New England’s Creative Drive Alive and Well . . . OR Local ‘Zines Add Spice to the Scene
It’s grey outside. Grey and windy and cold. But that does not deter Patrick Melhurst, 34, seated on a Northampton park bench, from his reading. A gust of wind picks up, ruffling his shaggy blonde hair and tugging incessantly at the publication he holds in his hands. Without taking his eyes from the pages before him, Melhurst simply grips them tighter and goes right on reading.
What could so distract the man from this weather, not at all conducive to a reading break out of doors? When asked, his response is terse.
“Meat for Tea.”
There is little sense in this to the average citizen.
When pressed he releases a protracted sigh and elaborates, “It’s a local literary magazine. Local artists, local writers,” he holds up a CD that was included in the pages, “even local bands.”
He returns to his reading, apparently done with the brief interview.
No, wait, he looks back up for a moment and adds, “Good stuff.”
Ah. Now he is done with the interview. But he has at least stirred up the prospects of a good story.
In the winter of 2006, two educators from Holyoke Community College founded what remains one of the only privately run literary magazines—or “zines” in the tri-county area. It has one simple intention: to recognize and feature the work of the artists, writers, and musicians living in Western Massachusetts.
The two educators are Elizabeth MacDuffie and Alexandra Wagman. The magazine is called Meat for Tea.
“We felt that local artists were long overdue for some honest recognition,” says MacDuffie, “and we wanted to do something about that.”
She is in her office on the highest floor of Holyoke Community’s Donahue Building, seated behind a desk which is almost completely submerged under an ocean of papers. Despite this heavy workload, or perhaps because of it, she wears a broad smile on her face.
“Look at all this,” she says, making a broad sweeping gesture at the clutter.—So confident is the motion that one half-expects the paper sea to part as though she were some modern day Moses. – “All of this is from people right here in the Pioneer Valley. Artists, authors, musicians, poets. This place has so much talent. You’d have to be blind not to see it.”
The idea for a local literary mag was hatched, so the story goes, during the commute to the college.
“I was driving in the car with Elizabeth early one morning when it dawned on me that there wasn't a local literary ‘zine,” co-editor Alex Wagman recalls. “By the time we got to campus, it was pretty much decided.”
The dynamic duo immediately started gathering financial support from the community, a process which carried on with satisfactory smoothness.
“I owe that to Elizabeth,” Wagman says, “she's fearless, positive, and persuasive. We walked door to door visiting businesses in Northampton. If it were up to me, I pr
With the donations of local establishments, and a grant from the Northampton Arts Council, the two had the resources necessary to set the project in motion.
Production did not go as smoothly, however. After a stress-filled week collaborating with an outside party, Wagman and MacDuffie decided to design the issues themselves, with help from an intern from HCC, Emma Donnelly.
And, despite the pressures of their careers as professors and the natural lag in inspiration that comes with pursuing a project at length, the two have launched issue after issue into the surrounding towns like so many literary torpedoes, all reflecting themes derived from the ‘zine’s odd title. – The name itself came about after MacDuffie received a misspelled message online, asking if she would like to “meat for tea.”
Since its first issue, “Gristle,” hit the stands in the winter of last year, MacDuffie and Wagman have released five issues in total, an issue for each season.
This year’s spring issue is due out Sunday, May 20th, and with it comes further ventures of the blooming mag’, including concerts by local bands booked by Meat for Tea, writing workshops, and even a fashion show.
While Meat for Tea is possibly the only privately run ‘zine in the Pioneer Valley, it shares the scene with numerous collegiate periodicals, one such being Pulp City, the literary magazine produced at Holyoke Community College.
Pulp City’s faculty advisor, professor Dave Champoux— an occasional contributor to Meat for Tea—sits in his office, face stretched in a beaming smile, eyes twinkling good-naturedly. It’s not every day he gets interviewed on a topic about which he feels so passionately, and he talks freely of his six years with Pulp City and all the triumphs the magazine has achieved.
Soon, however, he becomes a little less cheerful.
“Creative writing doesn’t get nearly enough attention,” he laments.
Champoux feels that the rich tapestry of creative writing is struggling to find a niche in the Valley. Still, Thanks to the efforts of people like him, its struggle is made a little less daunting.
