I (Heart) Zines
Could one-inch buttons squash the production of indie publications?
By Audrey Gagnon
“Where the fuck are the zines?!”
That’s all I could really think about walking home from this year’s Fruit Market (Toronto’s queer answer to Canzine). That and the fact that I was feeling old and confused; oh and buttons… let’s not forget buttons. It was hard not to think about buttons since that’s all I had really seen that day, and come to think of it, DIY kitsch such as t-shirts and buttons seemed to be taking over every zine show I had attended in the last year or so.
Are buttons the new zine?
“Anyone can make buttons” says artist Chris Bentzen. “I hosted button making workshops for a while where people would come in and create little collages or do little drawings and press them into buttons. They walked out of that workshop with something they’ve made–their own little piece of pop culture… or at least a private joke or something they find amusing. That’s part of the button’s cache: it’s fun.”
Chris Bentzen is one half of the partnership that created Hot One-Inch Action, a one night only show of button trading out of Vancouver that inspired Toronto’s own One-Inch Punch button show.
“The idea for Hot One-Inch Action came out of an art show I had of paintings, prints and one-inch buttons,” recalls Bentzen. “The title of the show was Protest/Media and looked at the relationship of media and protest. The use of buttons was meant to represent an aspect of the DIY culture of protesters as well as a juxtaposition of size with the large, six-foot paintings.”
Bentzen’s partner in creating Hot One-Inch Action, Jim Hoehnle, was in attendance the night of the Protest/Media art show. When he and Bentzen happen to run into each other a few weeks later, Hoehnle discussed the idea of doing a one-inch button group show. After having an impressive run with the one-inch aspect of his previous art show, Bentzen was interested.
“Jim and I met the following week to work out the details and the basic premise for Hot One-
Inch Action: a one-night only show of button trading. We thought that the button was a hot commodity and that by simply selling mixed bags of five buttons (rather than offering the sale of a specific button) we could get people to go around and trade the buttons they didn’t want for the buttons they did want.”
The concept proved successful, and by the end of the first Hot One-Inch Action show in 2004, not only were show attendees happily interacting with each other, but also every last button sold out.
Like zines, the button is celebrated in the DIY community because of its accessibility and low production costs.
While technological advancements and greater accessibility to various publishing software has made the production of zines easier and somewhat more affordable, the costs associated with printing still affect a zine’s price tag.
Buttons on the other hand are cheap, easy, and fast to produce.
“You can make some serious money if you make a ‘product’ and sell them at zine fairs.” says Fruit Market creator and co-founder of the now defunct TRADE Queer Things, Jon Pressick. “I’ve dabbled in button, t-shirt, and jewellery-making, and when those things sell at zine fairs, you make way more money than you do with a traditional zine.”
I do think this is certainly essentially the most vital info in my opinion. And im glad reading your article. But wanna remark on few general things, The website style is right, the articles is basically great : D. Good job, cheers
Very well written information. It will be beneficial to anybody who utilizes it, as well as myself. Keep up the good work – looking forward to more posts.
Hello. Great job. I did not expect this. This is a splendid story. Thanks!
Wow! This could be one particular of the most beneficial blogs We have ever arrive across on this subject. Actually Fantastic. I am also an expert in this topic so I can understand your effort.
Great site! I am loving it!! Will come back again. I am taking your feeds also
Thanks for your entire efforts on this internet site. My mum loves engaging in investigation and it’s really simple to grasp why. Several of us learn all regarding the compelling method you make helpful guidelines and tricks by means of your weblog and therefore improve contribution from other people on the topic matter then my daughter is without a doubt becoming educated a complete lot. Have fun with the remaining portion of the new year. That you are performing a splendid job.
Have you ever thought about creating an e-book or guest authoring on other web sites? I’ve a weblog based upon on the same subjects you discuss and would enjoy to have you share some stories/information. I know my visitors would value your work. In case you are even remotely interested, feel free to shoot me an e mail.
Hi there! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any problems with hackers? My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up losing a few months of hard work due to no data backup. Do you have any solutions to prevent hackers?
Howdy. Very cool blog!! Man .. Excellent .. Superb .. I’ll bookmark your site and take the feeds also…I am satisfied to locate so much helpful info right here within the article. Thank you for sharing..
I am continually invstigating online for articles that can assist me. Thank you!
Wonderful beat ! I wish to apprentice while you amend your site, how could i subscribe for a blog website? The account helped me a acceptable deal. I had been tiny bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered bright clear idea
Hello. Very cool site!! Man .. Beautiful .. Wonderful .. I will bookmark your web site and take the feeds additionally…I am happy to find numerous helpful information here in the article. Thanks for sharing.
Hi. I go through a few of one’s other posts and wished to understand in the event you would be interested in exchanging blogroll links?
Merely, admirable what you’ve gotten executed here. It is pleasing to look you express from the guts and your readability on this vital content material could be easily looked. Remarkable submit and will look ahead to your future update.
I have been surfing on-line greater than three hours today, yet I by no means found any interesting article like yours. It is beautiful value sufficient for me. Personally, if all web owners and bloggers made excellent content material as you did, the net might be a lot more useful than ever before. “No one has the right to destroy another person’s belief by demanding empirical evidence.” by Ann Landers.
Thank you for sharing excellent informations. Your website is very cool. I’m impressed by the details that you’ve on this web site. It reveals how nicely you understand this subject. Bookmarked this website page, will come back for more articles. You, my friend, ROCK! I found just the info I already searched all over the place and just couldn’t come across. What an ideal web-site.
I got what you mean , thanks for posting .Woh I am delighted to find this website through google. “Spare no expense to make everything as economical as possible.” by Samuel Goldwyn.
I intended to draft you that very small observation to be able to say thanks once again for all the remarkable thoughts you’ve provided on this site. It has been so extremely open-handed of people like you giving unreservedly precisely what many individuals might have sold for an ebook to generate some money for their own end, primarily considering the fact that you could possibly have done it if you ever wanted. Those suggestions in addition served as the great way to fully grasp other individuals have the same dreams really like my personal own to realize whole lot more with reference to this matter. I’m certain there are thousands of more pleasurable times in the future for individuals that examine your website.
Of course, what a fantastic blog and educative posts, I definitely will bookmark your blog.Have an awsome day!