PZS Scavenger Hunt by Derek Neuland, 2010

A conversation between two old school PZS Organizers, Derek Neuland and Alex Wrekk in August 2010, in the sleepy village of Portland, Oregon:

Derek Neuland: How did the Portland Zine Symposium start?

Alex Wrekk: At the end of 2000, some of my friends were talking about organizing a zine event. I was sort of confused because it seemed weird to put a bunch of awkward zine people in a room together so they could hide behind their notebooks and avoid eye contact. Somehow I was convinced that a zine event was a rad idea, and we collected about 8 or 9 people and starting having meetings.

We were trying to come up with a name for it that wasn't "fest" or "fair," and someone threw out the term "symposium" almost as a joke. We liked the academic connotations of a symposium. It wasn't just a festival, it was an event for learning and sharing ideas.

Conversation between PZS Organizers Cathy Camper and (Elly) Blue, August 2010:

Blue (B): What has kept you coming back to PZS?

Cathy Camper (CC): As a librarian, I'm a big supporter of connecting people with small and independent presses and self-published work…This is one of many communities I'd like to call mine.

B: What was it like being a PZS organizer?

CC: I think it was great to work as a library liaison and to connect the [Multnomah County] Library's zine work with the symposium.

B: How has PZS influenced or encouraged you?

CC: It always broadens my horizons...a good place to get inspired.

B: What is your favorite zine that you discovered at PZS?

CC: Not just one. Many, many, many! Walk around the room!

I Remember My First Zine Symposium - black and white comic by Dylan Williams, year unknown

10 Years of the Portland Zine Symposium - 56 pages, black and white with color cover, August 2010. Featuring original PZS Organizers tim goodyear, Katie Ash, Dylan Williams, Emily Nilsson, Alex Wrekk, Derek Neuland, Blue, and drugless

✻ Digitized version of this zine coming soon to the website!