It's that time again, when this Saturday Broken Pencil Magazine presents Canzine West, a Festival of Zines and Independent Culture. Last year's event at the Ukrainian Hall saw about 500 people come through the doors, checking out the incredible creativity of independent publishers—from small-circ magazine and small-press publishers to artists, illustrators and zine makers.This year Canzine is coming back to W2, taking over all 3 floors of the W2 Media Cafe as well as the Woodward's Atrium.
The heart of Canzine is the Zine Fair and this year there will be more than 50 of Vancouver and BC’s best creators, zines and underground publications showing off their stuff and talking about what they do.
But Canzine is so much more than that. A full day of incredible main stage programming will make it difficult to decide where you should be.
2pm: 1-2 Punch Book Pitch
Live on the main stage in front of a crowing crowd, participants get two minutes to pitch their book to a panel of judges, who then get one minute each to tell why the writer will never get published in a million, billion years, or why they want to see the manuscript in their inbox ASAP. The judges are writer, editor, and publisher Brian Kaufman (Anvil Press, subTerrain magazine), writer and teacher John Vigna (Bull Head), and writer, editor and teacher Elizabeth Bachinsky (I Don't Feel So Good). Moderator Hal Niedzviecki will run interference.
4:30pm: Dissent Chill: The Chill Against Political Dissent in Art
As the conservative government threatens art grants and rejects funding for artistic projects and centres that support projects it sees as anti-government or “glorify[ing] terrorism,” are artists and art centres afraid to create controversial works for fear of losing funding? rabble.ca editor Derrick O'Keefe will moderate panelists Charlie Demers, Dr. Ray Hsu, & Mark Leiren-Young as they discuss the perceptions and realities surrounding this topic.
Last year's Canzine West brought us Indie Writers Deathmatch Live, with victor Jen Neale later going on to win the RBC Bronwen Wallace Award for Emerging Writers. Coincidence? Perhaps.
Also happening throughout the day at Canzine is Get in Where You Fit In – A Participatory Drawing Show with curators Alex Stursberg and Brennan Kelly. Featuring Artwork By: Luke Ramsey, White Swallows, Justin Gradin, Lisa Cinar, Andrew Pommier, Chris Von Szombathy, Julie McLaughlin and Joel Rich.
This exhibition presents an opportunity for the viewer to become a collaborative participant with a contemporary Western Canadian illustrator.
Featured artists have submitted one original black and white drawing, which will be exhibited and for sale. These drawings have then been enlarged and printed on heavy weight paper. Below each print will be a small station set up with art supplies in a specific colour scheme. These supplies can be used by the public to alter and colour the prints as they please. These prints will be offered for sale in a blind auction to be completed at the end of the Canzine West fair (7pm). Attendees of Canzine West are encouraged to alter the print as desired with the supplies provided. Artists of all ages are welcome!
**Volunteers are still needed to help out at Canzine. The awesome Tracy Stefanucci (Project Space, OCW Magazine, The Vancouver Art/Book Fair) is pulling things together for Canzine here on the west coast, so send her an email if you've got a bit of time to help tomorrow, especially in the morning.**
Canzine West
Saturday November 17 - 1-7pm
W2 Media Café & Woodwards Atrium, 111 W. Hastings (at Abbott St.)
$5 gets you admission and a copy of the fall issue of Broken Pencil.
But, wait! There's more!!
W2 really is the place to be Saturday for all things word and music related. Following Canzine there two more fantastic events:
8-10pm: I Don't Feel So Good book launch & fundraiser
Elizabeth Bachinsky launches her latest poetry collection I Don't Feel So Good (BookThug, 2012) with Dina Del Bucchia and musical guests Jamie Cullen, Morgan Greenwood, and TOTAL ICE. All proceeds from the night and the sale of the print run go to the Chris Reimer Legacy Fund Society, a scholarship fund for young artists. Chris Reimer (brother of VIA's former VanCity Kitty editor Nikki Reimer) was an immensely talented young musician who died suddenly earlier this year from a heart condition. Known and loved throughout the world for his spellbinding guitar work in Azeda Booth and Women and as a touring guitarist for The Dodos, Chris was also a dancer, artist, photographer and writer. The Chris Reimer Legacy Fund Society is a collective of Chris' closest friends and family who have banded together to keep his spirit alive.
Admission is $20 and includes a copy of I Don't Feel So Good.
10pm - late: Sad Mag presents the Canzine after party & launch of issue #11 Glamour
Drag Performances by Tranapus Rex and Beaux Vine, music by Something about Reptiles, and a DJ set by the spectacular Top Less Gay Love Tekno Party. Followed by Submerged DJs until late including Michael Red, Skookum Soundsystem, Ornament and Commoddity.
$10 entry includes a 1 year free subscription to Sad Mag + latest issue. WANT 2 FREE PASSES? Buy a subscription online for $12 and get 2 free guest passes for the launch!
