LAMINATOR

Volume 2

Artists on the Lam is thrilled to announce the second annual volume of our inaugural zine, LAMINATOR! This new publication features work by 93 artists, poets, and writers from 6 continents. This is a labor of love.

A sneak peek at some of the artwork inside:

In an ever increasingly digital world, we often find ourselves seeking ways to unplug, searching for the tangible, the analog, something tactile and physical we can touch and hold with our own hands, something to keep and cherish as a memento, as ephemera, something to lose, something to find, something to give and share with a loved one like a secret.

Don’t get us wrong—we’re all about the digital realm too; after all, Artists on the Lam started out as a blog back in 2011, and during this ongoing pandemic we pivoted to virtual exhibitions (such as SLAYSIAN in 2020, DECAHEDRON in 2021, HYGGE in 2023, and a mini show accompanying this very zine—see below). And, of course, you’re reading this online.

But this project has been a long time coming; LAMINATOR is the brainchild of Chicago-based artist, indie curator, writer, and Artists on the Lam founder Jenny Lam, who has been keeping snail mail—and the USPS—alive for the past 17 years with her beloved postcard project Dreams of a City, and who was probably the only young person in the world who didn’t get a smartphone until 2014 (and then stubbornly used that same old phone for 7 years).

And, much like the soothing sounds of a pencil scratching on paper, there’s just something about the feel of flipping through the pages of a good book.

In this volume, enjoy poetry and art across all media and forms—including illustration, painting, photography, collage, textiles, and more—by:

Alabi Mubarak Omotoyosi, Alba Arguello, Alex Rasmussen, Alexandra Stellrecht, Ami Watanabe, Ann Cloutier, Anna Burger, Annie Marie Govekar, Caroline Bick, Catherine Ashley, Christine Lozano, Chrysanthemum Zhang, Chuck LaVoie, Constance Volk, Corinne Halbert, Cynthia Lee, Damien James, Dan Zamudio, Darcie Denton, Du Kun, Ellen Wade Beals, Emily Andrews, Emma Haugh-Ewald, Emma Martini, English Prevo, Enikő Deptuch Vaghy, Fei Ewald, Fernanda Morales Tovar, Gabriela Farnell, Hoho Kuo, Inês Branco, Irena Ocepek, J.Legay, Jennie Cao, Jennifer Cronin, Jessica Smit Mattingly, John C Gonzalez, Jonathan Espinoza, Jonathan Ralston, Julia Alekseyeva, Julia Ama Lubiner, Justin Suico, Kailyn Zeta Elkins, Kaitlyn Hwang, Kate Havekost, Kate Kadleck, Kaylee Walsh, Keelan McMorrow, Korede Ojelade, Kun Zhao, Kuzana Ogg, Laura Catherwood, Leila Zolfalipour, Linn Hansen, Liu Yang, Lou Patrou, Maddie Hinrichs, Madyson Friedlund, Maham Ali, Marcia Biasiello, Margot McBrady, Marta Berzina, Mary Watkins, Matt Zuska, Megan Lui, Meghan Turner, Melissa Wang, Mendy Kong, Michael Alan Coakes, Michael Brockley, Michael Stenta, Mohammad Muntasirul Ghani, Nancy Bechtol, Nyx Daphne Mir, Patricia Biesen, Qingjun Huang, Rebecca Wood, Rita Shimelfarb, Sandra Gea, Sangwoo Yoo, Sarah Lorentz, Sergei Rozhnov, Sneha Paul, Sophia Croasdale, Stafford Hiroshi Smith, Suyeun Lee, Taylor Ana Valdez, Trotter Alexander, Van Trong Le, Vivien Solveig, Win Wallace, Yan Li, and Yuqian Sun.

Created and edited by Jenny Lam

Will be printed by Mixam

Will be over 100 pages, 5.8 x 8.3 inches, full color pages on 80 lb. satin paper, 100 lb. gloss covers with gloss lamination, perfect bound

While you wait for the zine to arrive in your mailbox (thank you so much for your patience!), you can also browse LAMINATOR’s accompanying online exhibitions! A few of the artists featured in the zine have art that’s available for purchase; this includes the originals of their pieces in the publication, as well as bonus pieces. Click on each artist to enjoy their art and their words:

Volume 1

[December 2024 update: Our Vol. 1 stock is sold out! Fortunately, there are still some copies left at Buddy, the art shop inside the Chicago Cultural Center! Order online or purchase in person.]

A sneak peek at some of the artwork and poetry inside:

Hailing from all over Chicago, the country, and the world, the 68 artists, poets, and writers of LAMINATOR Vol. 1 are:

Ami Moregore, Ami Watanabe, Angela Townsend, Annie Govekar, Audrey Clarendon, Buuchau Chau, Chantal Danyluk, Charlene Moy, Christine Lozano, Claire Cai, Constance Volk, Cynthia J. Lee, Dana Albalushi, Darcie Denton, Darinka VZ, Emily Andrews, Emily Thornton Calvo, Fei Ewald, Fernanda Morales Tovar, Gabe Drueke, George Peterson, Gloria Tang Yuze, Hayden Minor, InsomniaBird (Susie Xiong), Jamiece Adams, Jasmine Marie, Jessica Smit Mattingly, Jonathan Espinoza-Perez, Josepha Natzke, Julia Graczyk, Kathy Halper, Keelan McMorrow, Kelly Eden, Klinta Kalneja, Kurt Kreissl, Laura Cantor, Laura Catherwood, Laura Rodriguez, Lillian Prichard, Maddie Hinrichs, Maham Ali, Marcia Biasiello, Marie Magnetic, Mark Banks, Mary Kate Fahrenbach Venturini, Meri Kukkavaara, Nalendra Ezra a.k.a Ejura, Nancy Bechtol, Olukorede Ojelade, Oscar Eduardo de Paz, Patrick Earl Hammie, Pedro Patti, Renata Hernández, Renee McGinnis, Richard Gessert, Sarah Lorentz, Seth King, Shannon Sphar, Sneha Paul, Sophia Croasdale, Stafford Hiroshi Smith, Taryn Okesson, Tiffany Gholar, Vaishnavi Sivaprasad, Wendy Wahman, Win Wallace, Yulin Yuan, and Zee Tan Zhi Wang.

Created and edited by Jenny Lam

Printed by Mixam in 2024

108 pages, 5.8 x 8.3 inches, full color pages on 80 lb. satin paper, 100 lb. gloss covers with gloss lamination, perfect bound

Watch a quick flip-through here.