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)
DATES TBA:
- Comics for Breakfast: a special presentation with cartoonist and zinester alumni from Mason’s School of Art! Featuring Lee Strawberry, Ash Smith, Veronica Rossi, and plenty of donuts.
- Risograph Workshop with Mason Libraries
