THE CLOCK IS TICKING
Our next submission deadline is one week from today... It truly feels like we're approaching issue II quicker every day (wild how time works, right?). I can't be more excited to see what our next issue grows into. Our accepted pieces always seem to have a mind of their own, and even I don't know what to expect for the next issue.
Are you interested in submitting—again, or for the first time? Click here and review our submission guidelines.
If you would've told me a year ago... well, anything that happened this year, I wouldn't have believed you. First and foremost, that we'd be living in a freakin' pandemic. Secondly, and more specific to me, I'm running a whole ass literary & arts magazine!
The magazine was a "where I see myself in 10 years" goal of mine. Ten years. But here we are. If you have a big, creative dream you'd like to achieve, read on for my top pieces of advice that brought me to where I am today (pandemic aside).
BRING your DREAM TO LIFE
Carolina Muse started from just a tiny thought in my head. "You know what would be sick? Starting your own arts magazine... but make it multimedia," said my not-so-tiny thought💭 How is that even possible? Let's get down to it.
One. Tell everyone about your new thing. I told all of my friends, my family, my friends' families, my family friends... anyone & everyone. This helps to hold you accountable, not to mention, you're bound to talk to someone that can help you along the way!
Two. RESEARCH! I spent hours pouring over research before ever announcing Carolina Muse on social media. See what other people in your niche are doing and figure out where you can bring something new to the table! Bonus: Make sure you have all the necessary & cost-effective tools you need.
Three. Have y'all heard of manifesting? If not, I might be about to blow your mind because this stuff works. Each day, set aside intentional time to visualize every aspect of your dream: what your successes will feel like, what your journey looks like to get there, what your emotions are, who's alongside you, where your work ends up. Before you know it, you will speak these things to life✨
Four. Persistence & patience are key.
If you've used these tips to create something awesome, submit it to us by Feb. 28th to be featured in Issue II!
ARTS EVENTS
🌸 North Carolina
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Daily until March 3rd: Meredith College Art Department Exhibition
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This free art show is taking place at the Weems Art Gallery in Raleigh. It showcases artists spanning across various media.
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Feb. 26, 7-8:30pm: Carley Arrowood Bluegrass Performance
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This award-winning fiddler, singer and songwriter is performing at Isis Restaurant and Music Hall in Asheville. Seating is limited & socially-distanced. Admission= $15
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March 11, 7pm: Online Poetry Class: How Poems Alchemize Our Realities
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Ina Cariño leads this online poetry class titled "Words as Symbols, Words as Spells: How Poems Alchemize Our Realities." Space is limited. $35 for NC Writers' Network members, $45 for non-members.
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🏵️ South Carolina
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Feb. 28: Jo Ann Walker Poetry Scholarship Deadline
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$500 is awarded to the winner of this annual poetry scholarship competition. Winner will be announced March 15th.
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Now through March 19: Art Exhibit Supporting Wildlife Conservation
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This exhibition at Aiken Center for the Arts in Aiken titled "Going... Going... Gone..." supports wildlife conservation & education through art.
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Feb. 26, 7pm: Baroque Virtual Concert: “Concerti da Casa”
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Free virtual concert that features 8 classical musicians playing instruments from the cello to the baroque violin to the lute! It features music for solo viol by Sainte Colombe; songs from Barbara Strozzi’s musical salons; plus works by Telemann, Abel, and Boismortier.
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CREATIVE ARTS INSPIRATION
from our team
Fawnly | dance
god (excerpt)
I heard a theist say once
that God is like the wind,
unseeable yet feelable,
a translucent force to face
with kneeled knees.
through the panels of glass
in my apartment I watch
the forest leaves flicker
like the flames of fate,
wild, fast.
Amanda | poetry
ONE YEAR
This month marks the one year anniversary of our lives flipping upside down. The pandemic has been hard on all of us mentally, emotionally, and physically. We've lost loved ones, experienced isolation, and have been knocked down by immeasurable & unforeseen obstacles.
The arts community has been hit especially hard. All in-person events were cancelled, including the concerts, dances, plays, writing groups, and art galleries that so many creators relied upon as a means of income. Some creators even felt paralyzed by the intense pressure to create during the pandemic, leading to a creative block that was (and is) hard to overcome.
