A new creative publication debuts

Hawaii Island has a new literary publication that encourages creative artists and writers to get involved. Frida, the brainchild of 27-year-old Waimea poet Eliza Cahill, is a project of the Waimea Artists’ Guild. Cahill, author of “Paper Life Vest: A Poet’s Collection” (2014), says that Frida is more than it appears to be.

“It’s an underground cultural movement that values its musicians, painters, writers, poets and actors,” Editor-in-chief Cahill says. “It is the spirit of Frida-culture that makes the magazine, not the other way around.”

Frida’s name comes from Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, a celebrated revolutionary artist who was married to painter Diego Rivera from 1929 until her death in 1954. The publication made its debut at an event in June at Waimea Coffee Company.

Cahill says she is not surprised by the level of talent on Hawaii Island.

“We have the privilege of being in the community with unusually creative and talented individuals,” she says. “I feel very lucky to be here on the Big Island and believe that we will one day be a mecca for the arts, forward thinking and sustainable living, as well as all round aloha.”

The second issue of Frida will be published at the end of Sept. and shared at a free public event featuring writers, artists and live music at Cahill’s home on Friday, Oct. 2.

In the meantime, Cahill encourages members of the community to submit articles and artwork for publication.

“Basically, we are creating an enlightened artistic culture by fundamentally changing the way that we think about or visualize art and writing,” she says. “The paradigm shift is one of transforming the idea that everything has to be glossy flawless and mainstream to the understanding that each individual has something valuable to share with the community that can better us all as a whole, regardless of immaculate presentation.”

To learn more about the event or publication call 530-588-3606 or email [email protected]. Frida is also on Twitter at Twitter.com/Fridamagazine and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/fridahawaii.