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| A postcard from Nolan Dutton's "National Parks" which is included in the Owl 2005 edition. |
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If you're searching for an outlet to share your creativity, consider submitting your artistic endeavors to
The OWL, Ohio Wesleyan's literary magazine.
Robert Olmstead, assistant professor of English and advisor to The OWL, emphasizes that the magazine is inclusive. "Anyone can make a submission," he says. "Students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends-we invite everyone to submit." According to The OWL's statement, "If it can be reproduced, folded to size and made relatively flat, then submissions might include charts, maps, spreadsheets, prints, drawings, designs, tiles, graphic novels, and pop-up books."
"Like Ohio Wesleyan, the possibilities for The OWL are endless," smiles Olmstead. "Submissions will only be limited by imagination or energy."
The first literary magazine at Ohio Wesleyan, The Mirror, was established in the 1920s. It was followed by the debut of The OWL in 1930. The current OWL logo was created by Kate Brideau '03. For decades, the publication has provided a creative outlet, which Olmstead thinks is important, especially for young artists.
"Young artists often work in secret," Olmstead says. "They are sometimes apologetic and discouraged about their work. Every kid knows what it's like to have his or her diary read or to have letters intercepted, and the lesson they often learn is 'don't write down these things.' I think in spite of what we say, we don't always encourage young artists in the U.S."
And readers of The OWL are just as important as those who may submit work. "I want people to look at The OWL and see something substantial and not something disposable," Olmstead says. "I want it to be something that people look forward to."
Struck by these thoughts, Olmstead says he challenged The OWL staff when he first became the advisor in 2003. "I didn't care what the magazine looked like, but I wanted it to be uniform so that it reclaimed space on a book shelf." And so evolved The OWL that we recognize today-a bound collection of pamphlets containing faculty essays, graphic novels, interviews, fiction, poetry, travel essays, nonfiction, music, photographic essays, essays on 19th century works, and anything else the mind can imagine.
"I would really like to receive something from the sciences," Olmstead says. "I personally enjoy maps, charts, and graphs. Or maybe someday you'll open The OWL to find an artifact or a sculpture. The book is beguiling-a portmanteau-it's like opening a little Christmas present where there's something for everyone."
And some people will enjoy the simple pleasure of holding an actual book. "What we've done with The OWL is really quite old-fashioned," Olmstead says. "We're connecting people back to the book, and The OWL is heavy in the hand. It has a tactile quality." But Olmstead is also quick to note the changes that have been made to The OWL aren't necessarily improvements. "They're just changes," he says. "And in a few more years, we may have more changes. In no way do I want to discount previous issues of The OWL."
Though The OWL naturally has artistic and literary purposes, it serves a practical function as well. "Several offices on campus such as admission or development, like to have The OWL on hand," Olmstead says. "They serve a practical purpose for people whose passion is to promote the University. They can open The OWL and say to people 'This is OWU.'"
All are invited to an OWL party on Oct. 27 at 7:30 p.m. at the Mean Bean. The next regular OWL meeting is on Oct. 31 at 4 p.m. in Sturges 008.
- Ericka Kurtz