However, the creative community is resilient. Let's reflect.
ARTS AMIDST the PANDEMIC
Here are a few ways the arts community has ~thrived~
One. More people are creating & joining our community. Some have picked up instruments that they hadn't played in years. Others are publishing books (or a literary magazine👋). Many never considered themselves artists, but now they paint every day.
Two. Not only are more people creating, but more people are also consuming creative works. Buying new books, new art, new music. Taking solace in the arts.
Three. While in-person events were little to none in the past 12 months, we used our creativity to our advantage, spurring online events across the spectrum of the arts, some that people even paid to attend. This opened up accessibility to the arts around the world that wasn't previously there.
Four. Pain often manifests itself in art. Our trials & tribulations have worn us down, but they reflect themselves in our art in a way that binds us together from common experience. Our shared experience of isolation, hopelessness, and fear is immortalized in the art we've created during this time.
It's been a rough year, but the arts have carried us through it. Keep your eyes out for our second issue, a magazine full of the emotions and stories from the past year, coming out in the beginning of April (release date to be announced soon on our social media).
ARTS EVENTS
🌸 North Carolina
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March 25, 7pm: Virtual Lecture: Women in Art at the NCMA
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"Women artists have been marginalized for centuries & underrepresented in most museums, including the NCMA. Jennifer Dasal, curator of modern & contemporary art, shares some of her favorite works by women artists in the collection & speaks about the NCMA’s ongoing efforts to expand representation of women." Raleigh, free registration.
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Daily until April 21st, 11am-5pm: Interactive Exhibits, Learn to Play a Synthesizer
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"Discover the [synthesizer's] impact on all genres of music from classical to jazz and country to rock. Interactive highlights include a "Hands-On Synthesis" exhibit where visitors can learn about the building blocks of synthesis in a self-guided lesson before learning to play a Moog synthesizer." Asheville, $8.50 admission.
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🏵️ South Carolina
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April 9, 7pm: Poetry Reading: Chad Abushanab & Maria Martin
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Free Zoom poetry reading event hosted by the Poetry Society of South Carolina.
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April 10-11, 10am-6pm: College of Charleston School of the Arts: Arts under the Oaks Festival
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"An entertaining day of outdoor performances by the College’s Department of Music alongside the Department of Theatre and Dance." This festival offers both in-person and virtual performances. Charleston, Price varies.
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Weekly on Friday, 9pm: Virtual Improv Jam: Online and Unscripted
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This event is "open-to-all improv cast members, Indy teams, Alchemy students, and all those interested in a joyous celebration of trying new, scary, fun things." Greenville, free.
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CREATIVE ARTS INSPIRATION
from our team
Steph Brendel, graphic designer & artist
Just as Sour (excerpt)
As they christened the next junior counselor, I found myself studying the girl who'd named me. Her lips pursed like she was eternally blowing a kiss and even though her hair was thin and straight, it still sprung out of the bun on top of her head like she'd just stuck her head out a car window. She wore mismatched socks under her Birkenstock sandals and had tarnished silver rings on each finger, including a chunky turquoise ring on her thumb.
Annie Earnshaw, short story editor
SPRING, POLLEN, and ART are in the air
Happy April to everyone except the SC pollen that is literally trying to give me a legit bacterial infection (S/O to CVS for the antibiotics🙌).
Pollen aside, this is one of my favorite times of the year: the Carolina weather is finally tolerable for my perpetually cold self, the flowers are blooming, the sun is shining, and IT'S ART SHOW SEASON!
Now that people are getting vaccinated and the weather is getting warmer, it is the perfect time to enjoy your local arts shows and festivals in a safe way.
Check out our recommendations below:
ARTS SHOWS & FESTIVALS
🌸 North Carolina
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Saturday, April 17, 11am-4pm: Winston Junction Market
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This open-concept indoor market is held in a converted warehouse space in downtown Winston-Salem. Their local vendors range from artisans to farmers, and they require visitors to wear masks and maintain social distancing. What's not to love!
