By Kristin Lam 

Freddie Dasinger, 19, left Sacramento for college this past fall, but a print magazine he founded three years ago keeps him connected to his hometown community. 

Called Planet Zine, the magazine currently features the artwork of artists between ages 18 and 20. Dasinger said all of its members, or longtime contributors since the magazine was founded in 2022, happen to be LGBTQ. 

The original members were students at McClatchy High School, where Planet Zine started as a club. But now they are spread out in cities including Los Angeles and Portland, Oregon. Still, Dasinger — who lives in Arcata attending Cal Poly Humboldt — said the magazine is rooted in Sacramento. 

“Our goals for Planet Zine are focused around Sacramento,” Dasinger said. “I think it’s because it’s our hometown and also we all plan to return to Sacramento at some point. We want to make that community better and try to improve it in any way we can.” 

Planet Zine focuses on self-expression and allowing artists to publish their work, he said. Dasinger, who is transgender, added that the magazine is a place for art that’s true to who contributors are. Some goals of the magazine have changed over time, however, Dasinger said. 

After art program students began Planet Zine as a high school club, Dasinger said the group wanted to publish more political content. The club became an independent organization to have more editorial control and included information on protests and music shows. 

Today, leadership normally prints 100 copies of each issue and hopes to publish a zine every season, Dasinger said. The most recent love-themed issue was Planet Zine’s first publication in nearly a year. The pages feature all sorts of art media types, including collages, poetry and prints. 

Marz Schopen, 18, contributed three pages to the current issue and has created the most Planet Zine pages since it began by far, according to Dasinger. Schopen said the magazine was the first platform for their art as a high school student. 

“I think it really gives a sense of community motivation for us,” Schopen said. “We’re all starting out as artists or those who aren’t professional artists and are artists in their hobbies in the meantime.” 

Schopen now lives in Portland, Oregon, where they study illustration at the Pacific Northwest College of Art. The art styles Schopen has done for the magazine include digital, comics, collage and gouache. 

Beyond creation, they said having fun and bringing people together is at the core of Planet Zine. Over school breaks, Schopen looks forward to cooking get-togethers and hangouts at the park hosted by Planet Zine members. Schopen, who is nonbinary, also appreciates having a queer community in their age group through the magazine. 

“It really does give us a little space to explore the queerness of our community while also, in a more political sense, being able to mourn and come together with what’s going on,” Schopen said. “I think that’s really special.”

Chloe Metcalf, who coordinates the printing of Planet Zine, agreed. The queer 19-year-old said all of the members are interested in LGBTQ issues and want to contribute to the queer community through art and advocacy, she added.  

“We’re building this community that’s very accepting, that’s very safe,” Metcalf said. “I’m glad to be part of it. I feel like I can help our members and also just anyone who picks up a copy.” 

Metcalf lives in Sacramento and attends Sacramento City College. In addition to printing Planet Zine, she also helps with shipping the magazine and bringing it to local businesses. The magazine is available at the Sacramento LGBT Community Center, CLARA, Capital Books, Phono Select Records and DEMO Arts and Books. It can also be purchased online.

Digital versions of previous editions are available to view on Planet Zine’s website, but Metcalf said they encourage people to interact with the printed art. 

“Having it physical is just such a different experience because you can take your time with it,” Metcalf said. “I feel at least personally, I’d pay more attention to what’s physically in front of me.” 

Now, Planet Zine is looking ahead to its next issue and aims to publish it around mid-June. The issue’s theme will be the circus, Dasinger said. 

For the first time, Dasinger said Planet Zine is asking for the public to send submissions through its website. He added they’re still feeling things out, but submissions should be from people who are from Sacramento, are part of the local community or are trying to make the city a better place. 

“Planet Zine is so much more than just a magazine,” Dasinger said. “It’s my connection to Sacramento and I love Sacramento.” 

This story is part of the Solving Sacramento journalism collaborative. This story was funded by the City of Sacramento’s Arts and Creative Economy Journalism Grant to Solving Sacramento. Following our journalism code of ethics, the city had no editorial influence over this story. Our partners include California Groundbreakers, Capital Public Radio, Outword, Russian America Media, Sacramento Business Journal, Sacramento News & Review, Sacramento Observer and Univision 19. Sign up for our “Sac Art Pulse” newsletter here.