Family-run fair spreading craft culture

Creative clan: The Edwards family including Harriet, Bec Wilson, Clancy and Tom, first started making zines together about a decade ago. Photo: TIM BOTTAMS

A SHARED family passion for a particular style of DIY is forming the catalyst behind a new zine market festival set to debut later this year.

Having passed on his love of zine making to his family, Tom Edwards, together with his partner Bec Wilson and their children, are aiming to showcase the craft to others with the launch of the ZINEverleigh Zine Fair.

Mr Edwards said he’s been interested in the style for many years.

“I’d come across zines living in Melbourne in the 1990s, 2000s where there was plenty of cool culture for country kids to discover,” he said.

“When the kids started showing an interest in writing and art, I thought it’d be a good experience for them so we started going to this zine event in Melbourne called Festival of the Photocopier.

“We’ve tabled a few times there now. I like the DIY aspect of it. You can do it cheaply and it’s just a way to express your ideas simply. Anyone can make a zine, there’s no rules.”

More than 30 stalls have been booked for the Inverleigh-based event where people can showcase their zines for exhibition and sale, including Melbourne-based makers The Sticky Institute, who first exposed Mr Wilson to the art.

Workshops on zine making and found poetry workshops will also take place, as well as an art corner for kids.

Having lived in Inverleigh since 2015, Ms Wilson said a key aim of the fair is to bring the culture to a regional setting.

“When we went to the last Festival of the Photocopier in Feb this year, it was a good cultural experience and a really diverse crowd,” she said.

“We thought that was great for the kids and wanted to continue the support and bring some of that culture here and normalise that stuff a bit.

“It’s not really known around here so this is something a bit different.”

The whole family has helped organise the event, including Gray, who’s created artwork for the event’s social media, and said it’s been an enjoyable thing to do with his family.

“It’s pretty easy to do and set up. I’ve been doing the promo posters. It’s cool to meet lots of new people through this, going to the fairs,” they said.

ZINEverleigh is set to run from 10am to 2pm on Saturday, 3 June at the Inverleigh Public Hall.