Scene of the Zine: Small Print is Alive and Well in Philly

We were psyched to be in the mix Tuesday night at Zine Zipper, an event co-organized by Collide and Megazine at the infamous Tattooed Mom in Philadelphia. There were artists, photographers, writers, and countless creatives in attendance, filling out the venue with energized conversation and a little jovial lunacy.

Spotted throughout the night were Soup Can Magazine alumni, collage artist John Scott and punk painter GiGi LoVond. We also had the opportunity to meet new painters, poets, and the like, unearthing some especially refreshing voices via the open mic, hosted by Collide's Lindsey Gill.

"Our community is so incredibly strong and supportive of each other," reflects Gill. "We all have different modalities of expression in the work we showed last night—from polaroids to collage, to handmade paper and trinkets—and it was all so lovely to see come together in one big room of people vibing and connecting on a giant range of subject matter. Zine culture not only is artistic, it is poetic, narrative, and empathetic." Bee from Venus Invictus added "I had a blast. I definitely feel like I made some strong connections to folks interested in what we do."

We also got to chat with photographer James Jones. "I found it inspiring to see others and talk with others about their work," remarks Jones. "The quality and craftsmanship are unparalleled to any individual publishing I’ve seen. I’m new to Philly, moved from Boston, and this level wouldn’t thrive there. Nor would the welcoming environment you all have nurtured."

Throughout the night, the vibes truly were palpable and the space was full of fringe inspiration. Special shoutout to Collide co-creator Katie Dempsey for introducing herself and making us all feel welcome. We're always grateful to pay a visit to Tattooed Mom for some fun food and drink, but Zine Zipper took an already iconic venue to the next level up. Literally. It was on the second floor.