“It’s all getting easier,” Champoux says, referring not only to Pulp City’s production, but finding acceptance and appreciation of creative writing in general. “And the magazines always come out great.”
To coincide with the Pulp City, Champoux has organized poetry slams, fiction composition contests, and even has plans for joint ventures with the school’s drama club and radio station.
Certainly, there is a lot involved in publication, and not all of it is easy.
There are many obstacles inherent in ‘zine production, Champoux admits, and while, “I could say the usual things of deadlines and last minute mishaps,” the real problem is in finding the talent.
Luckily for the incorrigible pair of Wagman and MacDuffie, that problem has never arisen. MacDuffie attributes the constant flow of submissions to the environment, specifically the abundance of local colleges. “Yes, we found a niche, a population of creative people,” she says, “musicians, artists, writers.”
Contributions come from all directions it seems, via mail, internet, or word of mouth. The only criterion for submission is creativity.
And so, taking advantage of the rich milieu of talent the Pioneer Valley provides, Meat for Tea has continued to grow in circulation, now reaching as far as Brattleboro.
“We aim to grow in all directions,” Wagman says, becoming really serious for what may be the first time during the interview. Earlier this year, Meat for Tea launched a website and is looking into merchandizing as well.
What does the future hold for Meat for Tea and, in a broader sense, the emergence of creative writing in the area? Looking back on the rich history of literature in New England, one notes with interest, and, perhaps, hope, that Amherst, one of the towns in which Meat for Tea is widely read, was once home to esteemed poetess Emily Dickinson. Many New Englanders feel that such creative brilliance is still alive and well.
Echoing the sentiments of MacDuffie and Champoux, Wagman says, “We’re slowly beginning to fill a niche in the Valley. These things take time, I believe.”
She would no doubt be heartened by something her colleague, Champoux, likes to say: “Creative writing, it’s the kind of thing that sticks with you.”
Were this published anywhere, I would include this information in a sidebar, as squeezing it into the text would seem cumbersome. Where can people purchase Meat for Tea ?
Room Don 370 at HCC, where the English Dept. is housed.
Also at:
Broadside Books - Northampton
Faces - Northampton
Pinch - Northampton
Halfmoon Books - Northampton
Food for Thought - Amherst
Submissions are welcome and can be sent to MeatforTea@hotmail.com
What could so distract the man from this weather, not at all conducive to a reading break out of doors? When asked, his response is terse.
“Meat for Tea.”
There is little sense in this to the average citizen.
When pressed he releases a protracted sigh and elaborates, “It’s a local literary magazine. Local artists, local writers,” he holds up a CD that was included in the pages, “even local bands.”
He returns to his reading, apparently done with the brief interview.
No, wait, he looks back up for a moment and adds, “Good stuff.”
Ah. Now he is done with the interview. But he has at least stirred up the prospects of a good story.
In the winter of 2006, two educators from Holyoke Community College founded what remains one of the only privately run literary magazines—or “zines” in the tri-county area. It has one simple intention: to recognize and feature the work of the artists, writers, and musicians living in Western Massachusetts.
The two educators are Elizabeth MacDuffie and Alexandra Wagman. The magazine is called Meat for Tea.
“We felt that local artists were long overdue for some honest recognition,” says MacDuffie, “and we wanted to do something about that.”
She is in her office on the highest floor of Holyoke Community’s Donahue Building, seated behind a desk which is almost completely submerged under an ocean of papers. Despite this heavy workload, or perhaps because of it, she wears a broad smile on her face.
“Look at all this,” she says, making a broad sweeping gesture at the clutter.—So confident is the motion that one half-expects the paper sea to part as though she were some modern day Moses. – “All of this is from people right here in the Pioneer Valley. Artists, authors, musicians, poets. This place has so much talent. You’d have to be blind not to see it.”
The idea for a local literary mag was hatched, so the story goes, during the commute to the college.
“I was driving in the car with Elizabeth early one morning when it dawned on me that there wasn't a local literary ‘zine,” co-editor Alex Wagman recalls. “By the time we got to campus, it was pretty much decided.”
The dynamic duo immediately started gathering financial support from the community, a process which carried on with satisfactory smoothness.
