OSU exhibition celebrates the history of the zine
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"Scrap Paper: Belonging & Resistance" showcases zines, punk show posters, political pamphlets and more from OSU's Rare Books & Manuscripts Library. Photos: Andrew King/Axios
A new exhibition at Ohio State digs into the university's archives to explore the way alternative and subversive publications create communities and movements.
What's inside: "Scrap Paper: Belonging & Resistance" opened this week, showcasing decades of zines, punk show posters, political pamphlets and other materials that had been in OSU's cavernous Rare Books & Manuscripts Library.
The big picture: At first glance, you might wonder why a collection of posters and DIY magazines is worth a visit — but the exhibition draws a line between these community-building works and real cultural impact.
- "Community breeds art, art brings in communities and that's how movements start," says art and design librarian Courtney Hunt.
Case in point: One section showcases early feminist publications, some published at OSU.
- Another features cartoneras — handmade Latin American publications that combine art, news and history to spread messages and recruit people to political activism.
The bottom line: You're likely to find something fascinating and connected to your own life, whether you're a former punk kid, a lover of zine culture, a political activist or just someone who appreciates DIY art.
- "Hopefully people come in and engage with this stuff and realize that it's not that far from them," says ethnic studies librarian Leticia Wiggins.
🖼️ Plus: The "Columbus Show & Event Fliers" wall provides some real nostalgia for a lot of us.
📍 Stop by: The free exhibit is open 10am-5pm weekdays, 11am-5pm weekends at OSU's Thompson Library.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect new exhibit hours shared by OSU.