Almost 400 submissions were received, and after headaches, some heartache and a lot of tough decisions, the 26th edition of Whitman’s premier literary magazine is finally ready for release.
Only days before the April 19 release of their magazine, blue moon co-editors-in-chief Chelsea Kern and Bo Erickson, both senior English majors, are shining with a sleepy but proud glow as they sit down to chat. The sense of pride is much deserved. The editors and their team have spent the last few months whittling down their bountiful submissions to around a fifth of Whitman’s best prose, poetry, photography, art and digital media for publication. Of course, both ladies have their favorites.
Bo Erickson: I’m always excited about the prose; maybe that’s my English major talking (laughs). I really like “Karl Marx: the Band: the Movie” by [senior] Matt Raymond… That’s a fun one: It’s absurd and awesome.
Chelsea Kern: I’m really excited about our cover. It’s a film photograph called “Lycidas” by [sophomore] Josh Tacke. It’s really interesting, probably the edgiest cover we’ve done in a while.
Erickson: The staff probably debated that one for an hour. People had some really strong opinions, which is wonderful. It was really a question of, how do we want to represent ourselves? But it was a great choice, and the title is actually from a Milton poem, so it fits well.
In addition to debating and designing, they’ve been hard at work planning an exciting release party, featuring visiting band Beat Connection, and organizing the first ever blue moon exhibit for the Stevens Gallery.
Kern: We’ll have some of the original pieces up … before the performance, and they’ll stay up for a month or so afterwards. We’re even trying to get some of the poetry written out by the authors for display.
Along with poems and paintings, attendees should keep an eye out for the blue moon publication footage also being streamed for the gallery. Sped up, the footage will give would-be participants an idea of the work that goes into the magazine.
Erickson: We’re doing a little bit more than the streamers and balloons we had last year. We’re trying to make it more of an event.
Along with fun, the magazine has also recently been under fire from some students, currently upset with Associated Students of Whitman College (ASWC) budget cuts to clubs. While the literary publication has escaped primarily unscathed, others have not been so lucky. The co-chiefs, however, are unshaken.
Erickson: Community is an overused word, but that’s what we are creating here. There have been some negative posts on Whitman Encounters, but I really think those people are a minority. We’re very conscious of where our money goes, and we really use all of it. An issue of blue moon goes out to every potential student, and the issues always disappear off the stands. I do think we’re important to and for the school.
Kern: This is one of the few opportunities that many student writers and artists have to see their work in print. For an amateur artist, to see their stuff in a professional format, that’s huge. It’s something exciting and important.
blue moon Vol. 26 will be released on Friday, April 19 with the Gallery opening at 7:30 p.m., followed by the Beat Connection Coffeehouse performance at 8 p.m. Cake and issues of the publication will be available to all attendees.
