[Alyson Kuhn] The annual SF Zine Fest took place last weekend in Golden Gate Park, and our correspondent Bill Senkus went to check it out for us. The two-day conference and marketplace is still free, still fun, and still focused on zines. Creative folks from all walks of DIY life also showcase their wares. Even though you’re reading to yourself, please pronounce zine like magazine {not like design}. Herewith my favorite finds from Bill’s photo-reportage.
Lizard Press had a table overflowing with letterpress-printed loot. You can still see and shop for their ephemera, including broadsides from PCBA Book Arts & Printers’ Fairs past, and two calendars for 2010. Actually, the Poseidon calendar uses the same imagery as the 2008 and 2009 Poseidon calendar, re-reprised by popular demand. Proprietress Melissa Kaup-Augustine is a free-lance graphic designer; she also teaches typography and graphic design at The Art Institute of California in SF.
Cartoonist John Isaacson came down from Portland, bearing all the tools of the trade for his screenprinting workshop. John has also authored a book {not a zine!} on the subject, in the form of a graphic how-to novel. How novel!
Book artist Aaron Cohick, founder of Newlights Press, was on hand with a quietly elegant assortment, including The Drownable Species, a short story by Brian Evenson, letterpress-printed in “a variable edition of 40,” with digitally-printed images by Aaron. When I poked around Newlight’s official blog, the close-ups of The Drownable Species intrigued me, and I e-queried Aaron about the book’s cover treatment. Here is his description of that “rather convoluted process. The paper was first stained with a light gray ink wash. Then the text was letterpress printed. The images on the cover {and throughout the book} were made by inkjet printing on top of gesso {hand-painted on each page and the cover} and then pouring water on top of the images. {The gesso kept the ink from absorbing into the paper and drying immediately.} Then the covers received another brushing of ink on top of the images, and were finally sealed with two layers of acrylic matte medium. After all that, I wrapped the papers around the boards.” Might we inquire what paper took this particular beating? Mohawk Superfine!
Tom Biby, one of the Two Fine Chaps, was there in his Pink Floyd t-shirt. These two chaps make some beautiful books; they are also splendidly wordsmithy. Check out The Chase, their illustrated excerpt from the final chapter of Moby Dick, and then scroll down to read the enticing description.
For a limited time, you can read Bill’s full report right here. I give it an A for Ambiance and a Z for Zenith. Bill, by the way, is the originator of Alphabetilately, the AIGA San Francisco philatelic alphabet project. His A-to-Z overview of the collecting of stamps and the sending of mail inspired the Alphabetilately exhibition currently at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum.
Alyson Kuhn, the editor of Felt & Wire, invites you to scroll down and see Bill’s souvenir montage. Note the postcard for Good Mail Day, written by Jennie Hinchcliff and Carolee Gilligan Wheeler. Amazon has already begun shipping pre-orders, and we look forward to tooting, touting, and toasting next month.
