on artist publishing

20th & 21st may 2023 con smith park, cavan

curated by chloe maguire

Featuring 90 titles by over 40 artists, Distro (which is a slang term for an independent distributor of zines and other forms of alternative press) is a pop-up exhibition of artists’ books and zines that aims to highlight the practice of artist publishing and zine culture in rural Ireland. Artists’ books have been defined since the 1960s as artworks in their own right and as a means for artists to add and unheard voice into the discussion. 

The purpose of Distro is to explore the medium of artist publishing and bookmaking by showcasing various artistic methods from a diverse group of artists to further develop a better understanding of the practice in rural areas of Ireland. The collection holds a variety of works from photobooks and punk zines, to literature and design. With themes from motherhood and activism, to satirical illustrations and stories for children, Distro has something for all audiences. Distro features works from a range of artists and collectives from all across Ireland and abroad. Proudly taking place during the Cavan Arts Festival 2023.

Artists

Maria Babikova, Emma Campbell, Lorcan Cassidy, An Gee Chan, Johnny Cigarette, LUCIDA Collective, ^ Collective, Mary Conroy, Maria Crean, Elize de Beer, Jenny Dempsey, Michael Durand, Camilla Fanning, Shane Finan (with Alannah Robins and Niamh Fahy), Eve Fitzsimons, Patrick Fleming, Brian Hegarty (thirtythree-45), Léann Herlihy, Lydia Hickey, Suella Holland, Joanna Hopkins, iigracie, Women From The Inside, Ciaran Keane, Mícheál Keating, Paddy Kiernan, Silvia Koistinen and Members of the Flax Arts Emerging Artist Programme, Megan Luddy, Riki Mats, Emily Mc Gardle, Dáire McEvoy, Julie Merriman, Kelan Molloy, Stephen Morton, Éilís Murphy, Ben Nagle, Vukašin Nedeljković, Feargha DeCléir Ní Chiannaigh, Victory Nwabu-Ekeoma, Annabel's Pics, City Rocker Quarterly, Isabella Utria Mago, Wuthipol Ujathammarat.

Kindly supported by Cavan Arts Festival, Cavan Arts Office, and Cavan County Council.