Monthly Archive for July, 2026

6/28-9/18 The Surface of Last Scattering | Exhibition

Published on July 4, 2026 Closed
Jun
28
12:00 pm

The Surface of Last Scattering: Featuring the work of Will Arnold
Exhibition runs through September 18, daily 12-7

The Surface of Last Scattering instillation is a collage of images and text from Will Arnold’s two recent books, When the Universe Became Transparent and The Surface of Last Scattering. These books deconstruct the text of Cosmos, by Carl Sagan, and reassemble it alongside comic book dialogue and panels from the likes of Jack Kirby, Winsor McCay, Martin Vaughn-James, mid-century romance comics, Silver Surfer, and more, into a new creation myth, wrapped up in a story about a relationship in turmoil, grief, loss, the complication of understanding one another, and finding your place in the universe. The accompanying book will be released on September 18th at Quimby’s. Will’s stunning  instillation combines screen printed panels, Risograph prints, solvent-ink printed phototex of scanned Risograph prints, archival inkjet panels of scanned Risograph prints, cut vinyl, abd collaged Risograph printed comics.

Will Arnold received his MFA in Photography from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and his BA in Computer Science from Bucknell University. He currently lives and works in Champaign, IL where he manages the student labs and studios at the School of Art + Design at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Will co-runs Work Press & Publication, a Risograph-based zine and artist book self-publishing venture, with Tate Foley. Will is a part of the organizing team for the Champaign-Urbana Small Press Fest (CU-SPF) and served on the board of the St. Louis Independent Comics Expo (SLICE) from 2023-2025.

7/10 Midwest Perzine Fest Pre-Fest Reading

Published on July 4, 2026 Closed
Jul
10
6:30 pm

Midwest Perzine Fest Pre-Fest Reading
Featuring Liz Mason, Mx. Jonas, Angel Xoxo + more!
Friday 7/10, 6:30-8:30 pm
Quimby’s Bookstore
1854 W. North Ave, Chicago

This is your official invitation to the MWPZF pre-fest reading hosted by Quimby’s and featuring readings from Liz Mason, Mx. Jonas, Angel Xoxo + more! Meet, connect, and nosh with other perzinesters from around the Midwest and beyond! Vegan and gluten free snacks and beverages will be available. Bring YOUR perzine and sign up for a slot to read, too!

AND… 

Don’t forget to spend Saturday at Midwest Perzine Fest!  

Quimby’s is the unofficial sponsor of Midwest Perzine Fest, happening on Saturday, July 11th at Chicago Athletic Association in the loop (12 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago 60602) from 12-5PM! MWPZF will host over 30 exhibitors from the Midwest and beyond, including several of our consigners, who will be presenting their work! Don’t miss it!

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Pay what you can afford in person or via Venmo.
Suggested: $10
Venmo: @quimbysbookstore
Please include “After School” in the note!

 

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8/14-8/16 Quimby’s 35th Anniversary Weekend

Published on July 2, 2026 Closed
Aug
14
6:30 pm

Quimby’s 35th Anniversary Weekend
Friday 8/14 through Sunday 8/16
Quimby’s Bookstore
1854 W. North Ave, Chicago

Quimby’s is turning 35!
We’ve got a lot in the works to celebrate!

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//// SCHEDULE of EVENTS /////
(Subject to tweaking! Of course)

ALL MONTH LONG:
// The Surface of Last Scattering  installation by Will Arnold
// New Window Display and bookmarks by Gabriel Howell
// Chicago Edition of Elska Magazine after August 6th

ALL WEEKEND LONG:
// 3.5% off everything and 35% off some things!
// *NEW* “More a Fantasy Than A Good Idea” Quimby’s 35th Anniversary Zine – limited first edition! 35 copies for $35 each!
// *NEW* Quimby’s black denim tote bags by Caroline Cash – limited edition! 100 for $35 each!
// *NEW* Quimby’s 35th Anniversary Letterpress Print – an old school jammer between Chris Ware, Archer Prewitt, Dan Clowes, Terry Laban, and Gary Leib freshened up! Limited edition! 200 for $35 each! (pictured below)

//// FRIDAY 8/14

6:30 pm – 8:30 pm:“More a Fantasy Than A Good Idea” Quimby’s 35th Anniversary Zine release party and Mt. Rushmore of Quimby’s reading and panel discussion featuring previous and current owners and staff: Steven Svymbersky, Eric Kirsammer, Liz Mason, Peter Miles Bergman, and Angel xoxo moderated by Eric Von Haynes

 

//// SATURDAY 8/15:

11:00 am – 10:00 pm: Don’t come to Quimby’s! Check out the Southside Zine Fest and Carnival and the after party produced by Zine Club Chicago and (Quimby’s Alumni) Cynthia E. Hannifin!

//// SUNDAY 8/16: 

12:00 am – 8:00 pm: Quimby’s Garage Sale! Have you ever wondered what kind of weird ass nonsense is hiding in Quimby’s basement? And wanted to take it home with you for .035¢, $3.50, $35, $350, or $3,500? We’ll curate the weirdest menagerie of sale books and zines, ephemera, random, and nonsense for your perusal!

4:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Jordan Knecht Spins FOR SALE records! Jordan Knecht is a vinyl selector based in Chicago, focusing on grooves from around the globe. Jordan is also an artist, educator, musician, and systems designer, surfing the wave of unknowing. Jordan’s work is rooted in play, a guiding force which informs all projects and collaborations. For this engagement you can buy Jordan’s records hot off a spin on the turn table.

8:00 pm – 10:00 pm: PXM! PXM is a Chicago based duo comprised of Madeleine Aguilar + Philip Lesicko. Their sets are experimental + improvised, ambient + percussive, and based on shared ethics of care, play & intuition. PXM is capping off a summer tour of bookstore performances and their home town spot, Quimby’s!

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Pay what you can afford in person or via Venmo.
Suggested: $10
Venmo: @quimbysbookstore
Please include “35th” in the note!

 

 

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7/9 After School Talk & Reading | Angela Chen

Published on July 2, 2026 Closed
Jul
9
6:30 pm

After School Talk & Reading
Featuring Angela Chen
Thursday 7/9, 6:30-8:30 pm
Quimby’s Bookstore
1854 W. North Ave, Chicago

Join artist and writer Angela Chen for a book talk and reading of her debut text-image book “After School ??”.

“After School” brings together autobiography, photographs, collage, and archival documents to unpack the culture of buxiban (after school tutoring centers) in predominantly East Asian communities in the San Gabriel Valley, CA. It tells the story of her family’s struggle to run Futurelink, a buxiban business, against the historical backdrop of anti-Asian discrimination and considers the after school as a paradoxical space of discipline and care, assimilation and cultural preservation, competition and community.

Attendees will receive a free copy of Chen’s offshoot publication, the “After School Workbook”, to fill out and take home.

Angela Chen is a Taiwanese American artist, writer, and educator from the ethnoburbs of the San Gabriel Valley, CA. Her work explores the immigrant experience and uses assemblage as a metaphor for diasporic identity. Chen received her MFA in photography from the Yale School of Art. She is currently an Assistant Professor at the Stamps School of Art & Design at the University of Michigan and previously taught at Rice University and New York University.

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Pay what you can afford in person or via Venmo.
Suggested: $10
Venmo: @quimbysbookstore
Please include “After School” in the note!

 

 

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