EQUINOX • DAHA

A zine inspired by spring in Argentina.

Thanks to a creative research fund granted to me by the NYU Department of Media Culture and Communications, I was able to come up with a wild idea. In August 2022 the idea for this literary and art journal came to me as I was prepping for my journey below the equator. The magazine was born from a deep desperation to house all the creative energy that floats around young minds. Within the first week of orientation in Buenos Aires, I saw brilliant creatives I knew I needed to work with. NYU is a tight-knit fabric of every kind of artist–DAHA was the encouragement we all just needed to share the passions we foster in private. At the end of the day, I know that art is what changes the world. Beyond the foundational powers of math and society and politics, art is what gives this world meaning. I want to be surrounded by the people that love giving life meaning. During fall 2022 in Buenos Aires, DAHA was a home I wanted to build for these people.

With the help of every single student in the program, this first issue was created.

This is just a brief glimpse but take a closer look please!

EQUINOX is available online at this link!

Project Gallery

A photo of two people looking away from the camera into tall wild grass. Text in a bold font reads Equinox. In a lighter font at the bottom of the photo are the words DAHA Magazine.

A photo of a train coming into its platform. The sky is blue and the colors of the image are soft. Text on the left side of the image reads: Welcome bienvenidos. Text on the right side reads: this is DAHA magazine as in de adentro hacía afuera as in from the inside out.

a green background texturized by scribbles and colors blending together. There is a stylized portrait of me with an orange light shining on my skin. The letter reads: Reader,
As each of these pages formed from blurs in my mind into virtual visuals, all I could clearly see was pure unadulterated talent. You are about to witness the magical experience created by 20 students studying at New York University’s Buenos Aires campus.
This is DAHA Magazine and I am Stephanie Farmer the founder and editor-in-chief! Three months ago the idea for this literary and art journal came to me as I was prepping for my journey below the equator. The magazine was birthed from a deep desperation to house all the creative energy that floats around our young minds. NYU is a tight-knit fabric of every kind of artist–I knew we all just need the encouragement to finally share all of the passions we nurture in private.
Our meaning is written into our title, which, as earlier stated, stands for De Adentro Hacía Afuera. In its name, DAHA is grounded in its South American home; however, for our English readers, this translates to from the inside out. The goal of the zine is to foster a strong community both inside NYUBA and beyond. I believe the easiest link between the two to nourish is that born from art. If you ask any of the fifty students here, they will tell you that the experience hasn’t been flawless. But in art and writing and creativity we stay connected and we realize that we are not alone. We are not alone in our struggles but also in our joys. And in art, we are connected to our host city. Buenos Aires is a metropolis of enormous vibrant murals and iconic raw literature. These expressions of beauty reflect us foreigners; we can see ourselves and feel at home.
EQUINOX is our first-ever issue! After a month of collecting articles and weeks of fighting with Adobe InDesign, the magazine is finally done. I couldn't be prouder. Our theme is our visionary way of representing the second spring season we are experiencing. As most of us study in New York City, this is our first chance to dive into the southern hemisphere and experience a repetition of a season. Springtime is essential in the cycle of nature and the flow of humanity. Inspired by Buenos Aires’ inconsistent weather and blossoming trees, we decided to use this issue to highlight the first day of this strange season and speak about our arrival in this country.
I’m so proud of each creative who bared a bit of their soul to fulfill this vision I have. DAHA is here for people to tell their stories and find a home for their creativity. That doesn’t stop here. In one month, another issue will come together. In my dreams, DAHA lives on beyond this semester. In my dreams, this magazine becomes more than just a little project but rather a fuel for artistic fires.
Please enjoy this issue we worked incredibly hard on and stay tuned for all of the magic being formed on the horizon.
Thank you,
Stephanie Farmer

Three boys lean back in a bench like the cool kids they are. They all wear white and green with black sunglasses. They are framed by paintbrush like text that reads Afuera.

A grid of dynamic and fun student portraits all in various poses and expression. They all seem happy to be there.

The left is an image of Sebastian and Ajani sitting in a small grass patch amidst taller grass and trees. The look wistfully in the same direction. On the right Ben stands in the same spot reaching out his right hand as if mid dance more. The text of the poem wraps around his body. It reads:
Long last we reach the summer’s end and the next one starts anew.
at Home the petals start to wilt Outside they’re in full bloom.
It all seems so Distant now,
what was just impending...
it’s something new and maybe better just not the Fall I’d been expecting
I pass by the botanical gardens
I remember the day exactly
it felt like time had gone reverse
A reminder
of my own
temporality
Still, reality is warped to me
down in this hemisphere
and the unknown feels more Foreign So now that Spring is here.
I catch my reflection outside Havana I walk down Santa Fe alone
this street I encountered a month ago is starting to feel like my Home
the friends I’ve made, the people I’ve met have opened up my mind
I’m starting to feel comfortable
but adjusting still takes Time.
this menial gap in time zones
has honestly thrown me off.
that single hour feels much worse because it’s almost the same, only it’s Not...
It’s a fresh start in some ways,
in others, nothing’s changed. Wherever you go is where you are, you are more than where you stay.
navigating this new life
lost on the bus and in my head trying to adapt each day,
but letting go instead.

Text at the top of the screen reads @DAHAZINENYU in capital letter. Five people in cohesive outfits look seriously at the camera. Two stand, three sit.