Pittsburgh Small Press Festival Schedule

Thought I would just post the full schedule for The Pittsburgh Small Press Festival as it's posted on their website.

I guess I have two questions which may be out of line-

The first is why an event like this would be scheduled for the summer, a time when a lot of the college students and energy is missing?

The second is why at least a few regional small presses from places like Ohio and West Virginia are not included. Wouldn't it help gain a wider audience and buzz as well as wider opportunities for contacts?

I really love Open Thread Publications Tri-State Chap Book Contest. One almost never sees any attempts to link outside a narrow definition of the Pittsburgh Region.

SPF Expo 2009

The Expo is the crowning event of SPF. It will feature two floors tables of small presses and vendors, as well as a full day of workshops, panels and readings.

The Expo will run from 12-6pm on Saturday, July 18th and Sunday, July 19th. The calendar of events is listed below.

Entrance to the main Expo is free, and a weekend ticket for events can be purchased for only $5!
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SATURDAY, JULY 18th

1pm
Small Press, Big Impact?* (followed by Karen Lillis' presentation on the smallpresspittsburgh wiki)
Panelists: Adam Atkinson (Open Thread), Hattie Fletcher (Creative Nonfiction), Savannah Guz (author), Karen Lillis (LDP Distro, smallpresspittsburgh, Words Like Kudzu, author), and Scott Silsbe (The New Yinzer)

2pm
Starting a Small Press or Literary Organization
Panelists: Adam Atkinson (Open Thread), Kris Collins (The New Yinzer), Sue Rumbaugh (The Diner Divas), and Edward Simon (Thirty First Bird Review and Press)

3pm
Publication Design 101
Panelists: Scott Andrew (Open Thread), Stephen Knezovich (Creative Nonfiction), Deanna Mulye (LPPACS, BatCat Press), and a representative from Encyclopedia Destructica

4pm - 6pm
Bookmaking Workshop
Led by Deanna Mulye and her Bookbinding students from LPPACS


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SUNDAY, JULY 19th

1pm
Tri-State Chapbook Reading and Signing
The winners of Open Thread and Encyclopedia Destructica's Tri-State Chapbook Contest read from their chapbooks, launched at the expo: "Cloud Shaped Room" by Matt Anserello (WV), "Life as a Crossword Puzzle" by Noah Falck (OH), and "Aleph in the Cellar" by Colin C. Post

3pm
Art & Small Press
Panelists: Scott Andrew (Open Thread), Curt Gettman (Unicorn Mountain), Julia Stein (Juliacks), and a representative from Encyclopedia Destructica

4pm
Women in Publishing
Panelists: Nikki Allen (poet), Margaret Bashaar and Laura Davis (Weave Magazine), and Mary Biddinger (Barn Owl Review)

5pm
Weave Magazine Writing Workshop
During this workshop we will discuss poetry and flash fiction (under 1000 words). Participants are asked to bring at least 5 copies of their work for feedback from Weave editors and other workshop participants. If you have never been to a workshop before, we will review our workshop format and flow, as well as etiquette. This is a great way to meet other writers in Pittsburgh and get meaningful feedback in a safe setting.

Update-- I can see from the website that publishers from outside Pittsburgh were allowed. Hopefully this will attract more of them in the future.

Flux Braddock

FLUX 14: Braddock
Saturday, April 14, 2007
8PM to 1AM
entrance located at the corner of Braddock Ave. and Library St.

A project of the Three Rivers Arts Festival in partnership with the Braddock Borough Council and the Mayor’s Office of Braddock

Artistic Direction by: Omar Abdul, DJ Brewer, Edgar Um Bucholtz, Michele de la Reza, Lea Donatelli, Curt Gettman/Unicorn Mountain, Chris Ivey, Patrick Jordan, Osman Kahn, Thad Kellstadt, Peter Kope, Merissa Lombardo, Lauri Mancuso, and Matthew Wellins

Featuring artwork and installations by: Beano, Jennifer Birch, Tony Buba, destroy/destroyer, Brian Dougherty, the Hospital Food project (featuring artists from the Ohringer Building), Chris Ivey, I.R.E., Tim Kaulen, Jennifer Lee, Mule Kicked Visions, New Guild Studios, Obsolete, Owl Kahol, Rivercubes ATM, Tom Sarver, James Simon, Joshua Space, and Andreas Tapias-Urzua

Performances by: Attack Theater, barebones Productions, Centipede E’ est, Charon Don & DJ Huggy, DBL D, Dutchmasters, Daryl Fleming & the Public Domain, Flotilla Way, Joy Ike, Jmalls, Lucid Music, Pandemic! Deejays, Nate the Phat Barber, Aesir St. James, Steel City Poetry Slam Team, and the Weakness

Sponsored by: The Richard King Mellon Foundation, The Heinz Endowments, Pittsburgh Partnership for Neighborhood Development, the Henry John Simonds Foundation, Wall to Wall Studios, Penn Brewery, WYEP, Vincent Lighting, East End Food Co Op, B.P.O.E. Braddock Lodge #883, the A.J. Silberman Company and the Braddock Carnegie Library

Tickets $10 at the door cash only, $8 for students (with valid ID), Kids under 10 free
All door proceeds benefit participating artists.

Must be 21+ with valid id to purchase alcohol. Limited handicap accessibility.

Comics/Small Press/Music Expo

Here's your chance to peek under the hood at Pittsburgh's small- Press scene

Unicorn Mountain and Encyclopedia Destructica join forces to host a two-day small-press and music expo.
Featuring Poison Control, Incredibly Thin, Pitchfork Poetry Projects, Sunnyoutside, The New Yinzer, Enamel Records, Ambulantic, Copacetic Comics, Phantom of the Attic, and many more!
Saturday, 10/21 (11 AM - 6 PM) - Artist and Small Press Vendor Tables, Food, and the Spy Magicians Independent Bookstore complete with couches and a coffee bar. Don't miss out on the special appearances of the Spy Magicians themselves! - FREE!
Saturday Night (7 PM - Midnight) - After-Party featuring Don Caballero, Zombi, The Apes, and Black Moth Super Rainbow - $5
Sunday (noon - 5 PM) - Workshops by AIR, Encyclopedia Destuctica, the Sprout Fund and more. Music by Phil Boyd, Julie Sokolow, Pike, and more. Readings by David Cherry of Incredibly Thin, Lenny Flatley and more- FREE!