By Kate Casey
Display Magazine is a Grand Rapids Community College publication that brings together a collaboration of poems, short stories and artwork submitted by students.
Every fall, student jurors are chosen by their faculty advisors to dictate what makes the cut in each issue.
Julian Arpin-Cortez (sophomore), and Elijah Miller (junior), were among those selected to help decide which fine-art pieces that would ultimately be featured in the magazine.
“It’s valuable as a resume reference, you’ve been published!” Miller exclaimed.
This issue was the first time the two had worked on Display together.
“In general, the system is a large body of true art discipline, we look at everything, that’s where we start,” Miller said, describing the process of filtering through various art pieces.
The two described the process of laying out the artwork and individually sticky-noting the pieces they wanted to see advance, often times they found themselves defending and advocating strangers’ art.
Professor Robin VanRooyen, faculty advisor on the magazine, said this process would “prepare artists to accept rejections,” knowing this would only be the start of an artists career.
Even with all of the submissions each semester, artists are still very hesitant when considering submitting. When asked about this fact Arpin-Cortez admitted to an “element of vulnerability,” among even the most talented of GRCC students.
It was more than merely choosing pieces that were realistic and going beyond someone’s ability to replicate a photograph via charcoal. VanRooyen said that there must be a “Balance between creative and formal aspects,” to which Arpin-Cortez added, “Technique is a vehicle for delivering creative concepts.”
There was a fascinating element of seeing the finished product with clean pages and seeing the passion and purpose of each art piece. “The value of being a juror refines my ability to appreciate art,” Miller explains, “It makes you better at looking at your own art.”
“It gives you exposure, it gives you an intimate glimpse into the minds of these people,” Arpin-Cortez said when reiterating his experience as a juror.
“Creative problem solving is valuable in any field, we’re constantly being forced to reinvent the wheel,” Miller said.
If you were unable to grab one of these issues due to the demand, the next one is projected to launch the third week of April.
