REYNA EDWARDS
STAFF WRITER
11/21/2022
Alma College’s Pine River Anthology (PRA) is an award-winning juried annual publication that showcases creative works of fine art and writing. It is a collaborative product of the Art and English departments.
PRA is now accepting submissions for the 2023 publication. The theme for this year’s publication is “dichotomy” which means a division or contrast between two things that are opposed or entirely different. The deadline for submissions is Dec. 9 , 2022, at 11:59 pm.
“Pine River Anthology is a great way for emerging artists, writers and creatives to share their unique voices with a larger audience. Whether it serves as a line on your resume or is just an interesting artifact to show your friends and family, PRA is a great way to get exposure and contribute to the arts community,” said Lainie Ettema (’23), former President of PRA.
Currently, in its 70th year, PRA is a student-led organization. Their goal is to promote creativity on campus while uniting two creative mediums. They further seek to celebrate the artistic abilities of Alma College’s students. PRA encourages any student regardless of major to submit work.
PRA meets once a week to discuss themes for the publication, produce and distribute posters, create cover designs, select submissions and format the publication.
“If people are still interested in being part of the team, they are more than welcome to join. Just reach out to me, Wes, Lee or Von Wallmenich. It’s a great way to learn more about collaboration which is a crucial part of the design world. It is ideal for graphic design students, or anyone interested in design,” said Charlayne-Aye Olegario (’25), the Co-President of PRA.
PRA showcases fine art and short English works such as poetry, short stories and other short prose written by Alma College students in its annual publication.
When submitting photographs of artwork, the staff of PRA asks that the photos are evenly and well- lit, preferably with natural light and no less than 10 megapixels. The student submissions must have been created during the students’ college years. Also, for short story submissions, there is a 1000-word limit.
“If you want people to see your work, you have to be proactive in seeking out ways to be seen. The worst thing that could happen is your submission isn’t selected. It is scary to submit, yes; however, personally, knowing that I tried feels better than regret over not trying,” said Olegario.
“Getting your work published is so important because it places your ideas within a broader context that enables you to get feedback, recognition and praise. The publication is a lasting preserve of who you are and what you can do at this point in your life. Very few students have this opportunity, so take advantage of it,” said Ettema.
Last year, the theme of the publication was “Apophenia.” This is the tendency to perceive a connection or meaningful pattern between unrelated or random objects or ideas.
“Every artist or writer has a unique perspective—original thoughts, experiences and insights. Submitting work allows you to share that perspective with strangers and perhaps create a shift in how others see themselves or the world,” said Ettema.
Overall, “submitting to PRA is actually a great way to gain confidence in your art as you see how it resonates with certain individuals and contributes to a larger conversation within the publication,” said Ettema.
