When Corinne Avganim Wilk started creating the ALAMEDUH zine in May 2025, she had just been laid off and was seeking an outlet for creativity. Losing her job to AI had given her an itch to return to the analog form and a desire to cultivate community. “There is something unmatchable in human-made creation,” Avganim Wilk said.
Six months later, on Thursday, November 6, Avganim Wilk launched ALAMEDUH zine—a 22-page print magazine full of interviews and thoughts on Alameda art and culture—at an event hosted by Two Mary’s Mercantile. Some 500 attendees gathered at Grand Marina under the full moon to receive free copies of the zine, mingle, dance, shop, and eat local food.
“The launch party was a showcase of Alameda talent, Alameda arts and culture, and people who want to gather and have a good time,” Avganim Wilk said. Having lived in the Bay Area for two decades and Alameda the last few years, the absence of a print outlet devoted to Alameda arts and culture quickly became apparent to her.
“I wanted something that was purely dedicated to the beautiful side of the island, the community that lives here, and I couldn’t find that,” she said.
Avganim Wilk had wanted to create a zine since she was a teenager, and as a branding professional, had a keen eye for design. She started with the cover template and drew inspiration from the natural landscape of Alameda—sand, water, sky, and clouds—“I wanted to keep it simple and classic but current.” After the idea was sparked, the rest just “flowed out,” Avganim Wilk said. She fostered connections with artists through Instagram and in person, and interviewed two people for the first edition of the zine—visual artist Kalleb Arefaine and Pretty Frankenstein lead singer Grey Starr. Along with those interviews, the zine contains a feature on 1400 Bar and Grill, lists of accessories and art available at Alameda storefronts, and an “Open Mic” poetry piece by Polly Conway.
A thousand copies of the zine were printed and funded by Alameda real estate agent Audrey dePinna, who connected with Avganim Wilk through Instagram.
“She had such a passion and love for the Alameda community, and wanted to do something that could be a gift,” dePinna said. “So when she said she was looking for a sponsor, I said I’d love to help, and gave her my presence, encouragement, and money.”
Half of the initial print copies were distributed at the party, with the remainder placed at small businesses throughout Alameda. Avganim Wilk said she is seeking external funding for the next iteration of the zine and hopes the City or a donor will be able to stop in. She is also selling “Duh!” branded hats at Two Mary’s Mercantile, with funds supporting the zine.
“I would love to do a larger zine annually, and have that party annually,” she said. “To keep growing this community would be my goal, and I think that has to happen through a physical print edition and a meet-up.”
The recent launch party hosted a bevy of vendors. Coven of Stitches, Dunce Skull Art, Gems by TSG, Island Bait and Tackle, Magic Spell, Marigold Pottery, Modern Mouse, Rocket Reuse, Saffron Studio, The Sky Speaks to You, and Two Birds from Alameda all sold goods at the event. Food was available from Saltbreaker, Calafia Taqueria, and Treats by Mrs. T.
“There was something really nice about seeing everyone together after hours,” Avganim Wilk said. “I hadn’t seen the community gather like that until the party.”
Avganim Wilk said some highlights of the launch party were vendors selling out of goods, seeing both kids and adults dance to music from The Prototype and All Ears DJ, and having personal interactions regarding the zine.
“This mom and her daughter came up to me, the girl must’ve been eight years old, and she said she wants to make a zine. She asked for my autograph and a picture with me and I said, ‘If you want to make a zine I will help you do anything,’” Avganim Wilk recalled. “It was a beautiful, surreal experience. That will stay with me my whole life.”
The strong community response indicates a large appetite from Alamedans for printed arts and culture media, Avganim Wilk said. “People want this, they want to read it, they want to touch it, they want to know what’s going on in their community,” she said.
Sindhu Ananthavel is a contributing writer to the Alameda Post. Contact her via [email protected]. Her writing is collected at AlamedaPost.com/Sindhu-Ananthavel.
