A graphic from "ABSENCE: Penn State Greater Allegheny’s Literary and Art Review," by student Rachel Duffy, the editor-in-chief of last year's issue, volume 18.
MCKEESPORT, Pa. — The Penn State Greater Allegheny student editors of "ABSENCE: PSUGA’s Literary and Visual Art Review" announce the first-ever Spring Open Mic Night to support the 2017 edition, Volume 19. According to Cliff Manlove, associate professor of English and faculty adviser, “The student editors are excited to host this event as a service to the campus with the hope of encouraging members of the campus community to share their creative works. They seek to make this a regular event and a way to recruit new student editors for future issues.”
The event will take place Friday, Feb. 24, in the Ostermayer Room of the Student Community Center (SCC). Participation is open to all Penn State Greater Allegheny students, staff, faculty and alumni to perform or discuss creative works. To be featured in the Open Mic Night program, participants should submit works to the student editors for consideration no later than Monday, Feb. 20.
Works can be from the following categories: poetry, short fiction and drama, non-fiction and creative non-fiction, journalism, personal essays, visual arts, short films, photography, or Teaching International. Each participant’s performance should be no more than 5-7 minutes.
In addition to being featured in the upcoming Volume 19, the best student performer will receive $100 at the Annual ABSENCE “Celebration of the Arts!” event from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, April 27, in the Ostermayer Room of the SCC, where paper copies of Volume 19 will be available for the first time.
To submit a work for consideration for performance, artists should send up to five submissions with a cover page — with identifying information including name, titles of submissions, Penn State email, snail mail address, and phone number — to [email protected]. Previously published works will not be considered for performance. All submitters will be notified about the status of their work. All submissions are handled using blind review.
For more information see Cliff Manlove, senior faculty adviser and publisher, in 202 Main Building or email him at [email protected].
