Something to Say Magazine: Mapping Our Tethered Futures

By Taoheed Bayo and Mark Odumuyiwa

Walker Publishing Filed to Learning · Part of The Boundaryless Museum

Photograph of Taoheed Bayo by Mark Odumuyiwa on the cover of Something to Say magazine, 2024. Courtesy the artists.

Something to Say was born from a place of passion and the earnest belief that every voice, no matter where it originates, deserves to be heard. As a young artist hailing from a city that often elicited puzzled expressions or feigned nods, I (Mark Odumuyiwa) felt a deep desire to challenge this narrative. Coming from a smaller city should never be a barrier to having a voice that matters.

When I set out on this journey to create Something to Say, the idea was clear: To provide a platform for visual and nonvisual artists from underrepresented communities worldwide, starting with the vibrant and diverse landscape of the Twin Cities of Minnesota. To ensure that the voices spoke in their purest forms, we provided no creative briefs or constraints, molding the idea of a boundaryless museum. This project was challenging, but it was a challenge born out of a desire for excellence—not just for myself, but for the talented individuals whose works grace these pages.

During the creation of this project, I collaborated with my good friend and longtime creative partner, Taoheed Bayo, who contributed to the curation, edition, and art direction of this issue and was also its cover muse.

With both of us deeply rooted members of Minneapolis’s creative scene for some time, the process of putting this issue together was seamless, fueled by our shared appreciation for the city’s diverse artistic expressions. Our journey led us to remarkable encounters, such as a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the world of ceramic art with Addis Alemu. Enriching conversations with artists like Shaina McCoy, Malanda Jean-Claude, Akama Paul, and others became the cornerstone of this project. Alongside Rhianna Hajduch, we connected with local talents such as Obi Original, Miloe, Zak Khan, Moise, Huhroon, EssJay TheAfrocentricRatchet, Ricki Monique, and Papa Mbye, delving into discussions about the current state of the Minneapolis music scene and exploring the nuances of various genres.

Through these dialogues, we gained insights into the artists’ unique approaches and the foundations of their creative processes, a relationship-based economy that has been integral to their collaborative endeavors.

This magazine, at its essence, is a heartfelt tribute to the city and community that have always provided us a platform and space to be creative. It’s a celebration of the city’s spirit, its artists, and their stories. It’s an acknowledgment of the support and inspiration that have fueled not only our artistic journeys, but the journeys of countless others. We felt it was important for people outside the city to get an honest glimpse into this moment. We wanted to highlight a few people actively working, their work in progress, and some places holding space for it all. All these environments encourage closeness and conversation between people, their experiences, ideas, and identities. As artist Ricki Monique expressed, one piece of work cannot exist without the other, an ecosystem resting on the principles of reciprocity. 

An ongoing trade of stories and lived experiences—old and new understandings, flavors foods, and skills, and multidimensional realities—exists in the Minneapolis art scene. This collision of influences, sense of curiosity, and feeling of connection is what makes the art here so individual, unparalleled, and singular. As we prepare to release this issue, we were excited to illuminate the symbiotic relationships that make our community’s arts scene thrive. Something to Say is not just a magazine; it’s a celebration of creativity, collaboration, and the profound impact art has on our lives.

Concept Development and Curation

In our curation and selection of works, we questioned ourselves on what it meant to amplify voices, whose voices we wanted to tune up, and why. In answering, we realized that there are few platforms and avenues that give room for Black and Brown creatives to showcase their work and reach a new audience. We also noticed that women are disproportionately underrepresented when it comes to the arts so, intentionally, we set out to select contributors who were Black but give equal opportunity for women to have their voices heard and work illuminated. Reaching these artists was a shared task between us; we connected via emails, phone calls, in-person coffee meetups, and studio visits.

In our proposal and conversational pitch to the artists, we realized they’ve all been waiting for an opportunity like the one we presented. That really struck a chord in us as it further emphasized the importance of the work we were doing. When we faced challenges throughout the collection of works, that served as a reminder and motivation for us to spur ahead. 

The collection of work processes served as a platform for dialogue as it sparked thought-provoking conversations with the artists that brought insight into their creative processes. We spoke about how Minneapolis has served as a genesis for us all as artists and the backdrop it continues to be for our work.

In a conversation among editor Taoheed Bayo and Minneapolis-based artists Paul Akama and Malanda Jean-Claude, they spoke about how our community expands our visions and the importance of collaboration in pursuing our collective desires. We discussed how Minneapolis has served as a place where their art has room to breathe and grow. Minneapolis, they proclaimed, is fertile grounds, a place to plant seeds of ideas and watch them grow; this view has allowed us all to create art from a place of abundance, working with the resources available to tell our stories, Minneapolis, a grounding force, continues to serve as the springboard for artists to share our stories with the world. In our conversation, we coined the phrase “Minneapolis is the place of birth for our art,” a shared umbilical cord that is safe, gentle, and nurturing as a mother.

Design, Editing, and Proofreading

For the design of Something to Say, we wanted every page to feel fresh, invigorating, and dynamic. It was important to showcase the work of these artists in a way that not only intrigued viewers, but also instilled a sense of pride in the artists themselves.

Our journey began with extensive research, diving into both current and past magazines that inspired us. We spent four to five months visiting libraries and bookstores across various cities, gathering references and sparking ideas.

Once we had a clear vision, we teamed up with Ray Smith, a Minneapolis-based graphic designer and friend, to bring the magazine to life. Over the course of about three months, we held multiple meetings and video calls, meticulously reviewing and refining the design and text of each page.

We had conviction in our vision of Minneapolis, but intuitively knew this idea had to have enough room to be reworked and expanded. We collaborated with local brands and stores to create custom print ads, which we spread throughout the magazine to highlight the incredible work they do to keep the city vibrant.

When the pages felt fully realized, we shifted focus to organizing the magazine’s sections. Our goal was to keep readers engaged by ensuring a thoughtful flow and avoiding repetition of themes or topics.

Finally, we ordered sample prints to test the quality and experience the magazine, as any reader would. This step also allowed us to proofread the text and make any final adjustments before bringing our vision to fruition.

Printing, Book Launch Events, and Looking Ahead

For the first print run of this issue, we printed 50 copies; a second print run of another 25 copies followed. Since it was published in March 2024, the magazine has been launched in Minneapolis and in Brooklyn, New York. The launch event in the Twin Cities was a gathering of beautiful and buzzing spirits. We shared laughs, tears of joy, and fulfillment. It felt rewarding to be an orchestrator of this experience.

The feedback we received from colleagues and contributors was nothing short of inspiring. As we looked back at the book launch events and from our conversation with contributors, we sensed a feeling of excitement and optimism for the future with the magazine and the art scene in the city. A few Minneapolis institutions reached out to us, namely the Walker Library and HAIR + NAILS Gallery, in efforts to archive the magazine.

For both of us, our creations bring us into deeper inquiry: How can we embrace our differences and build a more pleasurable humanity? Ultimately, our curiosity transforms into courage that inspires resistance within the existing paradigms and patterns in which we find ourselves.

These questions orient our work, guiding us as we jump into the future void. Our intention is to continue to offer a platform to rising artists and ideas, shaping an ethos of care, consideration, and reciprocity.▪︎