(NEWARK, NJ) -- The Bettys, an independent art collective, and two of Newark’s major arts institutions, Gallery Aferro and Paul Robeson Galleries at Express Newark, along with supporters Women and Gender Studies Program at Rutgers-Newark University and Express Newark’s Newark Print Shop and Shine Portrait Studio, present Betty Zinefest 2017, which is free to attend with all welcome. The event takes place on October 7 from 11:00am to 4:00pm at Express Newark (54 Halsey Street).
A NJ-based zinefest is a great offering for residents in and of itself, but the Betty Zinefest, returning to Newark for the second year, is extremely unique and valuable for another reason- it is run by young women of color, and highlights exclusively the artwork of youth, women, people of color, and LGBTQ/gender-nonconforming people: essentially those whose voice is often marginalized. Led by Aurora Diaz, the Bettyz, a 150-member collective, was founded in 2014. Diaz speaks about “the zine as a platform to bring marginalized people to the front.” This use of language is notable- “the front” references the framework of activism, gatherings and marches, as well other spaces like classrooms and art spaces where visibility is an unevenly distributed commodity.
Workshops offered throughout the day to complement the zine fair will be led by W.I.S.E (Women’s Initiative for Self Empowerment), Girls on Bikes, and Rebekah Torres, and range from feminist collage to self defense for Muslim women. An accompanying exhibition, titled Resistance Across Time and curated by Evonne M. Davis of Gallery Aferro, will be celebrated in a reception from 3-5 PM along with an adjacent exhibition Justseeds: Migration Now! Resistance Across Time is a selection of activist posters ca. 1970s-2000s from Brooklyn’s Interference Archive. An interactive photobooth at Shine Portrait Studio and printmaking activities from Newark Print Shop will run all day. More than 75 zine vendors from throughout the Northeast will be selling their creations all day.
Vendors: Abuela Taught Me, Alyssa Spatola, The Asian American Literary Review, Ayana Allison, Bandida Comics, Barnard Zine Library & Barnard Zine Club, Belle Krup, The Bettys / #BETTYDISTRO, #Blkgrlswurld ZINE, Blue Crow / Marco Padilla, Blue Pear Projects, BOOKLYN, Brooklyn Waste Collective / Destiny Washington, Brusque Babe, Cathryn Ploehn, Connie Boje, The Doula Project, Danielle Fee, Emily McLean & Yesenia Moises, Evergreen Zines, Femme Mâché, Fizz Publishing, GenderFail, Ginger, GRLTRBL, Hoax Zine, HOMIE HOUSE PRESS, Hot Tag Zines, Hya Rosa, I Love Soda/ Rebecca B., Ife Olujobi / Townies, In A Rut Comics, Izzy Boyce-Blanchard, Karen Kaye Llamas, Khaleel, KOBY, La Liga Zine, La Chamba Press, Low Level, Maria Liebana, Margot Terc, Mikela Sheskier & Sophie Barba, Morgan Sturgeon, Mujeristas Collective, My Life Is a Joke / Aimee Pong, Naomi Berhane, Nico Acosta, Nicole Dyan, paige hanserd, Paradox Creations, P-GLiTCHii, Pub(SEX)lic, Pyrite Press, Stephanie Rodriguez, RECOUNT, Ruth Rodriguez, Sula Collective, Susie Magazine, Stay Kind! Distro, Timaya Forehand, Troll Hole & Friends, unbag, Vermin, We're Hir We're Queer, Woke Inc., Worser Beings, Yeiry Guevara, Zine Hug
Workshops:
11:15 am -12:30pm FREE
Collaging with Rebekah Torres
Facilitator Rebekah Torres
Cutting, tearing, pasting, changing shape and creating new forms; that is what collage is. It is graceful destruction and chaotic revival. The power of collage doesn't come from the source, but from what you did with it. I will guide you through a mess of paper, scraps and glue while we create something unique and new out of something that already exists.
12:45pm-2:00pm FREE
The Girls on Bikes Workshop
Facilitator : Girls On Bikes/ Kala La Fortune
The purpose of this workshop is to discuss self empowerment through participation in recreational activities and explore the usage of blacks and most importantly girls, on bikes in the urban community.
2:15pm - 3:45pm FREE
EMPOWERING WOMYN & FEMMES
Facilitators: W.I.S.E. (WOMENS INITIATIVE FOR SELF EMPOWERMENT)/ Nisma Zakaria and Shahrin Azim
This self-defense seminar will focus on creating a space to allow its participants to empower themselves by learning universally effective martial arts techniques. This seminar will focus primarily on how to defend from attacks that are common in hate crimes, such as shoves, multiple strikes to the face, and scarf/turban grabbing. Come dressed in your regular clothing, not loose gym outfits!
