The Art of Zines: Work in Progress

There are two weeks to go until the Stuart Hall Library launches its latest exhibition, The Art of Zines on 6 October.

The idea for the exhibition and zine swap event came from a meeting with zine writer Fliss Collier offering her zines as donations to the library collection. We really enjoyed reading Fliss' zines, and began to talk about the possibility of collaborating on an event that could be held in the library.

Fliss' specialism is music zines, and Stuart Hall Library's primary focus is international visual arts, politics and diversity - we decided that these seemingly disparate subject areas could coalesce to enable us to showcase the aesthetic vibrancy of zine creativity, and the complexity of different (sub) cultures.

Fliss has been selecting the zines for the exhibition, and together with the library team, working towards an exhibition of a broad representation of the zines currently held in the Stuart Hall Library collection.

By highlighting the zine collection, we are hoping that more zine enthusiasts will visit the library to spend time reading, that visitors who have never heard of zines will be curious, and perhaps  be inspired enough to make their own.

About the Curator

Fliss has been writing and producing ’zines since 1996, mostly about music. Her first 'zine was about Billy Bragg, and she went on to write music 'zines which allowed her to interview The Strokes in their early days, as well as British Sea Power, and later The Brian Jonestown Massacre, amongst scores of others. She made a professional glossy music magazine several years ago, but soon returned to her preferred format: the 'zine. Her current 'zines include The All Thrills No Frills Music Bill, another music 'zine – she also writes passionately about libraries, gardening and vegetarianism. She has sold ’zines through the London ’Zine Symposium, Marching Stars Distro, and independently. She supports and blogs about ’zines, and recently with friends formed the South West London and Surrey Zine Collective, with the intention of putting on events (like picnics, pub meets, ’zine fairs) and bringing ’zine writers together south of the Thames. The collective also have their own ’zine distro, Staple Diet.

The Art of Zines is a free event, but places are limited. To book, email library@iniva.org