“I owe that to Elizabeth,” Wagman says, “she's fearless, positive, and persuasive. We walked door to door visiting businesses in Northampton. If it were up to me, I pr
With the donations of local establishments, and a grant from the Northampton Arts Council, the two had the resources necessary to set the project in motion.
Production did not go as smoothly, however. After a stress-filled week collaborating with an outside party, Wagman and MacDuffie decided to design the issues themselves, with help from an intern from HCC, Emma Donnelly.
And, despite the pressures of their careers as professors and the natural lag in inspiration that comes with pursuing a project at length, the two have launched issue after issue into the surrounding towns like so many literary torpedoes, all reflecting themes derived from the ‘zine’s odd title. – The name itself came about after MacDuffie received a misspelled message online, asking if she would like to “meat for tea.”
Since its first issue, “Gristle,” hit the stands in the winter of last year, MacDuffie and Wagman have released five issues in total, an issue for each season.
This year’s spring issue is due out Sunday, May 20th, and with it comes further ventures of the blooming mag’, including concerts by local bands booked by Meat for Tea, writing workshops, and even a fashion show.
While Meat for Tea is possibly the only privately run ‘zine in the Pioneer Valley, it shares the scene with numerous collegiate periodicals, one such being Pulp City, the literary magazine produced at Holyoke Community College.
Pulp City’s faculty advisor, professor Dave Champoux— an occasional contributor to Meat for Tea—sits in his office, face stretched in a beaming smile, eyes twinkling good-naturedly. It’s not every day he gets interviewed on a topic about which he feels so passionately, and he talks freely of his six years with Pulp City and all the triumphs the magazine has achieved.
Soon, however, he becomes a little less cheerful.
“Creative writing doesn’t get nearly enough attention,” he laments.
Champoux feels that the rich tapestry of creative writing is struggling to find a niche in the Valley. Still, Thanks to the efforts of people like him, its struggle is made a little less daunting.
“It’s all getting easier,” Champoux says, referring not only to Pulp City’s production, but finding acceptance and appreciation of creative writing in general. “And the magazines always come out great.”
To coincide with the Pulp City, Champoux has organized poetry slams, fiction composition contests, and even has plans for joint ventures with the school’s drama club and radio station.
Certainly, there is a lot involved in publication, and not all of it is easy.
There are many obstacles inherent in ‘zine production, Champoux admits, and while, “I could say the usual things of deadlines and last minute mishaps,” the real problem is in finding the talent.
Luckily for the incorrigible pair of Wagman and MacDuffie, that problem has never arisen. MacDuffie attributes the constant flow of submissions to the environment, specifically the abundance of local colleges. “Yes, we found a niche, a population of creative people,” she says, “musicians, artists, writers.”
Contributions come from all directions it seems, via mail, internet, or word of mouth. The only criterion for submission is creativity.
And so, taking advantage of the rich milieu of talent the Pioneer Valley provides, Meat for Tea has continued to grow in circulation, now reaching as far as Brattleboro.
“We aim to grow in all directions,” Wagman says, becoming really serious for what may be the first time during the interview. Earlier this year, Meat for Tea launched a website and is looking into merchandizing as well.
What does the future hold for Meat for Tea and, in a broader sense, the emergence of creative writing in the area? Looking back on the rich history of literature in New England, one notes with interest, and, perhaps, hope, that Amherst, one of the towns in which Meat for Tea is widely read, was once home to esteemed poetess Emily Dickinson. Many New Englanders feel that such creative brilliance is still alive and well.
Echoing the sentiments of MacDuffie and Champoux, Wagman says, “We’re slowly beginning to fill a niche in the Valley. These things take time, I believe.”
She would no doubt be heartened by something her colleague, Champoux, likes to say: “Creative writing, it’s the kind of thing that sticks with you.”
Were this published anywhere, I would include this information in a sidebar, as squeezing it into the text would seem cumbersome. Where can people purchase Meat for Tea ?
Room Don 370 at HCC, where the English Dept. is housed.
Also at:
Broadside Books - Northampton
Faces - Northampton
Pinch - Northampton
Halfmoon Books - Northampton
Food for Thought - Amherst
Submissions are welcome and can be sent to MeatforTea@hotmail.com
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home