About PZS

The Portland Zine Symposium is an organization that hosts, among other events, a yearly free conference and zine social exploring facets of independent publishing and DIY culture. This event has been held in Portland, Oregon every summer since 2001 and hosts over 150 zinesters from around the world each year, as well as many free workshops, panels, and discussions.

Mission Statement

The Portland Zine Symposium (PZS) aims to build community between creators of independent publications in Portland, OR and beyond. PZS events create space for artists to share their work while exchanging skills and knowledge related to zine culture, creative expression, and self-publishing in an accessible, non-commercial environment.  PZS strives to amplify the voices of underrepresented communities, and promote equitable conditions for Portland’s creative community to thrive.

PZS 2024 Organizers

The Portland Zine Symposium is run by volunteer organizers! Below are just a few of the folks helping organize the 2024 Portland Zine Symposium:

A black and white illustration of a cute person with long hair and bangs with their eyes closed and some cool lipstick.

M. Sabine Rear

M. Sabine Rear is a cartoonist and zine-maker, and the cute blind lady you gave your seat to on the bus. She can found at www.michaelsabine.com and on Instagram as @michaelsabine

A smiling person with long hair wearing a cute beanie with some buttons on it. They're smiling with their eyes closed in front of a bunch of rocks in nature!

Emily Moroz

Emily Moroz (she/her/they) is a cartoonist, illustrator, gay outdoorslady and member of the Sound Grounds Wreckin’ Cru. Find more at moreohs.com and on IG @moreohs.

Person with cool cat-eye glasses and green/yellow hair. They're wearing a pink-ish beret and the background looks like comics and art prints!

Wren McSherry

Wren is 25 years old wringing and slinging comics for the people. They like cats, tea, film, and ranting about 70s manga. You can find them on insta @crowden

A person with some cool hair dyed super red. They're looking at the camera and got blue eyes.

Liz Yerby

Liz Yerby writes comics about crying. They are a proud member of the Sound Grounds Wreckin' Cru and also sometimes a mouse. Their art can be found at lizyerby.com and on IG @lizyerby.

A brown haired person with a beard plus mustache combo wearing some cool black glasses.

Rainer Kannenstine

Rainer Kannenstine (He/Him) is a Portland based cartoonist focusing on the weird and wonderful. You can find his work @rfkannen everywhere with handles.

A cool person wearing a black N95 mask and glasses. They've got a nice houndstooth looking sweater on.

Aster Alvarez

Aster Alvarez (they/them) is a queer artist, bookseller, and emo music enthusiast. Catch them at Powell’s hiding in the small press and poetry sections or online at @astxrias.bookshelf for books and @astxria.art for drawings.

A person with blue eyes and a light beard & mustache wearing cool thin-rimmed glasses and looking past the camera.

Emlyn Thompson

Emlyn Thompson is an out-of-practice artist and lifelong monster enthusiast. He doesn't really have an online presence, but he's working to change that.

A person with short brown hair, blue eyes, and a light beard. They're wearing a kippah on their head and leaning in to smell a rose. The background is the International Rose Test Garden with flowers and grass!

CJ Alicandro

CJ Alicandro (they/them) is a self-proclaimed patron of the arts. Proudly queer Jew, karaoke enthusiast, union organizer, and all-around busy body.

A person with long dark hair smiling at the camera. They're wearing some neat thicker-rimmed glasses in maybe a tortoise shell style.

BB Andersson

BB Andersson is a cartoonist,
zinester, designer, and multimedia artist. Find their work at bbandersson.com and on instagram @bbandersson

Person with long light brown hair and blue/green eyes wearing a purple/blue/pink hat with little poof balls on it. The hat covers their chin too like it's part scarf! In the background, we see a bunch of troll dolls nailed to wooden planks!

Emma Wiseman

Emma (she/they) is a graphic designer & zinester from Portland, Oregon. She can be found gardening, designing her newspaper, or at a show. See more of emmas work at @emmawisegnome