Tag Archive for 'Billy Da Bunny'

Guest Blogger: Chicago Zine Fest Co-Organizer Johnny Misfit, on CZF 2012

Top 5 Memories of Chicago Zine Fest 2012
by Johnny Misfit

As an organizer for Chicago Zine Fest, my vantage point is quite different from the view I was once used to, sitting behind a table as an exhibitor. My fellow organizers and I were concerned with making the festival the best we could for everyone, and this meant busying ourselves from September to March, and during Zine Fest weekend, running around and putting out fires (not real ones thank goodness). But now that the fest is over, I wanted to take a minute and recall some of the great things I remember and share them with you. Feel free to share yours with me too.

5) 2012 Artwork by Lilli Carre
From the moment Lilli sent us the artwork, I was in awe (immediately making it my laptop’s desktop background). We all realized its splendor, and used the imagery for everything from our website to the large banners we had printed up to use at the fest. One of the great things we have continued to do is incorporate amazing artwork from talented local artists and zinesters. If you haven’t gotten a silk screen poster yet, there are still some left. Thanks Lilli.

4) Silver Tongue Student Reading
As one of our sponsors for the past two years, Columbia College Chicago’s Silver Tongue Reading Series has been overwhelmingly accommodating to helping make our vision for zine fest events a reality. The Silver Tongue panel gives our invited guests another way to interact with their fans, and allows the audience to be active participants, engaging in the conversation. This year’s panel was no exception.  As part of Silver Tongue’s contribution, they curate a cast of student readers that perform before the panel. The 2012 Silver Tongue Student Board really stepped it up this year. Their selection of five female readers brought the goods. The emotions ranged from quirky, silly, emotional, to a bit racy. Booking a lineup of great readers is a difficult. High fives to all involved (Thanks Ian and Fran, Mairead and Jill).

3) Art Noose at the 2012 Exhibitor’s Reading
First off, mad props to Art Noose for traveling from Pittsburgh, PA, while pregnant. That’s dedication. But what do you expect from a zinester who has released 94 issues (and counting) of the letterpress zine Ker-bloom! Art Noose’s story (which will appear in issues 94 and 95 of Ker-bloom!) was a touching yet outrageous personal narrative about her decision and ensuing adventure to conceive her baby. Her tone was genuine and the story’s movement made everyone root for a happy ending. Her reading at zine fest was one that someday she will share to her child with pride. Thanks Art Noose!

2) Ayun Holiday’s performance at the Karaoke After Party
This was the event of the weekend that moved me the most. I never met Ayun, who is such a genuinely positive soul. At the fest, I was crammed into an elevator with her and half a dozen others. Instead of bemoaning the situation, she laughed it off, striking up a conversation with us all. If you scan through any of the zine fest photos you will come across Ayun immediately. She’s the woman with the headband that reads ZINES. Now jump to the karaoke after party. By this point in the weekend, most everyone (including us organizers) was so burned out. This wasn’t the case for Ayun. Before she took the stage to deliver her rendition of “These Boots are Made for Walking,” Ayun made a joke about bagels, fitting from the woman who penned the Zinesters Guide to New York. Everyone around the stage about lost it. It was one of those you-had-to-be-there moments. She kept smiling and laughing during the whole performance. Her enjoyment was genuine. It was apparent Ayun was happy to be part of this event, this weekend. Her emotion made me glad to be part of it all of this too. I was filled with excitement for being part of this community. People still care. Seeing everyone enjoy this weekend made all the extra effort planning this festival worth it. Thank you, Ayun.

