Yesterday I posted about José Francisco Borges without fully acknowledging the folk tradition he comes from. Brazil’s Literatura de Cordel is a folk art tradition of north east Brazil. These artists self publish their verse and illustrations in the form of folhetos or pamphlets. There’s a lot to admire about any surviving folk tradition but I am particularly inspired by Cordel literature’s adaptability, popularity and accessibility. The verses are written and illustrated by people of humble means and education for an audience of similar means. I can’t think of a single example of anything like this in North America.
I don’t think it is exactly the same, but there is a whole tradition of artists making zines and going to zine festivals and sharing zines. Many people who make zines are artists, but many are not. Some of my students have gone down to Chicago for their zine fest. http://chicagozinefest.org/ Like I said, not exactly the same, but similar. That is a great image with the clothes pins.