The Underground Foundation, or TUF, an ASU-based artists’ collective that hosts local music shows in the Tempe area, published the first issue of its art magazine on Friday.
The magazine features the poetry and visual art of ASU students, but the officers of TUF hope the publication will expand into short stories and other media in the future.
Hannah Whitaker is a freshman intermedia major and TUF member who helped get the first issue off the ground.
“This run has been a little bit rocky because it’s our first time,” she said. “Between us and others who’ve collaborated, we could handle it ourselves.”
The organization plans to distribute 40 to 50 copies of the 14-page first issue, and a new issue will be printed every month. Copies will be made available for sale at TUF shows.
The group was initially planning to charge $3 for the zines, but soon realized production was cheaper than expected. They now distribute them on a pay-what-you-want basis, Whitaker said.
Related: Q&A with The Underground Foundation (TUF)
Regan Russell, a junior interior design major at ASU, also worked on the magazine.
“Having the TUF name behind it helped it get done,” Russell said.
The influx of submissions from artists who were already familiar with TUF made it a lot easier than if the magazine had been created independently of the organization, Russell said.
All of the TUF officers this semester are new to their positions. Whitaker and Russell said that TUF is moving in a new direction toward greater inclusivity and an unrelenting focus on giving more art to the ASU and Tempe communities.
Nick Rennemann, a design studies sophomore who also worked on the magazine, agreed that TUF is going to try harder to fulfill its mission better than in the past.
“It should be a thing where everyone is welcomed to make music and art," Rennemann said. "That’s all it should be doing.”
Most TUF shows are hosted in houses around Tempe. The shows feature a diverse range of musical genres and performers. According to Rennemann, the magazine will be no different. They hope the zine will get more people involved in TUF and will send the message that the club is moving to include as many artists as it can.
Additionally, as a further step to include artists of more diverse media, TUF is now hosting poetry readings at their shows, the next of which will be on Mar. 15 at Spinelli's Pizzeria.
In the meantime, students can submit their work to be printed in the next magazine, or inquire about performing at shows, via email at theundergroundfoundation@gmail.com.
The magazine is accepting poetry, short stories and most kinds of visual art from anyone, not just ASU students.
Russell said of the publication's goal, "We just want to get it out there: We’re all fresh. We’re new."
Correction: Due to a reporting error, a previous version of this story stated that Hannah Whitaker was a TUF officer. She is a TUF member who is working on the zine. A previous version also stated that the zines cost $3. TUF is now distributing them on a pay-what-you-want basis. This article has been updated to reflect these changes.
Reach the reporter at parkermshea97@gmail.com or follow @laconicshamanic on Twitter.
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