Paper Jam is an annual event at Ringling College of Art + Design bringing independent artists’ publishing to Sarasota and the Creative Coast. It is organized by the Brizdle-Schoenberg Special Collections Center, Alfred R. Goldstein Library, Makerspace, and Print St. Pete.

The mission of the alternative book fair is to empower emerging and diverse voices. It features comics, zines, graphic novels, artists’ books, photobooks, creative writing, illustrated books, and experimental printed matter produced by Ringling College students, faculty, staff, and alumni, as well as artists, collectives, and publishers from the community at large.

The 2020/21 fair will be an interactive, virtual showcase on social media happening the week of February 8-12, 2021. The chosen theme—MOVEMENT—is inspired by ongoing social movements for racial justice, gender equality, and diversity inclusion. Paper Jam’s Instagram (@rcadpaperjam), Facebook (@rcadpaperjam), and hashtag (#rcadpaperjam) will spotlight artists who are engaged in community activism or are addressing themes of injustice in their work, plus interactive stories to foster dialogue and encourage collaboration with other thinkers and makers. The event will focus on the ideas, interests, and processes that drive folx to publish.

Featured artists (listed here) were invited by the Paper Jam organizers to self-curate a small selection of their work for our virtual showcase.

Current:

Bridget Elmer, Co-founder, Print St. Pete

Janelle Rebel, Digital Curation and Special Collections Librarian, Brizdle-Schoenberg Special Collections Center

Alexandra (Ali) Vargas-Fournier, Archivist, Ringling College Archives at the Brizdle-Schoenberg Special Collections Center

Kristina Keogh, Director of Library Services, Alfred R. Goldstein Library

Linda Cavalieri, Administrative Services, Office of Academic Affairs

Petar Pirizović, current Ringling College student studying Graphic Design

Emily Fromhage, current Ringling College student studying Illustration

Pearl Stockwell, current Ringling College student studying Motion Design

Past:

Amber Cross, founder of SRQ Zine Fest and Ringling College alumni

2017

In 2017, the Letterpress and Book Arts Center, Special Collections Center, and Library teamed up with the Campus Galleries to host a one-day book fair on November 11, 2017 as part of the Freedom of the Presses exhibition and event program. This unnamed fair brought student and alumni makers together with zine and artists' book vendors from St. Pete, Miami, and New York and served as the beta test for launching an alternative book fair on campus.

2018

In 2018, Paper Jam was officially organized and branded by the Letterpress and Book Arts Center, Special Collections Center, and Library in collaboration with SRQ Zine Fest. The open-call fair featured over 40 talented juried vendors and welcomed over 350 visitors for a day of demonstrations, food, music, and raffle giveaways.

December 1, 2018 event photos below!