenge you’ve had making zines?

Spending seven months editing a layout and changing my mind once I think it’s done. Just doesn’t feel right yet.

Blog LBZF 2015

LBZF 2015 is brought to you by …

Post author By LB Zine Fest
Post date April 6, 2015
331 Comments on LBZF 2015 is brought to you by …

The first Long Beach Zine Fest is less than a week away! Thank you so much to our community sponsors who have made this event possible!

(Free admission courtesy Target Free Sunday @ MoLAA)

Want to support the future of the Long Beach Zine Fest? Donate here! [paypal-donation]

Blog Featured Zinesters

LBZF 2015 Featured Zinester: GRN+GLD

Post author By LB Zine Fest
Post date April 3, 2015
97 Comments on LBZF 2015 Featured Zinester: GRN+GLD

Name: GRN+GLD
Zines: GRN+GLD Vol. 001-011
Website: grngld.com
Tumblr: grngldblog.tumblr.com
Instagram: @grngld

1. What kind of zines do you make?

Our zine is a paper mâché arm for the institution, GRN+GLD. We are a collective of 10 members who contribute sights, sounds, and servitude to that which is GRN+GLD. Our zines involve art from members, affiliates, articles about various GRN+GLD lore, silly pacification, indoctrination games, and more.

2. What do you like about making zines?

We like to provide an avenue for our respected affiliates and despicable members.
We like to give it away for free at our shows.
We like to self-deprecate on paper.

3. What are your zines about?

They are about all things GRN+GLD, including but not limited to: magic through the art of self-loathing, ritual use of lies to enhance reality, forthcoming releases from our members, crosswords, and fragmentation of the mind via group-based thought-speak.

4. How did you get started making zines?

Two old friends re-established a connection. One was ultimately forced into servitude and has been stapling papers ever since. He is very happy at the moment.

5. Besides zines, what else are you passionate about?

We make beats. We release our music.
Better living through constant self-deception.
Rebirth through dissociation of truth from reality.

6. What advice would you give a new zinester?

a.) Tell yourself you are a zinester.
b.) Believe it.
c.) Forget step a.)

7. What’s the biggest challenge you’ve had making zines?

Our warehouse was burned down (RIP the Wizard’s Den) by a disgruntled former member. He subsequently cursed us, and our former go-to venue. GRN+GLD Vol. 005 was lost in the flames. We are hoping to have the fragments pieced together by June 2029.

8. Where do you look for your inspiration?

Allied Forces Press, Arthur C. Clarke, DJ Detweiler, and Long Beach Thai’s Thai Boat Noodle (extra blood, extra spicy).

9. Any funny/interesting zine-related moments or stories you care to share?

If you lick a specific part of the GRN+GLD application (included in the back of every volume), you have a 1/20 chance of being the lucky recipient of 12 hours of grandiose self-delusion.

Pre-events

PRE-EVENT: Bookbinding workshop at LBPL

Post author By LB Zine Fest
Post date April 2, 2015
569 Comments on PRE-EVENT: Bookbinding workshop at LBPL

LBZF 2015 pre-event bookbinding workshop

We are super excited about the Long Beach Zine Fest … happening in just over a week! We’ve got two more pre-events to get you ready to zine out … join us on Thursday, April 2, at Long Beach’s Mark Twain Library for a FREE bookbinding workshop with local artist Kelsey Bryan-Zwick!

Participants will learn basic stitches and create a simple journal! Perfect for all ages and all skill levels! Did we mention it was FREE?

SEE YOU THERE!

Thursday, April 2
5:30-6:30pm
Mark Twain Neighborhood Library
1401 E Anaheim St, Long Beach, CA 90813
(map it)

About the artist: Kelsey Bryan-Zwick is a poet, a bookbinder, and an artist from Long Beach, CA. As a child she lived in Spain where she fell in love with the smell of fresh bread, green olives, and learned to speak Spanish. At UCSC she received a B.A. in Literature/Creative Writing-Poetry. Kelsey participated in Write Bloody Publishing’s Dirty Dozen Workshop, and she is a recent Pushcart Prize nominee. Her poems can be found in A Poet is a Poet, No Matter How Tall: EPISODE II Attack of the Poems, at Cadence Collective, in Like a Girl: The Pre-Show!, and at The Camel Saloon. Kelsey’s first chapbook, Watches Synchronized to Awestruck, is hand-bound by the poet herself. Her next collection is due out in 2015 from Sadie Girl Press.