Topic: craft and zine fairs
Ah.... that busy phase that kicks in when the temperature drops. What is it about having to bundle up just to cross the street that makes me have that sudden burst of energy? Meaning, of course, that I'm not inside blogging. Hence my silence.
But things have been happening! I went off to Peterborough with a couple of the other Owls this weekend for the Trent U OPIRG Zine Fair. This will be, I believe, our third in Peterborough, in the absolutely gorgeous and welcoming Satleir House, surrounded by people who have become friends by long distance: Dawn Burnett and the gang at Brainwave, a group that publish and promote art by people who've suffered brain damage; Stu, the crazy altern-punker who comes with his vintage vinyl and CDs and zines about punk (a SERIOUS inheritor of the origins of zinemaking, that guy,) Puddles of Sky, a zine distro/collective making gorgeous hand-drawn and photocopied work...
This is a great zine fair. It's nowhere near the size of Expozine or the Toronto Small Press Fair, or even span-o's small press fair. But it's so damn friendly, and engaged. Genuine conversations start over the tables. They invite a local young filmmaker to come screen his demo, they get a band to come in and play for the last hour or so, they provide coffee and tea in ceramic mugs and homemade crepes and ice cream. They talk to each other. We will make the trip and count it a weekend really well spent. More people should. It just has a sweet vibe. And bring something along to leave at the Free Market or the open food pantry downstairs. Or a book to read in one of the gorgeous upstairs rooms.
Trent U's Zine fair completely takes the prize.
In other news, check out Montreal's Les filles electriques festival coming up... and look for some Ottawa names!
