The Learning Zone

Leading up to the OCADU Zine Fair on March 22 and 23, the OCAD Zine Library is celebrating the origins of zines through Fanzines.

Fanzines originated in the 1930s as tributes to science fiction writing, often including letters from multiple sci-fi fans commenting on the work they were reading in more established science fiction magazines. Throughout the history of zine making we’ve seen fanzines in tribute to different celebrities, lesser-known artists, fictional characters and anything in culture that zine creators have felt compelled to make a zine about.

Next Monday (March 20), student and zine maker Francis Tomkins will be running a zine making workshop focussed on fandom, in which they will provide prompts to help attendees approach the subject. The OCADU Zine Collective is accepting submissions for their fandom-themed collaborative zine until the end of March, so this workshop is not only an opportunity to explore fandom through art, but also to create a submission for a zine that will be published on the Risograph later this semester.

Finally, the OCAD Zine Library is currently displaying fanzines from the zine collection as inspiration. Stop by and check out zines on an array of subjects from Kanye West to Idris Elba to Queer Sailor Moon fan-fiction.

Last week, the Learning Zone celebrated Freedom to Read Week with a zine display, highlighting the importance of self-expression and intellectual freedom, which is guaranteed under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Today, many books, magazines and graphic novels will face censorship due to their subject matter relating to gender issues, race, religion, same sex marriage and sexuality, to name a few.

A little known fact from a not so distant past, a box of zines destined to a zine conference called “Spew” was banned by Canada Customs, because the nature of the contents was deemed pornographic. Gene Barnes’ Hippie Dick zine and  Kelly Martin’s zine, Thorn were declared to be offensive for public access.

The zine display featured a few titles like the missing peace: truth and justice in Israel/Palestine written by an Palestine American and Jewish American, Licking Stars Off Ceilings #5: Riot Grrrl is not Dead by Clementine Cannibal, A Queersafe Zine by Mary Potter in collaboration with Leah Newbold and Adriana, Institutionalized: Education, Corporate Media and the Fraudulent Canadian Democracy by Aaron Fitzpatrick and My Comrade: Gay Culture Magazine. That was an snippet of the many diverse zines that can be found in the  OCAD Zine Library collection, as it’s all about self-expression.

We encourage all zinesters to keep on creating, engaging, or expressing your point of view—let’s not take our rights for granted.

Hi, I’m Marta Chudolinska, the Learning Zone Librarian. For the linocut workshop I will be demonstrating the basic techniques, tools and materials and best practices for linocut printing. Before we get started, I have an important safety tip: carve away from your hands!

The second installment of the Zine Library Workshop Series was Linocut Printmaking. Marta discussed the many surface materials that can be used for linocut printing and the range of tools to cut away the design.

For this workshop, students used linoleum and lino cutting tools, a brayer, ink and paper.

Marta’s favourite resources are The Woodcut Artist’s Handbook: Techniques and Tools for Relief Printmaking by George A. Walker and Block Printing: Techniques for Linoleum and Wood— both titles can be found at the OCAD U Library. To learn more about the different types of carving surfaces, carve and print, exercises for developing your carving skills and how to carve and register a two colour print, visit Hanprinted.co.uk or Drawcutinkpress.com .

Thanks to everyone who attended the Linocut printmaking workshop!

Please, have a look at the gallery, it’s full of wonderful prints created at the linocut printmaking workshop:

During the month of February, OCAD U Library Services: The Learning Zone hosted a series of Zine Library workshops to add to your creative zine-making arsenal.

The Learning Zone Librarian and long-time Zine Maker, Marta Chudolinska covered the basic principles of Hardcover Bookbinding, Linocut Printmaking and Embroidery on Paper that will give your zine that extra hand-made component to its production process.

The first of the series began with making a hardcover bookbinding. Paper, glue, stiff cardboard and fabric are all that is required to start the new journey into the ancient practice of bookbinding.

Marta’s recommended books on bookbinding: Books, boxes and portfolios: binding, construction, and design step-by-step by Franz Zeler and Keith A. Smith’s Non-adhesive binding series, Volume 1, Volume 2 and Volume 3. Both of these titles are available at the OCAD U Library.

Thanks to everyone that attended the Hardcover Bookbinding Workshop:)