Halftone 2023 Keynotes Announced
This year will have TWO keynote speakers in addition to our massive exhibitor hall and some cool interactive stations!
We are excited to announce TWO keynote events for this year's Halftone Zine Fest. Don't miss it!
Noon - Bill Widener: “Lost” - A Retrospective
Local DJ and comic artist “Uncle” Bill Widener will exhibit and discuss material from “Lost” – a Lexington zine published from 1980-1983 of which Widener was a contributor. “Lost” was reissued by local punk record label and zine General Speech. In a press release, General Speech recounted some history: “‘Lost’ is a fascinating publication by a Beatles-obsessed editor, to whom punk had provided a catalyst that jolted him from the haze of tired 70’s rock, and drove him to document the new sounds happening in Lexington.” Early issues covered the nascent punk scene with bands like No Excuse, Thrusters, and the Chinese at Club Au Go Go, a gay and drag-friendly venue that provided a launchpad for Lexton’s DIY punk community. Later, “Lost” incorporated political art, illustrations, and documented bands from Kentucky and Ohio such as The Endtables, Babylon Dance Band, Synthetics, Your Food, Dementia Precox, and Vale of Tears, and coverage of queer and drag performances by Lexington group Red Interiors and the legendary Divine.
2 p.m. - J.T. Dockery: Remembering EdMcClanahan & Celebrating Lexington’s Underground Culture
For the Covid-cancelled 2020 event, artist J.T. Dockery was scheduled to lead a panel discussion with Ed McClanahan, Guy Mendes, and Hendrick Floyd (aka Sheisty Khrist) about McClanahan’s history with zines going back to the 1950s and 60's and the collaboration between a writer (Dockery,), a photographer (Mendes,) and a musician (Floyd,) who have all collaborated in various capacities. The 2020 event was also meant to introduce Dockery and McClanahan’s book, “Juanita and the Frog Prince.” This year’s event has been reimagined to serve as a tribute to McClanahan, who passed away in November 2021, and to shed light on Lexington’s rich underground cultures, whether literary, art, comics, or hip-hop. Dockery will read from his work as well as McClanahan’s and provide context for the work the artists created together.
