On May 9th, after our 2+ hour train ride and a quick stop at Nordstrom, the Younger and I traveled to Brooklyn for the main purpose of my weekend trip: the Black Zine Fair! Even with ample time when we got into the fair, I barely made a dent in the vendors list. (Which was probably great for my bag and wallet.)
But the goodies I did get: phenomenal.
I wish I’d had the energy to see more of the vendors present, but between the early morning start, all the walking we did before heading to the fair and the fact that I still needed to decide what to eat afterwards, leaving when I did was the obvious choice. But it was time well spent.
Organizing zines and artwork, I was filled with another wave of appreciation for the creators I had the chance to speak with and inspiration as I browsed through personal websites and socials. Sites and socials that I’ve gathered together for anything that may have caught your eyes as they did mine.
(*) The Black Zine Fair booklet, with a list of workshops, participating creators and a map of the vendor floor to make finding specific tables easier.
1. Precious Diamond B. – Imagine being a herbalist making zines again after a three year break.
2. Elisa Milan – The Younger pointed me to this table before she had to leave. The newsletter was a must buy as someone who loves when artists do little behind-the-zine stuff.
3. Lunilah Project – The blue and pink color combination was so eye-catching and, in my opinion, suits the zine theme of interpersonal and communal harm and healing.
4. BLK HYMNS – But DO Black people drink coffee? I personally don’t, but I’m sure plenty of other Black folks make up the difference. Couldn’t pass up this zine inspired by a question on Reddit.
5. Salami Archives – She also has a Spider-Man zine that’s currently out of print. Please support cause I need it!
6. 002 Press – Purchased their collabrative poetry and art zine. They also had cool hand drawn trading cards!
7. The Semi-Functioning Press – Discovered that a majority of their work happens online as they expand into more physical spaces.
8. Sabrina Sims – Bought the “space for black hair”, a zine that explores what it means to have Black hair through 18 Black, Indigenous and Latine artists and creators. (The strawberry and cat sticker are actually from Panty Militia Press, but I was tired when I was displaying everything.)
9. 8-Ball Community – They had a spread of zines made by different members of their community, which also acts as an independent media platform.
10. Àrokò Cooperative – Zine and workbook from Àrokò Cooperative, a multidisciplinary community of Black designers committed to divesting from harmful systems and building toward collective liberation through design.
11. Olivia Fields – Gonna sound out of pocket for a minute but I’m pretty sure there was a sexy robot zine at this table (that I should have bought. I was a fool) But the stickers and print I got are cute!
12. Sojourners for Justice Press – When I first laid eyes on the design for this year I knew I needed to get it. So I did.
13. Sabii Borno – A cute print for the road. There’s more art I plan on getting later.
14. tatiana esh – Love when writers do alternative mediums as they flesh out their world and characters. Her site is also too cute!
15. Zines4Queers – Two zines of poetry and photography, as well as three postcards. You could also get your polaroid taken!
16. Living Lesbian Archive – Two zines from the Living Lesbian Archive, a social club documenting Black lesbian lives and identity through arts and crafts.
17. Lillian Young – Don’t let the blank cover fool you. Can You See Her vol. 1 features quotes and sketches of under appreciated female Civil Rights leaders. A few familiar face and a couple new to me!
18. Ella Ray – Got this zine/bingo card bundle. The zine is about literacy strategies and research tools for both fiction and nonfiction texts.
19. Julian Adon Alexander – Picked up Julian’s “Sweet” zine and lowkey still thinking about the “Grapefruit Soda” print.
20. Jennella Young – Grabbed “Pages of Mourning,” and “Burnt Sugar,” an art and research zine. More researchers should make their (findings) into zines!
21. FALLEN CARGO – A newspaper zine of political and cultural satire as well as an enamel pin. (The Only Pin I Bought Who Is She?!)
22. GLINT – Haven’t read the “Fantasy” and “Alienus” zines I bought yet cause I got caught up on reading articles on the Glint site.
23. liberty outloud – “#clear” is a working glossary of political terms that Cierra Wyche created as a way to put her understanding of the world into words for herself and others.
24. Panty Militia Press – Obsessed with this print! While the other colors were cool, I’m glad I went with the red version.
25. Grace Issues – I had to refrain from spending more money on (1) table in but couldn’t leave without “The World is Your Mussel” and another two zines.
Now I get to explore the other artists, writers and presses I wasn’t able to see at my leisure while reading all the zines I bought (￣▽￣) I’m already looking forward to next year.
Until the next post,
.chel
Reading Rites 