New independent magazine Summerhouse seeks crowdfunding to highlight DC’s underground arts and culture
Often caricatured as a political quagmire or a career pit stop for transient professionals, the District rarely receives the credit it deserves for its thriving creative life and enduring connection to DIY movements. Summerhouse, a new independent digital magazine developed by freelance journalist Michelle Delgado, wants to correct this oversight by cultivating and celebrating the city’s underground arts and culture.
Delgado, a resident of Alexandria, Virginia, says the local culture of independent publishing was a significant factor in her decision to start Summerhouse. Delgado, who lived in Southwest DC for three years after graduating from the University of Virginia, first became aware of DC’s thriving indie publishing scene when she covered DC Zine Fest in late 2016 for a CityLab article. As a longtime collector of zines — homemade magazines with a small distribution, often created on copy machines — Delgado was delighted to find a committed community of zinesters in the District.
“Previously, I’d collected zines whenever I visited the West Coast,” Delgado explains. “It’s easy to find zines in bookstores and newsstands out there. Here in DC, we’re fortunate to have a fantastic community of zinesters, but you kind of have to know what events to attend and where to find their work.” (Delgado recommends checking out your neighborhood record store or library. Local comics shops like Fantom Comics also carry zines by artists in the DMV.)
Delgado’s CityLab reporting not only furthered her passion for independent publishing but also provided a network of potential collaborators. Many of the contacts she met from her story on DC Zinefest are now contributing to Summerhouse. “It’s really come full circle,” she says.
DC Zine Fest, which celebrated its ninth anniversary this summer, and the DC Art Book Fair, which notched its third year last month, have witnessed a substantial rise in attendance in recent years, crediting a consistent investment in DIY art that has persisted in the city since the proliferation of punk. The hometown of notable bands such as Fugazi, DC was also the birthplace of the Riot Grrrl movement, which was named after a punk zine of the same title. The DC Public Library’s DC Punk Archive boasts an impressive collection of zines that showcase the significant role self-published work played in connecting and developing the punk community.
Today, zine culture has expanded and continues to provide a voice to niche communities and underrepresented stories. Even the Library of Congress has acknowledged the importance of self-published works, adding to its large collection of independent comics through annual contributions from Small Press Expo (SPX), the largest indie comics convention in the United States. The annual convention is hosted just outside the District at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center near the White Flint Metro station.
Summerhouse already has more than 20 committed contributors who have provided writing, illustrations and comics to tell diverse stories about DC’s underground arts and culture. Along with Delgado, copy editor Kristen Herhold, lead art designer Josh Kramer and lead digital designer Gabriela Riccardi comprise the core team.
The inaugural issue will include features on local R&B duo BOOMscat, queer clothing swaps in the city, DC’s tarot scene and more. With a newsletter already in place, Summerhouse partnered this year with 730DC — another local and civically engaged newsletter — to develop the first issue of its digital magazine.
However, the magazine will not see the light of day unless its Kickstarter campaign reaches its $7,500 fundraising goal to compensate all contributors and cover startup costs for the project. With 2 1/2 days remaining until the campaign’s deadline (12:08 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 31), fundraising stands at $6,596 with 164 backers as of midday Wednesday. Reward tiers for the magazine include art prints, DC-themed stickers and an exclusive Summerhouse zine, with 30 pages devoted to depicting summer in the District through articles, illustrations and comics.
“DC has a reputation for being a city people leave, or a place where everyone is obsessed with their job,” Delgado explains in a press release. “We’re showcasing a different side of the District, specifically celebrating spaces where creativity is flourishing and niche communities are thriving.” Summerhouse promises to be an engaging resource for those who want to deep-dive into DC’s DIY art scene, or just want to explore a vibrant side of the District.
For more in-depth information on the contributors and editorial team of Summerhouse, visit the publication’s Kickstarter page.
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