Open call for photozines is still… open!
Last night as I was opening new mailed-in entries, I ran into the living room to tell my wife: βThese are melting my heart.β
I am currently running an open call for photozines for my solo exhibition that opens on May 28 here in ZΓΌrich β JOURNAL: The Exhibition, which will feature a fotozinegarten with items from my own collection and this open call.
It is still early days, so Iβve just started to receive international entries β in yesterdayβs post office box: UK, Spain, Netherlands, USA, and both German- and French-speaking Switzerland.
Each entry arrives carefully packaged, usually with a handwritten note or small lovely item like a bookmark or postcard. All varieties and fidelities, all independently printed, on every kind of paper from everyday to specialized. Some are numbered editions β #40 of 50, #11 of 20. Many include statements about their inspiration or why they made it. Some are folded, some are bound with string. One came with a pair of 3-D glasses to view its pages.
I open, hold, and look through each with care, marveling at its travels to me and the creative, thoughtful human on the other side of it.
I also said to my wife: βThis makes me love people [more].β
Why Iβm doing this
Platform sharing. I know how exciting it is to exhibit your art in another part of the world and it made me happy to realize that I can easily do this for other people. I remember a few years ago when I was sitting in Seattle (USA) and heard that one of my photos would be displayed in Tokyo and what a thrill it was.
Zine community love. I love DIY publishing culture and events β fairs, workshops, conferences, etc β and in general the community energy around them, including online and internationally via post. Itβs a nice thing to have my own art in the company of community.
Geeking out. Iβve always been a book and library nerd and the thought of setting up my own little library of sorts for people to view is absolutely thrilling. I am carefully cataloguing each zine as it comes in and itβs fun to think about their metadata, e.g. binding type, size, etc. Fun fun fun.
Inspiring visitors by example. My whole deal with zines is that I love their accessibility for everyone to make and share their art. I am excited to have exhibition visitors see a βgardenβ with such a wide variety of styles, subjects, and makers βand be inspired to make their own.
Interested? Entries must be received in Switzerland by May 20, 2026. Learn more here.
Pro tip! You can design a mini photozine instantly with my free web app for mobile and desktop at ZINEMAKER.JILL.PHOTOS. I would love to see some of these come in as entries. : )
Thank you as ever for joining me here and inspiring me every day.
JILL.DESIGN 
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