When the 58th issue of Arcturus is released this June, Highline’s legendary literary arts journal is set to once again “lift the human spirit.”
That’s according to Zanetka Gawronski, Highline College’s department coordinator of fine arts and multimedia design, who assists students and faculty in submitting entries to Arcturus every year.
The annual journal features a wide range of creative works, including poetry, fiction and nonfiction stories, essays, photography, drawings, paintings, music, short films and animations. Student editors curate the content to gain hands-on experience with the editorial process and earn two English 290 credits, which count toward their graduation requirement.
Faculty advisor Jamie Wilson, who oversees the editing of Arcturus, said, “Each print issue takes the form of a beautiful, professionally published book that represents the unique voices, experiences and creative expressions of our Highline community.”
“The books themselves are a work of art that capture a snapshot of who we are in this particular moment in history,” he added.
Gawronski described the sense of pride and accomplishment the students in her art department feel when they see their work published in Arcturus.
“It takes an incredible amount of work to break down assumptions, grow beyond implicit biases, learn both theory and skills, and develop critical thinking to produce a work of art,” Gawronski said.
For Highline student Ocea Davis, editing last year’s issue was an “all-hands-on-deck affair,” as she described it. Davis is pursuing a multimedia design associate degree and wants to build a career in art therapy. She said reviewing submissions for Arcturus made her realize how lucky Highline is to have such a unique community.
Wilson echoed her observation and said, “We love celebrating and uplifting the diverse voices and stories of our Highline community.”
He noted that not everyone whose work appears in the journal comes from a formal arts background. In fact, Arcturus routinely publishes personal narratives from English 101 students, and those stories are often among the most moving pieces in the collection.
The journal is printed on campus at the Print Shop in Building 16 and then sent to Puget Bindery in Kent, for binding. Copies are available free of charge at the Highline Bookstore in Building 8.
As a high-quality publication, Arcturus is designed to live on for years both inside and outside the classroom. Davis said that looking toward the future, she plans to keep the journal in her art therapy practice for her clients. “It’s just that wonderful,” she said.
Submissions for Arcturus are open year-round. Everyone in the Highline community is encouraged to submit, including students, alumni, staff and faculty. The Issue #58 Launch Party is June 3.