Zine Fiesta 3 to come to South Gate

 The city of South Gate, where more than 90% of the population is Latino, will host its third annual Zine Fiesta, a celebration of independent zine artists, culture and music. 

Zines, which are often self-published, are small booklets about anything and everything.

Zines are usually handmade and incorporate elements such as crafting, printing, photocopying, folding, drawing and painting, all into a single mini-booklet that can be easily shared, traded or sold. Zines can be created about any topic or subject and are often motivated and distinguished by their pages filled with self-expression, artistic liberation and artistic passion. 

Those who attend the Zine Fiesta in South Gate will be able to learn more about zines, create zines and shop or trade for them. The event will also have other family-friendly activities and feature many local artists and small businesses. 

Although zines have existed for decades, they have gained popularity in the last few years. As stated by the Amon Carter Museum of American Art, the origin of zines dates back to the 1930s and 1940s, when science-fiction fans in Chicago began creating self-published, short magazines.

According to the Carter Museum, the invention of the copy machine and copy shops in the 1970s also accelerated the production and growth of zines and morphed into a more do-it-yourself style. 

The Zine Fiesta will also be held in conjunction with the opening reception of “Oír de Nuevo/Press Repeat,” a group art exhibit that amplifies music and memories. The exhibit will live in the South Gate Museum and Art Gallery from August 10 to October 12.

Apart from zines, the Fiesta Zine will also host small Latino businesses such as Earthy Pressed, a smoothie and juice pop-up bar from Santa Ana. Also in attendance will be Ernesto Vazquez, an artist and illustrator born and raised in Boyle Heights with a background in community organizing. Vazquez’s work has been exhibited in various galleries around the country. 

The Kalli Arte Collective, made up of a family of multi-faceted artists based in Boyle Heights, will also be present at this year's Zine Fiesta. Kalli Arte was started by two self-taught artists, Adriana Carranza and Alfonso Aceves and their four children. 

The list of confirmed artists can be found on the South Gate Museum's Instagram page. 

The community event will take place on August 10 at the South Gate Museum and Art Gallery from 1–5 p.m.

South Gate Museum and Art Gallery is located at 8680 California Ave., South Gate, CA, 90280 

CALÒ News will be covering the Zine Fiesta on August 3.