Call for Art! The Zine Show

 

SMUSH Gallery presents The Zine Show!
January 8 - March 7, 2027

About the Show:
The Zine Show is a celebration of zines as a medium and an attitude, organized by SMUSH Gallery. The Zine Show will function first and foremost as a reading room, with opportunities for zine-making and tabling pop ups. Zines in this show will not be for sale; the collection will be preserved for future exhibition and interactions. This is our second installment of The Zine Show; our first was in Fall 2020. Send us your zines! 

What type of work will be considered?
We are looking for hard-copy (not digital) zines of any style and subject (not illegal, not mean) to be included in our large group exhibition celebrating the spirit and material products of zine culture. This show is not curated, and all submissions will be included with two exceptions: 1) content that is out of alignment with our Equity Commitments will be recycled, and 2) zines with AI generated content will also be recycled. :) 

Artists may submit as many of their individual zines as they would like (one copy per zine, please). We hope to have a special section for our visitors 12 years and younger, so zines for and by kids are welcome! 

What if I’ve never made a zine before?
Never fear - YOU can make a zine! Zines are fun and easy to make (or hard work and complicated, but you can choose your own adventure). Anyone can make a zine, and everyone should. At our show, new zine makers of all ages are welcome!

A thorough primer on zines and zine making for adults - https://thecreativeindependent.com/guides/how-to-make-a-zine/

A kids’ guide to making a one-page poster zine - https://www.readbrightly.com/how-to-make-zine/

A video of SMUSH Gallery’s Katelyn Halpern, showing you how to make an 8 page poster zine - https://vimeo.com/433119494

How do I deliver and pick up my work?
Zines must be delivered in person or by mail by December 31st. Get them to us at SMUSH Gallery, 340 Summit Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07306. Come by during gallery hours or any unticketed event - see our calendar here. Mail is great, too - send them our way!

Zines contributed to The Zine Show are understood to be given freely to SMUSH Gallery for the purposes of exhibition and the future creation of the SMUSH Gallery Zine Library. Contributed zines will not be for sale, artists will not receive any financial compensation for their participation, and artists will not pick up their work at the end of the show. 

What about promotion and attendance?
Contributing artists are asked to actively participate in spreading the word via social media, personal invitations, web listings, etc. It’s fun! Try it!Artists are warmly invited to our Opening Reception (January 8, 6-9p).

Can I table during The Zine Show?
Yes! Participating artists may sign up to table during gallery hours (Sat + Sun, 3-6p), and sell their zines and other small, arty items. The tabling fee is $25 per day. We provide a 4’ table and chair. Artists must provide a table cloth and be able to process their own sales. Set up is at 2:30p. Max 2 artists tabling per day. Indicate your interest in your Submission Form. We will contact you to confirm.

Key Dates:
Dec 31 | Submissions due
January 8 | Opening Reception
January 9 - March 7 | Gallery Hours Sat & Sun 3-6p
March 7 | Projected Closing Date
TBA | Zine workshops

Accessibility & Accommodation
All interested artists are encouraged to participate. As a venue, SMUSH Gallery has specific limitations and opportunities, and we encourage applicants to talk with us about their accessibility needs. We also want to ensure that artists are able to participate easily in the application process. Here are some tangible ways we are working to make the application process more accessible:

  • This program has a no submission fee.

  • If any applicant would like assistance in completing the form, has questions about the process or program, or would like to schedule a time to meet with us, they are invited to email hello@smushgallery.com.  

  • If any applicant needs access to wifi, a computer, or a quiet space to work on submitting their form, please email hello@smushgallery.com to make arrangements.

  • SMUSH Gallery is wheelchair accessible. Please email hello@smushgallery.com with other accessibility requests. Our small team thanks you!

How do I participate?
To participate in The Zine Show, you must
1) complete the submission form and
2) get your zine(s) to us by Dec 31st.

SUBMIT HERE!

Questions? Email hello@smushgallery.com