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Saturdays, 1-5pm: Jackson Arts Market
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This arts & music festival in Sylva features live art demonstrations, classes, musical performances, vendors, glass blowing, fire spinners, and even drum circles! The eclectic festival has become well-known in WNC, and we can see why. Music AND art? Count us in!
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Saturday, June 5, 11am-3pm: Market at NC Art Museum
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This outdoor market sells locally-made accessories, clothing, home goods, custom gifts, and more. You can find it in Raleigh outside of the North Carolina Museum of Art, where their Bloom exhibit will be taking place if you'd like to check it out on your way in. Don't forget to bring your mask!
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June 12, 19, 26, 10am-5pm: Asheville Art in the Park
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This outdoor art market in Asheville is a space where artists showcase and sell their creations. Some featured art includes glass, ceramics, woodworking, metalsmithing, fabric arts, pottery, sculptures, and two-dimensional art. Plus, many art galleries are a short walk away!
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🏵️ South Carolina
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April 30, 6-9pm and May 1, 11am-3pm: Pizza, Blues, and Jazz Festival
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Do you like PB&J? Pizza, blues, and jazz, that is! This Mauldin festival serves pizza AND the beats, selling food from local pizzerias and showcasing local jazz & blues artists. This is right up our alley.
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First Saturday of the Month, 9am-5pm: Pendleton Handmade Market
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Shop local handmade artisans and enjoy food & entertainment at this outdoor market in Pendleton. They also have a free bouncy house, which we'd be so down for, but sadly, it's just for kids😫
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May 7-9, 9am-5pm: Artisphere
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Did you know that this Greenville art show is one of the nation's top ten? It's a well-deserved title, too. Artisphere's attendance for just one weekend (pre-pandemic) was just shy of 70,000! The local artists featured in the show represent just about all forms of visual art. This year, the show is smaller, and you will need to reserve tickets, but we can guarantee it will be a worthwhile show!
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May 13-15, 7pm: Albino Skunk Music Festival
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Lovingly referred to as "SkunkFest" by its regular attendees, this small music festival in Greer features local musicians and bands. Generally acoustic music, genres include Americana, folk, singer-songwriter, alt-country, acoustic, roots, and bluegrass. Festival season returning is music to my ears🎶
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CREATIVE ARTS INSPIRATION
from our team
Madison Foster
photography
Maeve Riley
script
START YOUR COUNTDOWNS🏁
In case you don't know, we're exactly ONE WEEK out from our issue III submission deadline (submission guidelines here), and just about three weeks until summer is made official!
These two countdowns have our team so excited because 1. We can't wait to evaluate, read, watch, and listen to talented (potentially publish-able!) creators, and 2. Summer in the Carolinas is the sweetest🌸
We can all agree that summer 2021 is going to be the summer of the century. Mask mandates are dropping like it's hot (for vaccinated folks), and we're all itching for an adventure. Make the most of the Carolina summer with our team's 2021 summer bucket list!
your CAROLINA SUMMER BUCKET LIST
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Submit to Carolina Muse by midnight on May 31st😜
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Take a dip at Skinny Dip Falls in Western NC off of the Blue Ridge Parkway
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Start a bullet journal with a friend and mail it back and forth
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Support your local music or theater scene by purchasing tickets for an outdoor show!
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Teach yourself to play a new instrument
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Visit a Pelican's Snoballs for a Tigerblood snow cone🐯
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Kayak through a blackwater swamp in Charleston, SC with the Charleston Kayak Company
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Visit your local art museum and attempt to recreate your favorite art piece when you get home
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Watch the sunrise over the ocean
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See the wild horses of the Outer Banks
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Take a dance class💃
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Hike to the top of Looking Glass Rock (tough hike, but so worth it) and reward yourself with a picnic with #views
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Go camping on Lake Jocassee in SC.
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Visit a strawberry field to pick some sweet snacks (and snag some cute Instagrammable pics)
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Grab some iconic Boombalatti's ice cream in Wilmington, NC🍦 They have six vegan flavors... need I say more?
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Read one book each month (yes, poetry books count!)
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We wanted to recommend one brunch restaurant in the Carolinas, but there are just too many to decide... you pick!
