A “Gold Mine” of Talent by Leah Ellis

The new journal The Gold Mine was created and published at Cameron University during the last school year by students under the direction of Dr. Jones and Dr. Godsave. The idea was to create a fine arts journal which featured the work of Cameron students. Combining the written art of poetry, fiction, and non-fiction, with visual art allowed for the cooperation of students from the English Department and the Art Department. The logistics of bringing together people and submissions from both these departments seemed daunting, but in actuality everything came together very smoothly.

The call for submissions was set so the selection committee could review the work over the break between the fall and spring semester. At first we were concerned that not enough contributions would be made to fill the journal, but on the last few days of the submission deadline a flood of entries came in. The committee gathered in groups reading the manuscripts and looking over the art, while some chose to peruse the material alone. All were accommodated as everyone works differently. Everyone involved willingly gave of their time and resources. For example, Phillip and Amber Harrington graciously opened their home for the group I was involved with which included the journal’s Editor, Aubrey Vandall.

After all the material was reviewed, and the selections were made, the process of formatting and designing the layout began. Aubrey Vandall, Holly Neville representing the Art Department, and myself as Managing Editor met and began discussing the order of submissions in relation to the number of pages and other design issues. While all of this went easily enough Holly’s contribution to the overall layout, and completion of the project cannot be emphasized enough. It was her eye for design and attention to small details that truly created the end product. She presented the Editorial Staff with several different options for a cover. She also put the layout on a program that worked for the printer, without which the journal would have been dead in the water.

The direction of Dr. Jones and Dr. Godsave was just enough to keep the project on track, but not so much as to be over-bearing. The balance formed a working environment for the student staff that was both enjoyable and productive. Both made themselves available at meetings and via email for any questions and concerns regarding the process. They made suggestions while allowing the final decision to be made by the staff of students.

The end product was our “Art and Literary Journal” that features several of the talented students at Cameron University. There are still copies of the journal available, and I strongly encourage people to pick up one. There are several notable pieces in the journal. I have my favorites from each section, like Jutta Carter’s poem, "Memories of Water," Justin Cliburn’s non-fiction entry "Tears in Bagdad," Reece Capps fictional story, "Jake is Dead," and the untitled picture by Bennet Dewan of a guitar player leaning against a wall.

It was a deeply rewarding experience for me to be a part of the journey. There were many wonderful people who came together to see the project through to publication. I am looking forward to being a part of this year’s journal. Seeing the talent of so many of my peers at Cameron is amazing. While our geographical area may be a dusty, baked impoverished zone, the minds it breeds are fertile and rich in imagination. Our local talent is not limited to the University, but it is a gathering ground for those seeking an outlet for their art. The Gold Mine is just one of the outlets available. Students interested in working on this year’s edition, or making submissions should watch for fliers and notices coming this Fall.