LEXINGTON, Ky. — The University of Kentucky will host its 13th annual Halftone Zine Fest on Saturday, May 16, offering a free, public celebration of independently produced magazines, comics and printed art in various forms. The festival, held from noon to 5 p.m. at the School of Art & Visual Studies at 236 Bolivar Street, will feature vendors, interactive discussions and a collaborative art project.

"The festival, a UK student initiative under the guidance of SA/VS faculty member David Wischer, celebrates zines, comics and printed art in a variety of forms," according to the University of Kentucky News. "The atmosphere is open for individuals to meet, interact and learn from each other about self-publishing."

The event will feature a pop-up installation by Muse Collective that invites attendees to bring a small object — artwork, photographs, handwritten letters, recipes, found objects, or any item that resists definition — to be displayed on a clothesline. Throughout the day, pieces will be added, rearranged and exchanged, creating what organizers describe as "a collective expression shaped in real time."

At 2 p.m., renowned comics educators Josh Bayer and Hyena Hell will participate in a panel discussion titled "Two-Headed Beast: A BayerHell Panel," discussing their artistic practices and teaching approaches. The panel will be moderated by J.T. Dockery, a Gray Hawk-based artist known for his "DESPAIR" comics series and his collaboration with Kentucky writer Ed McClanahan on "Juanita & the Frog Prince."

The Halftone Zine Fest, formerly known as the Ephemera Festival and the Kentucky Fried Zine Fest, celebrates Lexington's thriving DIY publishing culture and independent creative community. The free, all-ages event welcomes both vendors and visitors interested in self-publishing, underground comics and alternative art forms.

For more information, visit halftonezinefest.org.