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Sunny Point Cafe - Asheville, NC
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Good Life Cafe - Columbia, SC
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Iron Hen - Greensboro, NC
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UP on the ROOF - Greenville, SC
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Cast Iron Kitchen - Wilmington, NC
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Fahrenheit - Charlotte, NC
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DAPS Breakfast - Charleston, SC
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Ok, now I'm hungry! Enjoy checking these items off your bucket list this summer, and tag us in your activities as you complete them😎
CREATIVE ARTS INSPIRATION
from our team
Steph Brendel
photography
DIG A LITTLE DEEPER
If you didn't sing "Dig a Little Deeper" from Princess and the Frog in your head just now, you're lying 🐸
Not only is this a great song that's now in all of our heads (please tell me you've also seen this movie), but it's an important mantra for any creative to hold onto during their creative process.
Whether you're a writer, artist, dancer, or musician, this advice will take you out of your comfort zone and amplify the impact your work has on others and yourself.
BRACE for IMPACT
The key to impactful writing is easier said than done. Everyone wants their work to sound or look beautiful, but beauty is not always equivalent to depth. Once you've mastered the technique behind your art form, the next level requires you to tap into what makes art art: vulnerability.
Here are some exercises to get you started:
ONE: What do you fear the most? Make a list📝 Start with easy ones (aka my arachnophobia) and end with the ones that aren't as easy to reckon with (fear of failure, loneliness, loss, etc).
TWO: Keep a journal. Tracking your day-to-day thoughts, reflections, and reactions to events will keep you in touch with yourself and your emotions💭
THREE: Dissect your favorite artist's work🔍 Write down different ways to interpret the words or visuals of the piece, and see if you can draw meaning that tells a deeper story about yourself, the world, or the piece's creator.
FOUR: What is something about yourself or your life that you don't want anyone to know about? Something that makes you mad, sad, angry, or ashamed. Let your art keep your secret, and channel your stories & emotions into your work💛
As you create, tap into what you've learned about your art form's technique and the creative ways you can display meaning without directly spelling it out for your audience. A more somber instrumental? A different material to draw on? A strategic line break in your poem? You do you.
If you've made something you're proud of, add our next submission deadline (midnight, August 31st) to your calendar!
NC Events🌸
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Now - July 11th, Reflections on Light: Works from the NCMA Collection → This art exhibit at the NC Art Museum in Raleigh features "objects from 16 countries and spanning more than 2,500 years of art history," that showcase how a diverse collection of artists "responded to, used, and revered light."
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June 26th, 2:30-4:00pm, Writers on the Air Radio Show → WKDW Radio in Charlotte invites all types of writers to read their work as they're broadcast live on air. Listeners can also listen online here.
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July 3rd, 8pm, End of the Line: A Tribute to the Allman Brothers Band → The Orange Peel (music venue in Asheville) is back! Next on our radar? This Allman Brothers tribute band concert.
SC Events🏵️
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June 26th, 10am-4pm, Pop-up Delights with Past Visiting Artist Jen Swearington → At The Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston, "build a range of amazing structures, from clever cards to a multi-layered, accordion-fold diorama within its own hard book cover." Event is $85 for members.
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June 26th, 11:30am-2:30pm, Brunch with Mike Stone → At Main Course in Columbia, enjoy Mike Stone's jazz concert while you grab brunch!
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June 27th, 7pm, Say What Poetry Open Mic at Coffee Underground → Coffee Underground in Greenville will be hosting this poetry open mic event! Tickets are $10.
CREATIVE ARTS INSPIRATION
from the team
Oscar Flores-Montero
photography
shadows (an excerpt)
— i have eaten the earth before,
swallowed the sun and spit out
the moon, credence in her curves,
body cold and pale.
the land of illusions lives in society,
who thinks existence is not suffering.
why won't you consider the children?
you inflict pain upon them for your benefit.
Amanda Conover
poetry
READ ALL ABOUT IT!
Long time, no newsletter! We took a lil summer break last month to relax between issues... lot's of work goes into those things😅 Thanks for sticking with us <3
Since we've last chatted, there are a few news updates:
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Our issue IV submission deadline is midnight this Tuesday, August 31st (submission guidelines found here) (u know u wanna submit)
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We're still selling ads for issue IV! Reach out to carolinamuse.arts@gmail.com with all inquiries.
