LBZF16 is photographer Nikki Alonzo’s second Long Beach Zine Fest. Her zines run the gamut of topics– though her passion for “puppies and butts” is apparent throughout. Alonzo works in Photoshop to alter her images, then photocopies and staples them together, or as she says “I just stitch my work together and cross my damn fingers.”
What are your current zines about?
My current zines are about what I’m shooting at the time. It’s super mixed up from puppies to butts to just whatever I’m fixated on. I like to make collages in my zines too. I want to make a zine on one certain theme but it’s been hard for me… Maybe one day! Oh and I have one little zine on my journal entries. Just scanned pages from my journals. It’s called “Fucking FEELINGS” A lot more fun then Nikki Alfonzo Volume #1 etc.. etc…
Why do you make zines?
I make zines because they make me feel like I’m putting my creative flow out into the world. Even though I have a website it just isn’t the same. I like seeing something in my hand. Once it’s printed it really feels like a finished product. And I just love the whole zine community. It’s just awesome to see all these people putting out what they like/love. Sharing their stories, art work, informing us on things I might have never known about.
What is your favorite part of making zines?
My favorite part is finally getting my work printed and seeing how it looks outside of Photoshop.
What is your biggest challenge in making zines?
Stapling my pages. Some people have such nice hand stitched zines … I gotta work on my book making skills.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to start making zines?
JUST DO IT!!!!!