A3 Journal is devoted to celebrating creativity in black and brown
Andre D Wagner photographed by Ike Edeani
Azia Javier's newly launched A3 Magazine was born out of her desire to create a platform that can educate, empower and celebrate black and brown communities through the lens of creativity.
The opening publication The Dreamers Issue was released on Martin Luther King Day. The theme was inspired by his seminal speech. Brooklyn-based photographer Andre D Wagner's edition features features on filmmaker Jared Malik Royal, graphic artist Elise Swopes, interdisciplinary artist Malanda Jean-Claude, and more, all of which are also available online.
Known for his captivating black and white portraits, Wagner was chosen for the cover because of his "ability to capture open moments and draw our attention to the subtleties that we often miss in our daily lives," explained Javier. "Its history and perspective speak for what A3 Mag stands for and build community through clout."
The magazine brings together a variety of disciplines as part of Javier's vision to loosen the boundaries of creativity. “The goal is to look at creativity in a more fluid way, because I generally think that most beings are creative, whether they say so or not. The pressure to be creative makes it feel like you have to live something instead of just using your imagination and being satisfied with the result, ”she tells us.
“There are so many institutions and barriers to entry into the art world. I want this magazine to break this down to create a common place where black and brown artists of all shapes can be celebrated. There is so much talent in this world, we haven't even seen that much, and I'm glad that the magazine sheds light on the darkness. "
Work of filmmaker Jared Malik Royal
Original work by Malanda Jean-Claude and designed by Lewi Yonas
Between the presentation of the creative work and the photos that were taken for each interview (mostly by the friends of the interviewees), the magazine is full of impressive images. On the printed side, everything comes to life by designer Lewi Yonas, whom Javier approached after discovering his profile online.
Yonas saw the ambition of Javier's vision, but the project was ambitious for him too, with each phase providing a valuable learning curve. “I had some experience designing magazines for personal projects and have always loved collecting and experiencing prints, but I've never had a“ real ”experience designing print-ready spreads. It would be a monumental understatement to say that I learned a lot at every stage of this project, ”explains Yonas.
"Azia genuinely knew what she wanted and has a knack for giving clear directions and knowing what is and isn't dope in terms of culture and content," adds Yonas. In terms of design, it was crucial to strike a balance between unique and accessible – "a magazine that was easily accessible, not too haughty, and that had the freedom to move away from norms and completely" be itself ", in the absence of better conditions. "
Joshua Renfroe and Fred Sands IV, photographed by Silas Vassar III
The process of launching a magazine during the pandemic was understandably a challenge for Javier, who is also creative at Roc Nation / Tidal. However, she adapted to the circumstances and remarkably managed to build the magazine from scratch within a few months.
"I've accepted this as the new normal and embraced the connections you can virtually make. Everyone I worked with to create this piece of art that I met virtually or emailed. Though some went unanswered, everyone who was part of the first edition is now part of the A3 family, "she says." The pandemic only showed me what is possible as a creative person. If I can virtually create an entire magazine in five months, just imagine what I can do in a year, or when the pandemic is over. The possibilities are endless. "
Photography by Andre D Wagner
The Dreamers edition is out now. a3mag.com