Newspapers may go the way of the buffalo as future generations of children begin communicating through indecipherable tweets alone, but rest assured: Independent-minded creators will continue stealing paper from their friends’ office buildings and stapling them together in acts of homespun publishing defiance. See the fruits of their labors at the San Francisco Zine Fest, where more than 100 DIY entrepreneurs sell, trade, and celebrate small-press books, comics, and exciting pamphlets of all kinds. An exuberant showcase of diverse and interesting scrawled, illustrated, and printed matter, exhibitors range from established small publishing houses like RE/Search Publications, AK Press, and Sparkplug Comics to practically unknown but undoubtedly wonderful writers, cartoonists, and masterminds. Panel discussions, Q&A sessions, and hands-on workshops — where participants can learn about the fine art of bookbinding, keeping a nature journal, or stealing paper from work — litter the fest. Special guest cartoonist Andy Hartzell discusses his Xeric Award–winning Fox Bunny Funny, as well as other issues of interest to publishing mavericks and their enthusiastic support base.
Aug. 22-23, 11 a.m., 2009
