Photo by Bailey Shelton
Escape into the world of comic illustrator Dmitri Jackson, who blends music, dry humor, and social commentary in his series about a record store clerk and his coworkers, Blackwax Boulevard. Or open the cover of the often neon-printed Floating Head to find science fiction, comics, and prose. Or maybe explore the collages of Allison K. Sissom, who splices metro stations into oceans and planets into homes in her project Dreamscapes.
Sometimes referred to as DIY or indie, the small press community is hard to pin down except for the fact that it’s like nothing else out there. But during the sixth annual St. Louis Small Press Expo, August 16–18, these singular makers can connect in a new and different way. The expo’s slated to feature more vendors than ever before and, for the first time, stretch into a multiday event.
Writer and illustrator Rachel Linn, who’s part of the team behind this year’s expo, is taking inspiration from small-press events in other cities. It will accept a wider range of work, not just makers with extensive résumés. You’ll be just as likely to find 15-year-olds who draw and photocopy their own zines as polished comic book artists.
There will also be time for artists of different stripes to interact. At 6 p.m. on August 16, curious makers can sit in on a panel featuring St. Louis–based publishing project Dorothy, Chicago’s Meekling Press, and illustrator Sarah Becan. At 9 a.m. on August 18, St. Louis Art Supply on Olive will host a zine swap, where creatives can share their works and talk to other creatives.
“The thing we’ve noticed about St. Louis—and this is true of most cities—is that art forms get siloed,” Linn says. “You don’t end up having a lot of painters talking to poets, and you don’t have a lot of novelists talking to printmakers. We have some really amazing graphic presses in St. Louis, and there are some really great poets here, and they don’t seem to hang out together often. I’d love to see Firecracker Press doing a series of local poets’ work.”
Attendees can also talk to artists about their inspirations and processes. “There are a lot of people who don’t see themselves as artists,” Linn says, “but if you go to this expo and look at what people are making, you might realize that it’s something that suits you after all.”
More to See
Four not-to-miss vendors at the Small Press Expo
Dmitri Jackson
Jackson is the author, artist, and creator of the weekly webcomic Blackwax Boulevard. This year, his collection won him the National Indie Excellence Award in the Comics and Graphic Novels category. He uses his comics to tackle major social topics like gentrification, political influence, and pretentious music tastes.
Meekling Press
This organization creates handmade limited-run artist books that physically represent the meaning behind the words. They’ve made trashcan-shaped zines that expand into poetry when you lift the lid, letterpress postcards, and e-books on floppy disks (remember those?).
Shine in All Shades
If you’re looking for original adult coloring books, stop here. Shine in All Shades creates coloring books that celebrate and uplift women of color. It also promotes a message of self-care and wellness through coloring between the lines.
Work Press & Publication
This St. Louis– and Champaign-based company focuses on small publications that are mostly printed on a Risograph printer for a vintage pop color style. They take submissions for different project ideas and turn them into booklets, chapbooks, or zines. (seen above)