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We're now selling STICKERS!
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We have a logo sticker and one sticker for our first two issues🌸💛🌑
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Purchase one for $3, and each additional sticker is just $1!
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If you submit any time between now and Friday, August 27th, you get one FREE sticker of your choice (please add your preferred sticker & shipping address to your email submission).
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A CREATOR'S JOURNEY
This month, I had the privilege of interviewing Amanda Conover, our lovely poetry editor, about her personal journey to sharing her work. Did you know she was also published in our first issue before she became our poetry editor?
She is passionate, empathetic, and driven, and we are proud not only to have her on the team but also to have published two of her poems. Now, let's chat🗯️
💖 AT WHAT POINT in your writing career did you decide you were ready to share your work?
I first started sharing my work because I had to as a requirement for some writing classes I took in college! I definitely did not feel ready at that point, but being forced to do it anyway helped me realize there never is a "perfect time" to share your work. As long as you feel comfortable enough with your work, you don't really lose anything by submitting.
💖 WHY did you decide to submit your work?
As someone who reads a lot of poetry myself, I know what it feels like to have poems deeply impact you or even completely change your perspective. I decided to submit so that my poetry could maybe spark that feeling in someone else, or at least be something that other people could enjoy reading.
💖 DO YOU EVER write poems that you love but would never want to be published?
Yes! Sometimes I write poems that I end up loving but are just too personal or that contain details I don't feel comfortable sharing with everyone. I definitely use writing as a form of processing emotions and working through things, so sometimes things get written that I could never publish.
💖 WHAT was the process of submitting like?
The hardest part for me was finding time to look through my poems, choosing ones that I felt would fit with Carolina Muse and what the magazine encompasses, and then formatting my poems in the right way to submit them based on the Carolina Muse guidelines. Overall, the process wasn't too hard but definitely required some thought when choosing what to submit.
💖 HOW did you feel once you were accepted? Once you saw the magazine?
I was really excited to be accepted! Since I was accepted into the first issue of Carolina Muse, I didn't know exactly what the magazine was going to look like in terms of combining a variety of art forms, but I was super happy to be a part of it. Seeing the magazine online was amazing, I remember being impressed by the graphic design and how well everything looked together. Getting to see my poetry in print was something I'll never forget, it really solidified the fact that my work was a part of something special. I was very grateful to have my work next to so many talented creators.
💖 WHAT do you think the benefits are to submitting your work?
I think submitting your work is a great way to connect with different literary magazines and people, get your work out there, and start building a name for yourself as a writer!
NC Events🌸
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August 27th, 3pm-10pm, Aug. 28th, 9am-10pm, LEAF Festival → Free downtown Asheville event: "These two days will be filled with international music, art, workshops, great food and drinks, and plenty of family activities."
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August 28th, 6pm-9pm, S.P.E.A.K. on the Lake: A Black & White Affair → This Raleigh event features a night of poetry, artists, and music, all by the lake. $13-$20
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Sept. 24th-26th, various times, Festival in the Park → This Charlotte festival brings good music, good art and good times to Charlotteans and visitors from around the world!
SC Events🏵️
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August 28th, 7pm, The Terence Young Jazz Show → This jazz show at the Charleston Music Hall features Terence Young, who "has earned the reputation of one of the most talented and electrifying Lead Guitarist in the world."
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Sept. 3rd, 6pm-9pm, First Friday at Greenville Center for Creative Arts → In this free art show in Greenville, "you’ll have the opportunity to meet the resident working artists, see their studio spaces and works in progress, and learn more about their personal style and artistic process."
CREATIVE ARTS INSPIRATION
from our team
Fawnly
dance
Madison Foster
photography
Happy Holidays! 🍂☕🍂
Hey everyone!
My name is Maeve Riley, and I'm the new newsletter writer and newest official member of the Carolina Muse team! I am so excited to join this wonderful team of creatives, and hope I can give y'all some fun content to feast on like we did our Thanksgiving meals. 🦃🍰🍁
Since our last newsletter, there are a few news updates:
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Our volume I, issue I submission deadline is TONIGHT: Tuesday, November 30th at midnight (submission guidelines found here)
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We're also selling very reasonably-priced ads for this issue😋 Reach out to carolinamuse.arts@gmail.com with all inquiries.