1) Billy da Bunny as Zine Olympics Referee
For this, I have no clue where to begin. Billy was one of the reasons I got into zines; the main reason I found out there was a Chicago zine community. He lives in Albuquerque, NM, and has established the Zine Olympics event at the ABQ Zine Fest. Chicago Zine Fest organizers worked directly with Billy to develop the competitions and rules for this version of the Zine Olympic Games. I hadn’t seen Billy since probably the 2010 zine fest but from the instant I walked into Quimby’s for the Olympics he was easy to spot with his set of fuzzy bunny ears bobbing through the crowd. He wore a black and white referee shirt accessorized with a swinging silver medallion. Once the Olympics events began, Billy was non-stop energy. As the official, he was stern, unbending, and entertaining. In the precision folding competition, most notably the tri-fold section, Billy’s judging rung with authority built from his years of being a zinester. Then there were the explanations he gave to support his judgments such as, “Would you send this through the mail?” or “Does this look correct to you?” He was unrelenting. The energy he put forth made the contestants compete hard and kept audience captivated. This event was entertaining for zinesters and spectators alike. Billy was a complete part from the design to the execution of this event. This was my personal favorite event of the weekend. Thank you, Billy.

Photo by Oscar Arriola / fotoflow

0) Organizing with my fellow organizers
This may seem a bit self serving, but I wanted to take a small opportunity to thank my fellow zine fest organizers for helping put together such an overwhelming weekend. For all the countless days and hours we put into this, for all the memories that this fest generated and for all the smiles that came about, I wanted to thank you for making this year possible. Thank you, Leslie, Jen, Oscar, Heather and Neil.

(CZF organizers LtoR: Jen Twigg, John Wawrzaszek, Leslie Perrine, Neil Brideau, Heather Colby, photo by glitter guts)

John works at Columbia College as Recycling Manager and is a Fiction Writing student. He self-publishes the Muse, the News, and the Noose, curates the reading series Two Cookie Minimum and is a contributing writer to Gapers Block.

3rd Annual Chicago Zine Fest to Take Place March 9th and 10th

Mar ’12
9
1:00 pm

And we’re a sponsor! Events in various places around the city, including here at Quimby’s!

On March 9th and 10th, Chicago will celebrate self-publishing at the 3rd Annual Chicago Zine Fest. Events kick off Friday, 1pm at Columbia’s Conaway Center with a Silver Tongue Reading Series all-female reading followed by Gender, Race and Sexuality: A Discussion with Women in Self-Publishing with zinesters Cristy Road (Bad Habits), Mimi Thi Nygen (Evolution of a Race Riot) and Anne Elizabeth Moore (Cambodian Grrrl). Friday evening features a Youth Zine Reading, and an Exhibitor Zine Reading at 826CHI and a lively celebration of the 2012 Spring Zine Olympics hosted by Billy da Bunny here at Quimby’s Bookstore.

The Zine Fest will continue Saturday from 11am – 6pm at the Conaway Center where 200 zinesters will exhibit their publications, host workshops and lead panel discussions all in the spirit of self-publishing. Also featured will be a DIY Film Festival, art show and reading room. All events are free, open to the public and wheelchair accessible. All Friday readings and the panel will have ASL interpretation.

“We have an amazing list of invited guests and a broad range of topics covered in workshops,” says Leslie Perrine, an organizer focused on event programming.

Festival registration opened and sold out on December 15th 2011.  “We’ve had overwhelming support and enthusiasm from the zine community all over the country, from Canada, and as far away as the UK this year!” says Jen Twigg, organizer heading up exhibitor coordination.

The Chicago Zine Fest is an independent event creating an outlet for small press and independent publishers to showcase their work with the aim to make DIY zine-making accessible, highlight the talents of self-published artists, and give independent artists a chance to interact and swap skills. The Chicago Zine Fest is sponsored by Columbia College Chicago’s Silver Tongue Reading Series, Quimby’s Bookstore, Renegade Craft Fair, DIYCHI and 826CHI.

Friday, March 9th
1-3pm Columbia College Conaway Center 1104 S Wabash Ave. www.colum.edu
6-9pm 826CHI, 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. 773-772-8108, www.826chi.org
9:30-12am Quimby’s Bookstore 1854 W. North Ave. 773-342-0910, www.quimbys.com

Saturday, March 10th 11am-6pm Columbia College 1104 S Wabash Ave. 1st & 8th floors.

For more info visit chicagozinefest.org