Light Factory Publications

Artist book production service

Zine Swap

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A wall with brightly coloured printed posters taped onto it.

Publications from all three phases of the Reading the Migration Library were popular at last week’s Zine Swap, hosted by the students of the summer course, “Independent Publishing and the Democratic Multiple” (instructed by Jean Chisholm with the expert print and design support of Kathlene Jacques at Emily Carr University). Since it was their final class, the students were eager to trade the items that they had created for class assignments. They traded single-page folded flutter books (mini-zines), that they had each made on their own, and a couple of coil-bound assemblings, made in groups. It was so great to later look through and read each one. It looks like they are all riso-printed, on various papers and in various sizes. One is hand sewn, and one has ring binding. At the event, which took place in the Libby Leshgold Gallery, the students had also laid out other printed ephemera they had printed, including posters for the event and other urgent communications: “Be the Change” and “Silence is Compliance”.

Two coil-bound books and about 16 smaller folded pamphlets are arranged on a table. They are all very colourful with drawings and textures printed on the covers. There is one that is in the shape of a chili pepper.

Some content highlights from the swapped zines:

  • “When punishing enemies, Aztecs burned chili peppers for their smoke, which causes skin, throat, and eye irritation. They would use this smoke in larger-scale conflicts as chemical warfare, forcing their opponents to retreat.” in Chili Pepper Zine (Celeste Villegas)
  • “Remind yourself what makes you Happy” in How to be Happy Pocket Guide (David Park) – with a space for making notes.
  • “When the sky rains, I cradle every drop” in Cradle (Phyllis Hou-Ling Cheung) – with the most amazing deep green effect from perhaps green or yellow ink on black paper.
  • “In the northern villages close to the wild, there is a long-standing tradition of animal worship. This belief has been passed down from generation to generation even now. Among all the animals, five animals are the most special,  been called as “WU XIAN” (five immortals).” – fox (hu), weasel (huang), snake (liu), hedgehog (bai), and mouse (hui); with exquisite images in the style of paper cutting, in Local Animal Belives [Beliefs] in North China Area
  • And more illustrated food advice zines: The Ultimate Guide to Making the Best Iced Matcha (selina kang), When Life Gives You Watermelons (Yoojin Song), and Yum Cha La: An intro to Dim Sum (Jocelyn Kee). So useful and delightful.
  • “We have come crossing the seven seas thirsting for your waters” in Chenab The River of Love (Meeti Dhanoa) – with beautifully textured panels in pink and teal on kraft paper.

These “Independent Publishing and the Democratic Multiple” titles were swapped,

  • Chenab The River of Love (Meeti Dhanoa)
  • Chili Pepper Zine (Celeste Villegas)
  • Croc Fever
  • Cradle (Phyllis Hou-Ling Cheung)
  • Feel Weird (ioco)
  • How to Draw Kiki the Cabbit
  • How not to set your workplace on fire (Cassie M.)
  • How to be Happy Pocket Guide (David Park)
  • Local Animal Belives [Beliefs] in North China Area
  • Manzano Sebolla y El Naranjito #1, Consiguiendo Una Chamba! (Ricardo / Tem.azcal)
  • nature’s reclamation of space (eknoor matharoo)
  • Planting for Potential (Phyllis Hou-Ling Cheung)
  • See?? (Ricardo / Tem.azcal)
  • Sounds from the Spectacular Sideshow (multiple contributors)
  • The Ultimate Guide to Making the Best Iced Matcha (selina kang)
  • When Life Gives You Watermelons (Yoojin Song)
  • Words in a Bucket of Thought (multiple contributors; with Ricardo trading it)
  • Yum Cha La: An intro to Dim Sum (Jocelyn Kee)

Nearly twenty RML publications went into the hands of the students. I didn’t keep track, but I recall that these were popular with the student book designers and artists,

Two folded zines are lying together on a table. There is a picture of a plant (Lily of the Valley) on one cover. The other is black with a moss green oval covering most of the cover.
A neon pink fan zine with coil binding and a collector's pin is in a cellophane bag next to a much smaller folded zine, also with a pin in a smaller clear bag.
An organge coil-bound booklet ("Words in a Bucket of Thought") is next to a folded Spanish-language comic-style zine.
A coilbound book is open to show a page with the letters LENMTOWAER arranged in the shape of a watermelon slice. There is a smaller folded zine about watermelons next to it.
Six folded zines are lined up in two rows on the table. They are colourful.
A chili pepper shaped zine is opened and lying on top of four others.
Four zines are lying on the table. One has a sticker with it and one has ring binding.

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