Students, instructors, families and friends all gathered for the “Folio” gallery and multimedia event last Thursday at the Markosian Library on the Taylorsville Redwood Campus. On display were poetry, short stories, essays, multimedia productions and art slide shows of students’ submissions from this semester’s publication titled “Shiver & Sigh.”
“Students should know that “Folio” belongs to them,” said Lisa Bickmore, the faculty advisor of the publication. “Show us your art, SLCC students. Show us your literature. Show us your short multimedia productions.”
Students did indeed show their work and publications during this event. It was an opportunity for most of them to showcase what they have been involved in throughout the year. Students shared their talents and creativity by using visual mediums such as film, photography, fine arts, and sculptures as well as the written forms of poetry, short stories, essays, non-fiction and even academic writings.
“I never thought I was very good at writing, but I thought, ‘Why not submit something to “Folio,’” said Joshua Hammond, SLCC student and a contributing writer. “It made me really proud to have my story published on the website and to take pride in my writing. It’s a great opportunity for students to show their poems and essays. It encourages them to be open and to be out there with their art and writings and to be their best.”
Many of the students were able to recite all or selected parts of their works in front of the audience. Some students recited poems about love, death and God. Others read excerpts from their short stories and essays on subjects such as first kisses, coming to grips with being a bastard and beloved pets. One person even performed his work with a beat-like slam poetry reading.
In between the readings, there were multimedia presentations and a slide show in the background featured students’ artwork and photography.
Multimedia artwork is an up-and-coming trend which incorporates technology and the arts. Its use of the internet, Flash, YouTube along with texts and the arts makes it into something different for artists and viewers to explore.
“We’ve had a lot of really creative people submit,” said Kristy Sabey, design editor for “Folio.” “It’s mostly students and their excitement to be involved that’s motivating. When you see people who are excited to submit their work and are excited to share what they have and are passionate about it, that’s what the entire thing is about. That’s why people enjoy looking at the magazine and website because you get the excitement that comes from their work. People are creative in general, and if they have something they feel passionate about that they want to share, they should be involved.”
“Folio” is in its thirteenth year of publishing students’ work. Having more students involved in the creative process and on staff has allowed for more works to be published in print and on the website. “Folio” has seen a growth in the number of student submissions and acceptances and is looking for submissions and staff for the “Folio” team for next semester.
“Interested students can be a part of the ‘Folio’ staff and participate in the encouraging of student submissions and the review and decision making process that goes into making the publication,” said Jason McFarland, “Folio’s” literary editor. “They can also be involved in the publication by looking for the calls for submission that we will be putting out typically in the first couple of weeks of the semester, then submit their work to the email address we have which is folioslcc@gmail.com.”
“Since 1999 “Folio,” Salt Lake Community College’s literary and visual art zine has drawn together SLCC’s emerging talents to have a platform for being heard,” “Folio’s” mission statement reads. “We provide the venue for writers and artists to showcase their best.”
“Folio” began as a printed book and has evolved to incorporating digital media into a collaborated masterpiece.
Students can pick up their free copy of “Folio” outside of the Student Writing Center in the Administration Building at the Taylorsville Redwood Campus.
Interested students can visit www.folioslcc.org to view student submissions online.
