By Art Ortega |Staff Writer|
Calling all artists, zinesters, writers, graphic designers and print makers!
The Riverside DIY Print Festival is back on Saturday, May 18.
Many artists will be at this volunteer-run event to show off their work, give demonstrations and conduct workshops.
For those who don’t know, a zine is a small publication, usually cheap to produce, that is written for a relatively small audience.
Artists who like to express themselves create “zines” to keep a small community of fans in the mix.
It can be quite fun to look at all the unique ways to communicate certain messages to people. Just ask student, Pita Aispuro.
“It’s so much fun! I can’t believe some of the pictures and prints that are created. Like, did you really make that yourself? The creativity is amazing. We’re all art freaks,” said Aispuro.
Print Festivals can be the perfect place to bounce ideas around with other artists.
It can also be a great opportunity to expose your personal artwork.
“I get a lot of feedback from the people at print fests. I feel like it expands my creativity because I can get other artists’ perspectives about my artwork,” said Aispuro.
Here are a few of the many non-profits organizations that will be there to share their work:
Queer Resistance Collective will be present to offer live screen-printing workshops.
Zineworks will be offering zine workshops and a zine reading lounge.
Based Bakery will be giving out free vegan treats.
A number of self-publishing zinesters will also be there. Attendees are looking forward to the new zine releases of Aaron Whitaker, Melinda Tracy Boyce, Fair dig, Double Fur, Influentza, MRDR and PimpKillah.
“I don’t think I have a favorite,” admitted Aispuro. “But I like Tracy Boyce! Some of her zines make me laugh because they convey the hard truth.”
So if you don’t have any plans on May 18 take a trip down to Riverside and check out the Print Festival in the Blood Orange Info Shop on University Ave. Its free for those who attend, so being broke is not an excuse!
The print festival will also be great for those who wish to become their own zinesters. Bring a friend and come explore this new world of unsought creativity!
For those aspiring artists who are interested in volunteering to show off their work, visit diyprint.org, click the exhibitors 2013 link, scroll down and fill out the registration form.
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