With the wide range of art and English classes offered at Benilde-St. Margaret’s, such as creative writing, digital photography, and painting, many students create brilliant pieces of art and writing that aren’t always recognized. However, Apotheosis makes it possible for skillful students to exhibit their work in the annual BSM literary arts magazine. “I love seeing art from people you would never think would be artists at BSM. It’s always a pleasant surprise,” senior editor Abby Dryer said.
This spring the eleventh edition of Apotheosis will be published after months of careful selection and collaboration. The magazine is composed of quality works in art and writing, showcasing a diverse collection of pieces from various students. “Not a lot of students are given the opportunity to have their art recognized and appreciate others’ work, so the book allows students that opportunity,” senior editor Abby Deutz said.
Apotheosis is led by two faculty advisers––art teacher Ms. Kelli Rahn and english teacher Ms. Paula Leider––and meets once every week in the fall with their editorial committee of seven upperclassmen. They request recommendations for the magazine from the art and english departments and invite students from all grades to submit their work by advertising throughout the school. Deutz has first-hand experience having her work published in Apotheosis. “I know how rewarding it is to have a piece of work put into the book, so giving that feeling to other artists is fulfilling,” Deutz said.
Both the advisers and an editorial committee evaluate the pieces. “We look for strong writers and artists who are able to understand good artwork and evaluate it,” Mrs. Leider said.
The members of Apotheosis seek out quality work from a wide range of students, making the book a divergent collection with many different styles. “I really enjoyed going through all of the talented works, especially the photography that students admitted into the apotheosis,” senior editor Eleanor Raether said.
After receiving over 250 submissions this year, the Apotheosis group began the selection process and met twice a week over a three to four week span to choose the best pieces to be featured in the book. “One thing that I found was important was that all of the submissions were anonymous so we chose which works were accepted into the Apotheosis based on their quality of work only,” Raether said. The names of the artists are revealed after the discussion and voting process is finished.
This year, 39 students will be featured in Apotheosis––some more than once. However, the size of this year’s magazine is smaller than it has been in past years. “Last year we had 160 pages in the book and this year we have 100. We don’t limit the size of the magazine but rather choose art and literature that merits publication,” Ms. Leider said. In addition, a lot of the literature accepted this year is significantly shorter than the writing pieces from last year’s issue.
Even though less pieces will be featured this year, the work being showcased is to be just as successful as last year’s issue, and is almost ready for publication. “Right now we’re working on the last touches of putting everything in order in the magazine,” junior editor Bridgit Flom said.
Preorders of the 2013 Apotheosis are available to the families of the featured students, and are to be sold for $15 per book in the main lobby soon this spring. “I think that many students have a true passion for art, and I think it’s really cool that our school gives students the opportunity to get some of their wonderful works of art published,” Raether said.
