Blind Date with a Piece
Issue VI.I, Submission Call, and Connecting with the Work
by newsletter writer Kaylin Hechtle
On February 14th, we put issue VI.I of Carolina Muse into the world! Can you believe we’ve entered year six? If you have the (correct) burning desire to own the physical copy, you can follow this link to order yours! Want to be a part of everything we’re making here? You're in luck! We are accepting submissions for issue VI.II until April 15th!
For those of you who want to read the new issue but don’t feel like you have the time, we've got something for you. Here’s a bite-sized approach to issue VI.I! We’re setting you up with… well… however many matches you want! Below is “Blind Date with a Piece”! Get a taste for some of our featured pieces, and see if you want to take things further💝
Hello!
I trace the shape of South Carolina’s marshes, her skies, and the storms we inherit from survival. I’m a poem by Joely Williams, I’m a memory, I’m a storm gathering.
Hi there,
(this voice is muffled) I’m a little jumbled up and weighed down at the moment, but I’m a combination of textile art and photography! Emily Shelton made me into a soft sculpture out of recycled materials!
Hello.
Everything is changing and I can’t seem to keep up. I’m a prose piece by B. P. Gallagher, but I’m all about music. Well, I guess I’m about a musician. No one seems to care about the music anymore.
Help! I mean, Hi!
I’m dealing with way bigger issues right now than this creative magazine speed dating gimmick or whatever this is. If I had time to talk to you, I’d say I’m a macabre, heavenly sculpture that’s been artfully wounded by Skye Flodder. But I don’t have time! I’m literally dying.
Hello!
I’m a warning, but overall a comfort! I’m weighed down by what’s been taken from us, but so are you—there’s no reason we can’t find solace in each other. I’m a song brought to life by Elizabeth McCorvey! Let’s take a breather while the trumpet plays.
Hello,
I’m faithful, bound to the fire that I can’t escape on my own. I watch the disaster from the shore. I barrel forward into the storm for her, again. I’m a poem by Samantha J. Pomerantz, weathering the tides.
Hey, hey,
I’m here, just a little scattered. I’m all geometrically thought up. I lose track of the border between myself and the world. I’m a visual art piece by James Daniel Horstman. I’m sharp at first glance, but easy if you stare.
💐
Carolina Arts Events in March
North Carolina
Asheville, NC | March 3 | $15
The No Man’s Land Film Festival is the premier all women + genderqueer adventure film festival. This special event showcases a curated selection of films that highlight inspiring stories of female adventurers from around the world and tailored for students.
Art Swap & Artist Mingle at Ment Beverage Co.
Durham, NC | March 12 | Free
Ment Beverage Co. is thrilled to partner with the Durham Art Guild to host an Art Swap & Artist Mingle event! This free gathering is an exciting opportunity for artists and art enthusiasts to come together, connect, and share their creativity.
The Write Stuff! Creative Writing Group
Raleigh, NC | March 15 | Free
If you enjoy creative writing or would like to try it for the first time, then this Creative Writing Workshop may be just the place for you. Everyone will work together to explore creative writing in a safe, open, and encouraging environment. You may bring a short story or chapter from a larger body of work for peer feedback. 18+ only.
Asheville Fringe Arts Festival
Asheville, NC | March 15-22 | Varies per event
Asheville Fringe Arts Festival brings innovative theater, dance, spoken word and performance arts to venues throughout town. This multiple-venue festival provides artists with opportunities to explore the edges of their work.
Mt. Pleasant Literary Festival
Mount Pleasant, NC | March 19-21 | Free
The Mt. Pleasant Literary Festival is a three day celebration of books, authors, and the literary arts, dedicated to fostering a love of reading in all ages!
Wilmington, NC | March 21 | Free
A family-friendly celebration of comics, sci-fi, fantasy, and all things fandom! They’re on a mission to foster creativity and celebrate the literary & artistic talents in our community. Whether you're an artist, writer, creator, or passionate fan, this event is for you!
South Carolina
Greenville, SC | March 6 | Free
Join GCCA for the first Friday of the month for their NightShifts. Every month you can enjoy new gallery exhibitions, studio artists, performing arts series, demos, and more!
Clemson, SC | March 25-27 | Free
The Clemson Literary Festival is an annual event that seeks to bring students, faculty, alumni, and the surrounding communities together through a mutual love and appreciation for the Arts and Humanities.
Columbia, SC | March 27 | Free
The Ubuntu Dance Festival – Community Dance Concert is a joyful celebration of unity, culture, and connection through dance. Rooted in the spirit of Ubuntu—“I am because we are”—this uplifting evening brings dancers and community together to share movement, creativity, and collective joy.
Columbia, SC | March 27-29 | Free
Read Freely Fest is South Carolina’s newest book festival, celebrating stories and ideas with bestselling author talks, panels featuring fresh voices, performances and interactive activities. Each spring at Richland Library Main in downtown Columbia, you can meet favorite authors, discover new reads and connect with readers and writers who share inspiring perspectives.