BERKELEY SPRINGS – Authors from around the country gathered at the Ice House in Berkeley Springs for an Art Book Fair on Saturday, welcoming the community in to learn more about print making, book binding and much more.
The event, which was the first of its kind hosted by the Ice House, featured a diverse group of 20 authors and artists of all ages from 10 states, including three from West Virginia. Many were selling ‘zines’, a term for small circulation, self-published works of original prints.
“This is something that the younger generation is kind of really capturing and making their own,” said Jordan Warren, executive director of the Ice House. “To even see just the generations here expanding so far and zines being a traditional type of art to the modern day art and everything in between is just something we’re trying to do more consciously and strategically here.”
The event was primarily organized by Sue Wrbican, a professor of art at George Mason University and member of the Ice House’s gallery. She, a printmaker herself, first proposed the idea to Warren, and with help from a former student, brought the artists together, contacting them through Instagram and inviting them out to Berkeley Springs.
“I think the appeal of it is that the idea behind self-publishing is that it’s the people’s voice, and you can use that as a way to communicate with audiences,” Wrbican said. “It’s really like people self-expressing their interests, their personal lives. It’s very open.”
Authors and artists like Stephanie McDevitt and Janene Scelza, who came out to Berkeley Springs for the fair from the Washington, D.C. area, each held a table, talking to visitors about their art. McDevitt and Scelza have been writing their series since 2018, going out to events like Saturday’s a few times a year.
“It’s been really nice,” McDevitt said. “Everybody here is really nice and we’ve got a good crowd of people coming here.”
McDevitt and Scelza sold their series of books, called “Girls on Film,” which feature themed books centering on movies from the 80s.
“We wanted a creative project to do together, and I knew zines and we both knew 80’s movies, and that’s how we got into it,” Scelza said.
Warren says the events like the Art Book Fair line up especially well with her vision for the Ice House, since it exhibits a form of art that members of the public might not see often.
“We try to bring art in all forms to people in the community,” Warren said. “We’re trying to test the boundaries of what really is art for some people.”
The Ice House hosts frequent events featuring local artists, including their weekly summer music series. More information about them and their upcoming events is available online at macicehouse.org.
