Union Project
October 4
2 – 8 p.m.
Still have copies of Flipside or Runt gathering dust in your attic? Looking to channel your inner maker this back-to-school season? Power up those xerox machines, reload those staplers and head to the one-of-a-kind Pittsburgh Zine Fair (PZF).
For its fifth annual chapter, the PZF returns to the cozy Union Project to host an afternoon packed with pages of art, literature and celebratory birthday party vibes. This year’s fair will feature six hours of zine-based culture, including 46 vendors selling and sharing handmade zines, zine collections from the Mr. Roboto Project and Carnegie Library and hands-on zine- and button-making activities for all.
While perusing the print, fair-goers can fuel up on food and drink from Black Forge Coffee House, the Pgh Taco Truck and Randita’s and rock out to sounds spun by DJs from Carnegie Mellon’s own WRCT 88.3FM.
See why print matters at this diverse gathering of local and regional artists, writers, activists, publishers and collectives who will sell, share and demo their creations. Since the invention of the printing press centuries ago, and later with the circulation of Thomas Paine’s popular pamphlet “Common Sense” in 1776, citizens with something to say have published their opinions and perspectives in the form of self-published small-run printed matter. Created in a variety of formats, from computer-printed typeface and comic books, to hand-scrawled text and poetry chapbooks, zines are often photo-copied with a small circulation, and feature a broad spectrum of topics, from politics, art and design, to memoir, social theory, or identity.
Don’t miss the PZF kickoff mixer at Bunker Projects on Saturday, October 3rd, from 4 to 7 p.m. A preview of PZF exhibitors, the event will feature readings and performances by Maggie Lynn, Thom Delair, Nils Balls, Adam Milner, Margaret Bashaar, Daniel McCloskey, Seth LeDonne, Reese Adams-Romagnoli and Natty Soltez. View a complete list of PZF vendors and a schedule here.
Want more zines in your life? Continue your exploration of limited-edition, handmade printed matter later this month at Pittsburgh’s first-of-its-kind Feminist Zine Fest. Running from October 15th through October 18th, the fest will host a range of activities and events at multiple locations, including the Frick Fine Arts Building at Pitt, Constellation Coffee, Spirit and the Union Project.
The four-day fest will include zine vendors, a film screening and dance party, zine making workshops and readings—all celebrating feminist expression, culture and issues. View a list of Feminist Zine Fest vendors and a complete schedule here.
