Mikayla Davis

The Communicator

On May 28, SFCC students will have the opportunity to experience the creative works of their classmates and instructors at The Wire Harp Coffee House Reading.

Every year, The Wire Harp, Spokane Falls Community Colleges creative arts magazine, publishes the literary and graphic art of students, faculty and alumni. They then showcase the work at a reading in the spring with free baked goods and coffee.

“The Wire Harp is a collection of the finest art and literary submissions that this school could offer compiled into a single booklet for all to share,” Mickenzie Burns, student Graphic Designer of The Wire Harp, said. “It’s a good opportunity to show off the talent of the students.”

Students are able to submit short stories, poetry, drawings, photographs, and more to the magazine in the hopes of getting published. Then, at the reading, they get to claim their pieces in front of their peers.

“The Wire Harp is looking for the most artful poems and stories, as we focus on literary fictions and poetry over self-expressive works,” Connie Wasem Scott, one of the faculty advisors, said. “The writer’s focus should be on creating a rich reading experience for the reader.”

“I want to feel emotion when I look at something,” Burns said. “If I don’t feel anything, then it’s probably not what I want.”

The coffee house reading is not just a chance to showcase the artist, however. The Wire Harp staff also puts a lot work into creating the book.

“I’m brought in as a first year and my first job is to make the Coffee House poster,” Burns said.

As a second year, Burns does even more work.

“It’s my job to sift through all the art and photos and pick my favorites,” Burns said. “Then I go through the long process of deciding page size, the number of pages and paper texture for the entire book. Then I start work on the cover and then the layout of the inside.”

On the literary side of the magazine, a small staff of students and their advisors collect submissions from students for poetry, fiction, and non-fiction.

“The editor provides leadership throughout the selection process,” said Wasem Scott. “Then he or she creates a log for all the submissions, which get photocopied and read by all on the staff.”

Both the literary and graphic arts staff are looking forward to this year’s publication, though.

“This year’s book is simple, yet elegant; daring yet grounded. And it’s customizable, wink-wink, color the cover,” Burns said.