An Inside Look at POPOUT’s 4TH COLLECTOR’S PRINT EDITION RELEASE CELEBRATION
On Thursday, June 27th, Yälla Store in the 10ème arrondissement of Paris opened its doors to our community to celebrate the release of POPOUT zine’s 4th annual collector’s print edition, entitled TRIBE: The Divine Thread that Connects Cultures & Communities. This gathering marked an important milestone in POPOUT’s mission to promote the arts, nurture creative minds, and facilitate collaboration & connection.
The collector’s print edition, TRIBE, features work from 15 diverse artists, with a cover illustrated by Nigerian-American multidisciplinary artist Uzo Ngwe. The theme explores the intricate connections that bind individuals together, reflecting the zine’s dedication to fostering a sense of community. The event, like POPOUT itself, was a confluence of art, culture, and heartfelt community connection. The space, filled with joy, mutual respect—and a fair amount of Parisian Summer heat—brought together artists, supporters, and collaborators, creating a vibrant and inspiring atmosphere.
The evening was further enlivened by a performance from the Paris-based Jamaican artist Kodi-Blaine (@kodi_blaine on Instagram), whose music set the tone for an evening dedicated to celebrating our shared cultural and artistic heritage.
At the event I had the opportunity to sit down with POPOUT’s Editor-in-Chief, Aalyiah Heath, whose personal insights added significant depth to the theme of the 4th collector’s edition. “For me, tribe is not a concept, it’s who I am. It’s my family and the people I respect, the people I love,” Aalyiah shared. This perspective was echoed throughout the evening, as attendees were invited to reflect on their own experiences of community and belonging (see these community interviews at the @popoutzine Instagram page).
Aalyiah further elaborated on the meaning behind the TRIBE issue, “We’re born into a family, and then we go off into our different lives, and then we build a community. And I call that my chosen family, and that’s why I’m grateful for this day.” Her words underscored the profound impact and necessity of the chosen communities that sustain us beyond our biological ties, especially significant for Aalyiah—and much of the POPOUT community—who are immigrants living great distances away from their home countries.
In her editor’s letter, Aalyiah expands on this idea: “We must rely on our relationships with others to thrive in our personal journeys, like the branches of a tree rely on the strength of its roots to flourish.” She continues, “We must have patience to build meaningful relationships with each other. We cannot let our roots dry out; we must water and replenish them by loving on our communities through support, acknowledgment and even accountability.”
The notion of chosen communities shaping our identities was another theme Aalyiah explored in our conversation. “You know how they say, you look to your left, you look to your right, the people surrounding you reflect who you are. They’re like mirrors. Your chosen family reflects you, because it’s like a mirror holding up to you who you are and who you choose to be. So, for me, that’s how the individuals in our life affect us. It’s important that we’re surrounded in good company.”
Aalyiah also expressed profound gratitude for her community. “I thank my tribe for loving me through my evolution. No matter how much I’ve changed, my tribe has stuck with me. Like, I’m a different person every day I wake up. Not every day, but every, like, three weeks, I’m evolving into a better person or sometimes maybe even a worse person. But I’m grateful for my tribe.”
Indeed, this gratitude is further reflected in her editor’s letter, where Aalyiah emphasizes, “This edition serves as a gentle reminder that we are not alone in this world. We are interconnected and dependent on one another for support and growth. It encourages us to see the beauty in our relationships with others and to nurture those connections with love and care.”
The release party exemplified these sentiments, serving to celebrate not just POPOUT’s 4th collector’s edition, but also the meaningful connections that shape our community and personal lived experiences more broadly. Aalyiah noted, “Tribe is more than just a concept. It’s who we are, it’s what we do, and it’s who we associate ourselves with, even through the tough conversations, even through the accountability, even through the beautiful moments, even through the partying moments, that’s what it’s all about.”
By honoring our connections with others, we find strength, love, and inspiration to overcome obstacles with grace and resilience. The evening was a powerful reminder of the mission at POPOUT: to celebrate the power of creativity and to empower our global community of artists. As we look forward, we remain committed to nurturing these connections and promoting the arts in all their diverse and beautiful forms.
POPOUT’s 2024 Collector’s Print TRIBE - The Divine Thread that connects Cultures & Communities, is now available for purchase.
Written by Chris Turner