Found us on Instagram and made it to our site? We’re glad you’re here!
You might be wondering – what exactly is a zine? Is this a magazine, or an art project, or something else entirely?
The answer: we’re a little bit of everything!
Zines (pronounced “ZEENS”) are loosely defined as a non-official publication, often self-published or indie-published, with a circulation of less than 1,000 copies.[i] When they first became popular in the 1930s/40s it was common for zines to be hand-made, however they can take on any format that serves the purpose of their creators. Zines have been used historically by marginalized peoples to support political movements[ii], in the art world to spread art and photography, and in the literary world to share poems, stories, and other works.[iii] (There’s a detailed article available already regarding zines on Wikipedia, so we’ll leave it at that for now).
Our issues will be themed. We look forward to showcasing a wide range of creative expression that challenges, engages with, and re-imagines our topics, as well as voices that have more literal interpretations. We want art that pushes boundaries, photographs that immerse the viewer, and words that are fresh with figurative language.
SAPP will publish a bi-annual e-zine available to access through Patreon and a limited print run available for purchase at select bookshops in the lower mainland of British Columbia, Canada. Though we are a small, independently-run zine, we hope to expand our reach by partnering with local businesses and organizations to celebrate our contributors and organize in-person events in our community. We welcome submissions from outside of Canada, but please note that our print editions will focus on emerging and underrepresented Canadian creatives.
Curious to see more from us? Follow us @sappzine.
[i] Wikipedia contributors. “Zine.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 29 Jan. 2024. Web. 11 Mar. 2024.
[ii] Wikipedia contributors. “Zine.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 29 Jan. 2024. Web. 11 Mar. 2024.
[iii] Carolyn Croley. “A short history of zines.” Amon Carter Museum of American Art, Carter Museum. Blog. 13. Dec 2023. Web 11 Mar 2024.