Phx Zine Fest is an annual gathering, started in 2016, for DIY Small Press enthusiasts who create and enjoy zines, perzines, political pamphlets, indie comics, photo zines and the like. Arizona has a lot of creativity to offer and Phx Zine Fest provides the space to show it off! The mission of Phx Zine Fest is to encourage local creators to share their unique ideas and perspectives, often ones that are underrepresented in mainstream media. This mission is more important than ever, as many media outlets prioritize divisiveness over giving voice to historically silenced groups. Phx Zine Fest welcomes everyone to join in on the excitement of DIY publishing, and especially strives to create safer spaces for Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and LGBTQIA+ creators and visitors.
With zines and invisibilized histories on our minds we would like to offer a land and labor acknowledgement.
We acknowledge that we primarily live and work on occupied Akimel O'odham/Pee-Posh lands. We pay respects to our Yavapai and Navajo neighbors. We pay respect to their elders, past and present and thank them for their continued stewardship of the land. We recognize that land acknowledgement is simply one tiny step towards reconciliation, building right relationships with Native people and Native lands towards Land Back. If you would like to get to know more about this work and find out more about whose land you’re on to begin building relationships, check out the NDN Collective Land Back Campaign.
We also want us to recognize that the stolen land we’re on was developed off the backs of stolen people. We acknowledge ancestors who were enslaved around the world and especially in the so-called United States. We acknowledge those who continue to labor without just compensation and those who strive for Black Liberation and equitable economic systems. We want to bring all these folks into the room with us as we move through these events. Let’s take a breath together in remembrance of all those ancestors.
We acknowledge that we primarily live and work on occupied Akimel O'odham/Pee-Posh lands. We pay respects to our Yavapai and Navajo neighbors. We pay respect to their elders, past and present and thank them for their continued stewardship of the land. We recognize that land acknowledgement is simply one tiny step towards reconciliation, building right relationships with Native people and Native lands towards Land Back. If you would like to get to know more about this work and find out more about whose land you’re on to begin building relationships, check out the NDN Collective Land Back Campaign.
We also want us to recognize that the stolen land we’re on was developed off the backs of stolen people. We acknowledge ancestors who were enslaved around the world and especially in the so-called United States. We acknowledge those who continue to labor without just compensation and those who strive for Black Liberation and equitable economic systems. We want to bring all these folks into the room with us as we move through these events. Let’s take a breath together in remembrance of all those ancestors.
Meet our '22 Organizing Team
Yolie C (she/her) is a Salvi-Chicanx Zinester, writer and neurodivergent babe who has been creating zines for over ten years. Yolie specializes in perzines about sad girl feelings and also creates the occasional zine about coffee. She has written extensively about zines including preparing a zine lib guide for Arizona State University. She is based in Tucson, AZ with her husband Billy and their cat named Frida. Find her on Instagram @yolie4u.
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Theo (she/they) is a queer, nonbinary designer and illustrator, who loves to gather community around art. Theo makes zines about finding humor in death, found photos, and country superstar Reba McEntire. Theo loves zines because you don't need anyone's permission or instruction to start creating them, and because the community is so supportive and inclusive. (@theoquest.jpg)
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Moon G (they/them) has been a staple member of the PZF volunteer team since 2016 and has served as an assistant at Wasted Ink since 2017. They're currently spearheading the Wasted Ink Zine Library. "Zines create an accessible and creative space for EVERYONE. Never felt more safe and heard than in our PHX zine community " - Moon
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Shelby Rinke (they/them) is a queer designer, illustrator and all-around color enthusiast. Their work is consistently described as fun, vibrant and colorful. Shelby loves contributing to projects that build community and spread joy. In addition to collaborating with rad folks, they also create independent comics and zines that feature LGBTQ+ characters and themes. @shelbyrinke
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Charissa (They/Them) is a queer, disabled, and neurodivergent zine maker living in Phoenix who has published over twenty zines and contributed to fifteen more. Charissa is the wizard behind Wasted Ink Zine Distro; a zine store, library, and resource center at Nurture House in Downtown Phoenix. @charissalucille @wastedinkzinedistro
PZF History
In 2016, several Phoenix zinesters came together with a dream of a flourishing desert zine scene. This team recognized that Phoenix had incredible creatives, but lacked organized resources for self-publishing and alternative content. With diverse superpowers in the realms of publishing, community organizing, and DIY creation, these motivated zinesters put together the inaugural Phx Zine Fest at the Ice House in Downtown Phoenix. That first event was a huge success. Thanks in part to sponsors like Cut Paste Phoenix and Echo Magazine, PZF hosted 70+ vendors from around the country, and about 400 visitors. Many attendees picked up their very first zines that day. Phx Zine Fest 2016 proved that our desert dwellers were ready for events that showcase local self-publishing, and for a community that promotes creativity and inclusion.
In 2017, the fest found a new home at Unexpected Gallery, and stayed there annually through 2019. Phx Zine Fest hosted a two-day virtual fest in 2021 and is organizing an in-person fest for 2022.
If you have been a vendor, volunteer, attendee, or sponsor, thank you for being part of the history of Phx Zine Fest!
In 2017, the fest found a new home at Unexpected Gallery, and stayed there annually through 2019. Phx Zine Fest hosted a two-day virtual fest in 2021 and is organizing an in-person fest for 2022.
If you have been a vendor, volunteer, attendee, or sponsor, thank you for being part of the history of Phx Zine Fest!
"A zine - pronounced zeen - derived from magazine - is an independently- or self-published booklet, often created by a single person. Zines are customarily created by physically cutting and gluing text and images together onto a master flat for photocopying, but it is also common to produce the master by typing and formatting pages on a computer. The end product is usually folded and stapled. Zines can be printed and bound in any manner. Offset printing is a relatively common alternative to photocopying, though there is some controversy among zine writers as to whether professionally printed products may be defined as zines." - ZineWiki.com