Vintage Do-It-Yourself Vibes Rule at the Y2K-Themed Lone Star Zine Fest

Credit: Michelle Millette (Art)

Since the Thirties, zines have been amplifying fan obsessions, political offshoots, and underground subcultures in ways not often seen in mainstream media. Though at times they may look like the magazines you see in the grocery store checkout line – with their glossy covers, crisp centerfolds, and aesthetically designed graphics – you won’t find any cologne or Rolex ads in these homemade books. Lone Star Zine Fest returns Oct. 11-12 for a ninth year to celebrate the DIY spirit of Austin’s own zinesters, crafters, and creative nonprofits.

Whether you’re new to the art form or a self-pub pro, this year’s Y2K-themed festival is your chance to explore all Austin’s local scene has to offer. Organized by nonprofit Austin Zine Friends, what started as a small 30-exhibitor showcase at Cheer Up Charlies in 2017 has grown large enough to split into a two-day event that fills Blue Genie Art Bazaar. Organizer Jennifer Hecker says the change may ease the crowds, but the vibe will still be “crazy.” Different exhibitors table each day so be sure to check their website to avoid missing your favorites. 

There’s more than just browsing at LSZF: A free raffle could score you a whole bag of zines, and the Creation Station will turn you into a true zinester. This year, you’ll even be able to make a few copies of your beloved DIY book because, as Hecker put it, “You haven’t made a zine until you’ve made copies of it.”

With just paper, ink, and imagination, anyone can make and distribute a zine without needing the support of big publishing companies. With all that creative freedom, each artist brings something different to the table. You’ll find everything from clashing neon-colored, hodgepodge maximalist masterpieces to contemplative, handwritten poetry. Every zine is different, and that’s the point. 

Hecker has been involved in the Austin zine scene since she was a teenager in the Nineties. She’s watched the community flourish from the festival’s beginnings – when they struggled with curating a diverse group of artists – to now, with a wide variety of artists using zines to share stories of all different intersecting identities.

“You get exposed to a lot of really young artists,” Hecker says, “and very diverse viewpoints and all kinds of different stories that you don’t hear other places.”

For Austin artist Eman Khan, zines are a way to talk about being both South Asian and disabled – a perspective rarely seen in mainstream spaces. She’s found that through zines, she gets to share her experiences and connect with other disabled people. That’s why she’s excited for this year’s LSZF, where she’ll be able to check out over 100 Central Texas artists, publications, and orgs, hear their unique stories, and share her own. Her current work features continuous line drawings, created without ever lifting the pen off the paper. 

“It’s my way of showing the chronic pain experience,” Khan said, “because all those lines, they look like nerves. I used to be a perfectionist with my drawing, but with my chronic pain, I get tremors and wrist pain. So, anytime I have a tremor that just becomes part of the drawing, I’m not erasing it. It’s just perfect the way it is.”

Lone Star Zine Fest Saturday 11 – Sunday 12, Blue Genie Art Bazaar lonestarzinefest.org

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