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Starting December 1st, we will be selling Holiday Grams! You can buy poems, art pieces, or songs for loved ones or yourself! Donations are optional and will go to a children's literacy program in North Carolina
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Don't forget, we have the perfect stocking stuffers: STICKERS!
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Purchase one for $3, and each additional sticker is just $1!
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If you submit any time between now and November 30th, you get one FREE sticker of your choice (please add your preferred sticker & shipping address to your email submission).
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It's giving Sad Girl Autumn
(because obviously we all measure time as increments of "All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor's Version)" now).
Taylor Swifts' Red (Taylor's Version) has taken the country by storm, with her "All Too Well (10 Minute Version)" ringing in at the longest #1 song in history, topping Don McLean's beloved "American Pie."
Clearly, Ms. Swift knows her audience well, re-releasing her famous break-up album right as seasonal depression & holiday stress comes knocking on our doors. And, of course, Adele, queen of heartbreak anthems, has quickly followed suit with her new album release, 30.
However, as we scream sing Taylor's new vaulted song lyrics, we have to remember that the changing of the seasons and the stresses that come with returning home for the holidays is no joke.
Seasonal Affective Depression (S.A.D.) is defined by the National Institute of Mental Health as a "type of depression characterized by its recurrent seasonal pattern, with symptoms lasting about 4 to 5 months per year," with symptoms starting in the late fall or early winter and go away during the spring and summer. And, of course, as it does every year, Daylight Savings knocked us all on our seats, as the sun sets at 4:30 now🙄
On top of the changing of the seasons, we're faced with the difficult, intricate relationships that come with every family. Though we remain grateful for all we have in this season of giving, it's often challenging to navigate the layered histories of family. For those that have moved out of their parents home, they can feel the stress of feeling like a child again after having gained independence. For many, the holidays can bring on substantial financial stress. And there are many people who are struggling with the loss of loved ones, in which the holidays' focus on family brings their grief to the forefront of their minds.
While we're so excited for the approaching holidays here at Carolina Muse, we want to stress to our readers & creators that prioritizing mental health and taking care of ourselves is of the utmost importance this holiday season ❤️
If you are struggling, or if you want to educate yourself, please utilize these awesome mental health resources:
❣️ SAMHSA National Helpline: https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
❣️ American Psychological Association (APA) Psychologist Locator:
https://locator.apa.org/?_ga=1.122738379.1939913089.1455299072
❣️ BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com/
❣️ North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services' Adult
Mental Health Services: https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/mental-health-developmental-disabilities-and-substance-abuse/adult-mental-health-services
❣️ Calm App: https://www.calm.com/
NC Events 🍂
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November 26th & 27th; December 4th, 11th, 12th, 18th, 19th, 5pm-9pm, Christmas with the Kringles → This Ramseur, NC event features Christmas hayrides & light show, visits with Santa & Mrs. Claus, reindeer food creation station, Christmas cookie decorating, letters to Santa & hot cocoa!
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November 30th, Elon University Festival of Lights/ Luminaries → This free Elon, NC lighting festival brings good music, good cheer, and good cider & hot cocoa.
SC Events 🍁
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December 3rd, 8am-5pm, Art Up Studios First Friday → Held the first Friday evening of each month, this Greenville, SC gallery crawl is a "fun, social chance to unwind and visit the artists who call Hampton Station home."
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November 26- January 2, 4pm-9pm, Nights of a Thousand Candles 2021 → In this holiday lights event in Murrell's Inlet, SC, see the Brookgreen Gardens "come to life amid the soft glow of more than 2,800 hand-lit candles and countless sparkling lights. Walk the garden pathways with a warm cup of cider, cocoa, or wine. Hear the sounds of holiday music, carolers singing, and celebrate the season with family and friends!"
Adults: $30, Children: $15
CREATIVE ARTS INSPIRATION
from our team
Oscar Flores-Montero
photography
Amanda Conover
poetry