For almost ten years, the Buffalo Small Press Book Fair has been providing a public platform for writers, publishers, local book enthusiasts, poets and artists, who come together to share in the delights of the Small Press ways of life. Last year, the two-day affair enlisted 140 vendors to showcase their works, while close to 5,500 attendees came to support the endeavor. Growing the event to a weekend-long event has allowed a lot more people to enjoy the fair.
“The two-day format has really become popular,” says organizer Chris Fritton, who will be joined this year by co-founder Kevin Thurston, who made a special trip back to Buffalo to help run the show. “Often people tell me that they like Sunday better than Saturday because it has a great, relaxed atmosphere where there’s more time to share. [Having Kevin back] takes a little of the pressure off me, and Kevin brings a different perspective.”
What started as a primarily local event in scale, featuring free workshops, poetry readings, small press poets, book artists, letterpressers, comic book makers and to do-it-yourself crafters, now attracts artists and venders from cities that include Montreal, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, NYC, California, Washington DC and Milwaukee. It’s pretty awesome to think that all of this takes place right in our own backyard.
Open Readings on Saturday during the fair. Saturday evening will feature an off-site small press poetry reading
Details of the event are available online at: www.buffalosmallpress.org This event and all the events surrounding the Fair are free to attend and open to the general public.
See Facebook event for updates and details.