By Heather L. Nicholson
Zines (short for magazines) are self-published mini-books and are distributed on a small scale,” states the public Facebook page for Grand Valley Zine Club. “Come and make some with us (and even learn how)!” Read the “Get Involved” section of this article to find out more about joining the club.
HISTORY
In November of 2024, I got a tattoo from local artist Savannah Ashmore (SavannahAshmoreArt.com), and we started talking about zines. I’d made a few of my own over the last few years, and she had, too. When I ventured the idea of starting a zine club together, she immediately jumped at the idea.
The following month, we hosted our first meeting. Three other people showed up with pages to contribute. The theme for Issue #1 was Winter Solstice, and some of the art followed the prompt more closely than others, but mostly we were just happy to hang out, share art, and go home with our own copies of the zine.
CHAOS ART
Since then, we have collaborated on three more zines made every other month, and we have met on the alternate months to hang out and make stuff. “When we set up, all we bring are stacks of magazines, scissors, glue sticks and printer paper,” says Savannah. “This really encourages a space to make mistakes and make ugly art, and that is just as important in art making as the masterpieces.” I call it chaos art. It doesn’t matter what it is or how it turns out: just slap stuff on a page, and if you’re having a good time doing it, that’s all that counts!
Zine Club member Jenna says, “It’s very come as you are… I find it to be engaging for my art, and challenging to work with prompts.” We choose a theme for each collaborative zine. However, you’re welcome to submit pages that have nothing to do with the theme; we won’t turn you away! We welcome all kinds of art from all artists, even people who don’t think they’re artistic. Again: chaos art! Just have fun with it.
COMMUNITY
It’s not only about the art, though. We’re building community while we build zines. “I felt welcomed and comfortable the moment I came to my first meeting,” says member Chelsie. Savannah adds, “I really think the community benefits from any free activity that helps them be creative in any capacity.”
Yes, it’s a creative outlet for members, but it’s also a place to meet people and spend time getting to know other artists. Member Jess calls Grand Valley Zine Club “more than community but… a network and an outlet.” Jess runs Queer Junction, a local organization that hosts and promotes events around the Grand Valley for anyone who identifies as queer. Message the Queer Junction page on Instagram for more information.
GVZC and Queer Junction teamed up at the start of Pride Month this past June for a zine workshop. We reconvened a couple of weeks later to put together a collaborative zine on the theme of Queer Artists, and it became a fundraiser: a suggested donation of $5 would benefit both Queer Junction and Grand Valley Zine Club. “The way that the community came together in so many different ways to highlight queerness and diversity in both art and internally with themselves was amazing,” says Jess.
After successful “sales” at a couple of local Pride Month events, Queer Junction has some cash to spend, and Zine Club finally bought enough scissors and glue sticks to go around at club meetings! Jess said Zine Club “did such a wonderful job welcoming the collaboration” and expressed their thanks that GVZC was “willing to use the money to fundraise for QJ… It really shows how (GVZC is) impactful to the community and wants to continue to show up and get involved.”
GET INVOLVED
If you’d like to join the Grand Valley Zine Club, start by following us on Facebook or Instagram. We always meet on a Sunday from 4:00-6:00, but the location changes, and the date is not consistent at this time. Checking our socials is the best way to learn about upcoming events.
August’s meeting will be on the 17th from 3:00-5:00pm, at Copeka Coffee. This meeting will solely be for making whatever you want to make. You can start your pages for the September Interactive collaborative zine, work on your own individual zine or zine pages, or just hang out. There will be collage supplies along with pens, pencils, and paper, but you can also bring your own stuff to work with.
Sometimes, it’s easier to work on pages at home, away from the chatter of other members. (Common topics include books, baking, bitching about work, books, movies, local events, and books.) If that’s the case, here’s how to make your own pages for collaborative zines:
***ZINE PAGE SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS***
-The zine will consist of letter-sized (8.5″x11″) printer paper.
-Fold it in half for four zine pages: front, inside left, inside right, and back.
-Create anything you want on YOUR four pages; due to varying pagination as zines are created (stacked and stapled), your four pages may not appear in order.
-Make 20 copies, front and back, to bring to the zine party. **If you need help with printing, including a place to print, email Savannah at Savannahashmoreart@gmail.com
-At the event, you pick up one page from each participant, fold and staple your zine, and take it home!
-Questions? Email Heather at grayscalerainbowzine@gmail.com
We also sometimes bring zines to trade. Many members have quite a collection already. GVZC co-founder Savannah says, “I love looking through them when I need a boost of creativity or inspiration!” If you don’t have any zines to trade, most members are happy to just give you some. We make art so other people can see it, after all!
Would you like to host a zine workshop for your group or club? Contact Savannah or me (Heather) at the emails above or through a DM to the GVZC pages on Facebook or Instagram, and we can bring our expertise to your place. You can contact us if you’d like copies of previous issues, or you could talk to your local indie booksellers about contacting us to add a stack to their shelves or counters.
In an increasingly digital world where AI seems to be taking over, zines are a tangible, comforting embodiment of personal artistic expression. “Zines help me collect, collaborate and connect with so many other artists. GVZC has been pivotal in connecting this community,” says Savannah. We’d love to see you at an upcoming club meeting to build community and make some chaos art!
The Revolutionist 