By Hailey MacDonald
For the past 52 years, the Review of Art and Literature has showcased the hard work and talents of the University community through an art and literary magazine. Throughout the year, the student-run organization compiles original art submissions from students, staff, faculty, and alumni to create the magazine. This year’s Review of Art and Literature will be available for students beginning on Thursday, April 14 at 12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m at the annual Release Party.
The Review staff, consisting of undergraduate students with a variety of different majors and backgrounds, have created this year’s book to coincide with a particular theme: growth. The pages have been designed to compliment the work itself as well as the overall aesthetic of the book.
Faith Edwards, the Editor in Chief of the Review of Art and Literature for the second consecutive year, has worked hard to lead the club to success and keep us motivated and on track to create a book we are all proud of. This will be her final year as the Editor of the Review, but her legacy will continue on as she has been instrumental to the continued growth and achievements of the club over the years.
The Review of Art and Literature has three graduating seniors this year who have been dedicated to the book since 2018. Charlotte Arsenault, a senior Forensic Biology major, has been involved in the club since the fall of her freshman year. Arsenault was the club’s general member of the year for the past two years in a row, and we consider her to be an honorary executive board member due to her dedication throughout the years. She has proven to be one of the club’s strongest members, and we are so lucky for Charlotte’s love of the arts and our club.
Alex Renzetti, a senior Mechanical Engineering major, has been involved in the club since her freshman year as well. Alex became the Treasurer of the Review in the fall of 2019, and since then she has kept detailed financial records for the club as well as secured our budget with Student Senate each year. In addition, Renzetti has had a keen attention to detail, has helped design a unique page ladder and color palette for the last few books, and has also submitted some of her original writing and artwork.
“Working with the review has given me the opportunity to showcase the creativity across campus as well as work with delightfully creative individuals,” reflected Renzetti.
I, personally, have been the Assistant Editor in Chief of the Review since April 2019 after starting off as the Secretary in December 2018. Now, three years later, it is so great to see how the club has continued to thrive through the years. We have reevaluated traditional programs and rebranded them while still keeping the values of the club at the forefront of our efforts. In addition, I am proud to have come up with the thematic concept and brainstormed the cover design for the 50th edition of the Review in 2020. I am so proud to have been a part of this club since the first week of my freshman year.
The Review also gained two new executive members during this spring semester: Nyasia Rivera, our Marketing and Publicity Coordinator, and Amanda Madison, our Secretary.
“Working for The Review has been a dream come true,” said Madison. “The Review is such an incredible book, that allows students the opportunity to have their dreams of publication realized.”
The annual Release Party gives the Review staff the opportunity to celebrate the publication with the submitters and the club’s students, faculty, and staff supporters. On Thursday afternoon, Deliso Lawn will be flooded with an appreciation of the arts. There will be chocolate covered strawberries from Shiskaberry’s Food Truck as well as giveaways for those who were published in this year’s book. The Spring Event team will also be present with their own element of the program, making this event even bigger and better than before.
“The Release Party this year will have its first campus wide inclusion of the student body, as a way to broaden our outreach and really show how much we care about the pieces published into these books,” shared Renzetti.
The Review of Art and Literature is also planning a poetry workshop event at the end of the semester. Stay tuned for more information.
Overall, the importance of the Review of Art and Literature is indescribable. For the past five decades, this club has provided the ability for students with similar hobbies and interests to come together to publish their peers’ hard work. Without the student body and support from the campus community, this annual publication would not be possible. The Review staff thanks you all for your support and willingness to share your work with us.
“The Review is so wonderful. This club is like family to me, and I look forward to watching it grow moving forward,” said Madison.
