PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE

SEPTEMBER 13 – NOVEMBER 18, 2023

PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE is a retrospective exhibition of the Chicago-based small press publisher Perfectly Acceptable Press. This exhibit explores the contemporary landscape of Risograph printing and art books, presented through a broad review of the Press’s archive and an in-depth exploration of one work: the award-winning comic Grip by Lale Westvind.

PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE also examines the relationship between printers, designers, artists, and materials in the creation of a finished art book, a reminder that creative works are not always solitary acts but often the result of negotiation, collaboration, and experimentation.

PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE will be on view from September 13-November 18 at Fenwick Gallery in Fenwick Library.

About Perfectly Acceptable Press

Perfectly Acceptable Press, founded by Matt Davis in 2013(ish) and located in Chicago, publishes short-run narrative artist books (“comics”), as well as offering for-hire Risograph printing services. As a publisher, Perfectly Acceptable aims to create objects that push the boundaries of ‘zine’ without sacrificing accessibility, synergizing content, craft, and form. From 2020 to 2022, Perfectly Acceptable also ran Pumpkin’s Remote Residency, an annual residency giving lesser-known artists from around the world an opportunity to work with Perfectly Acceptable on producing a Risograph comic, to be published by Perfectly Acceptable, from the comfort/safety of their homes.

Alongside Perfectly Acceptable, Matt also co-directs (with George Wietor of Issue Press) the North American Risograph Conference, a biennial meeting of Risographers in Chicago; co-administers (with George, again) the ‘Risography’ Discord, a chatroom & support forum for all things Risograph and publishing; and co-hosts Zine Not Dead (with Brad Rohloff of Bred Press), a quarterly experimental comics reading series.

EVENTS

Wednesday, September 13: Opening Reception & Artist Talk

Celebrate the opening of Perfectly Acceptable! Registration is free but required to save your place.

• 1:00PM: Welcome reception in Fenwick Gallery
• 1:30PM: Artist talk with Matt Davis, founder & operator of Perfectly Acceptable Press, Fenwick Library Main Reading Room (Room 2001)
• 3:00PM: Risograph demonstration with Matt Davis and Prof. Christopher Kardambikis, School of Art Printmaking and Book Arts Studio (Room 1009)

Tuesday, October 31: HALLOZINES

Drop in for a not-so-scary zine-making workshop with Mason Libraries’ Special Collections Research Center! Materials will be provided.

• 12-3PM, Fenwick Library Main Reading Room (2001)

Thursday, November 16: COMICS FOR BREAKFAST: Alumni Artist Panel + Comics Workshop, 11AM-1:30PM
Register now!

Join us for a live comics reading and discussion with cartoonist alumni from Mason’s School of Art! Featuring Lee Strawberry, Ash Smith, Sylvia Rossi, and plenty of donuts. Following the conversation, Sylvia Rossi will lead a comics workshop and Risograph printing demo.

• 11AM – 12PM: Artist panel & reading
• 12PM – 1:30PM: Comics workshop w/Sylvia Rossi

Exhibit Bookshelf

Recommended readings from Mason Libraries