Hey Everybody!

The submissions deadline is fast approaching! I just submitted every significant piece of writing I found on my computer! Your turn!(Insert further intellectual commentary here...I am tired and my spacebar and 'v' keys are not cooperating..)

Self Portraits

For photography class we were had to take self portraits and I helped out my friend Kim. Her idea was to use a glass of water and show herself upside down and distorted in the reflection. She used this idea to show how she can see things in unique perspectives. Photography is a great way to express yourself and let others know more about you!

Updates Schmup-dates

Hello Tapestry!

Mr. Fremuth (aka “The Intern Wonder”) here—updating all of you on some stuff that I hope will interest you!

First of all, as many of you already know, The Writer’s Workshop (“A Place to Start”) is a go!  The field trip will take place on Tuesday, March 27^th, and will last all day.  Look for permission slips in Mrs. Green’s room.

While I have your attention on that, let me tell you a little bit about what I am hoping this day will look like.  The workshop—in and of itself—is going to serve as my thesis for the University of Pittsburgh.  I am going to be looking at how creative writing changes from when it is written in the classroom to when it is written outside (and totally void of) a classroom.  I want to see if treating students not as pupils, but as fellow writers, might have an effect on the final product that is created.  I also want to know how your feelings change between the two environments, and if these changes actually have any effect on what you are writing.

On that day, you will not be students, my fellow interns will not be instructors, and Mrs. Green and I will not be teachers.  We will all be writers.  There will be no authority and no titles.  (That’s right—you’ll be calling us by our first names.  What a concept.)

With this in mind, I would like to ask a favor of you.  In order to effectively look at what creative writing looks like in the classroom, I must have some sort of sample to study.  If there are any pieces of creative writing (e.g. poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction) that you have written in school and would not mind me taking a look at, please drop off a copy either in my room (185) or Mrs. Green’s room (176).  This work has a possibility of finding it’s way in to my final thesis (as evidence); however, if this is case, all names and identifiers will be blacked out.  Any pieces that you would be willing to contribute would be greatly appreciated.

Now that that’s all out of the way—I want to hear from some of you!  What are some genres you would like to see us working with during the workshop?  Poetry, fiction and creative non-fiction are the old standbys—but I’m open to change!  What do you think?

-F

P.s. If you are feeling so inclined, here is a link to my personal blog.  It’s only been up for a few weeks, but feel free to take a look!  http://jfremuth.wordpress.com/

STOP

SUBMITTING PHOTOS OF FLOWERS AND INSECTS

PRETTY PLEASE

<3 THE MANAGEMENT

The Accepted Voices

The most probable reason (my memory fails) I decided to apply for a position on senior staff was that Tapestry makes voices heard. The magazine is simply essetial to our school's efforts toward assuring that students can freely express themselves within the FCAHS walls.

As students, we hear many of the same voices continuously, those of our teachers, that of the lady in the office who is in charge of using the intercom system...
We hear our peers' voices in class, giving reports according to the standards of a rubric, making discussion points in Socratic seminars preceded by a phrase from the historical lexicon, and asking questions that are not positively representative of them as intellectuals/artists/comedians/humanitarians.

Tapestry manages to fill in the gaps and valleys over which no academic bridges have been built. A strikingly small amount of academic merit is given to how beautifully a student made a truthful commentary on the human condition outside of Drawing and Painting and English classes, and even in those classes.....well, I digress.

To the submitters:
Your voices alone need to offer specific, interesting, artistic, and well-thought-out points of view, so that in the final publication, a myriad of voices that speak from every corner of the student body stand together.
Before you click 'send', remind yourself of the reason for creating the piece of art that you did. If this is not evident in your piece, it is possible that some editing needs to occur.

From my experience in countless review sessions, the pieces that unanimously receive 'thumbs-ups' are the ones that fearlessly reveal a piece of the artist. No matter if the audience totally agrees with what you have to say, because Tapestry members tend to respect every one's points of view.

Please continue to submit bold pieces that inspire! We want to share the ounce of you that was poured into your sculpture, poem, short story, or watercolor. No voice is illegitimate.

Check out Octavio Paz!

...a Mexican poet. Many of his works have been translated into English.
Here is one of my recent favorites:

Summit and Gravity
There's a motionless tree
And another one coming forward
A river of trees
Hits my chest
The green surge
Is good fortune
You are dressed in red
You are
The seal of the scorched year
The carnal firebrand
The star fruit
In you like sun
The hour rests
Above an abyss of clarities
The height is clouded by birds
Their beaks construct the night
Their wings carry the day
Planted in the crest of light
Between firmness and vertigo
You are
Transparent balance


His writing is a perfect balance that walks the thinnest of lines between trite and overly abstract, but in the end it is exceptionally beautiful, dramatic, and thoughtful.

The Path to Publication

So you wrote this poem.  Or created this short story, or made a drawing, or took a picture, whatever.  You created something that makes you proud, so you decide to send it in to Tapestry.  You sent a copy of your piece to the Tapestry account at g-mail, you wheedled your Mom into signing the plagiarism form, and you turned in the sheet to Ms. Green in room 176.

End of story, right?  Some divine power decides whether or not your name shows up in the Tapestry book or your submission just idles around in the dead space of a computer until someone decides to play Eenie-Menie-Minie-Mo with it come publication time.  Actually, that’s not true.  From the time your piece makes it into room 176 to time the book is published, it slowly winds its way through the hands of your peers who make honest, legitimate decisions.  It’s kind of like those commercials that claim you will actually hear a human voice on the other end of the line; your piece is moving through multiple stages where it is always under the consideration of real-life individuals.  Namely, you!

Phase 1: Organization

Every morning, one of our Tapestry staff members logs onto the club computer and combs through the g-mail account, looking for any new submissions.  Each submission is matched with a signed plagiarism form turned into Ms. Green.  No form, no chance.  If the piece passes the test, it is either placed into a folder on one of the multiple laptops used during the meetings if it is a photograph or, if it is poetry or prose, several copies are made and placed into large folder.  The key element of this phase is that every single submission makes it through as long as it is paired with a plagiarism form and if it meets the standard levels of appropriateness.

Phase 2: Consideration

Every other Thursday, Tapestry members take their passes and gather in room 176.  Several small groups, each headed by one Tapestry senior staff member, congregate around either a laptop or a folder.  Within either vehicle, electronic or physical, several submissions are reviewed.  Each submission goes through three stages: an initial, silent vote followed by a discussion centering on the piece’s publishable qualities, and culminating in a final vote.  If the ‘yays’ have it, then your piece is on its way to the book!  However, if your submission is rejected, don’t fret!  There is an alternate path.

Phase 3: Publication

For all those submissions that survived the trial by fire, they are stored in a corner of the computer that is cracked open after the submission deadline rolls around in February.  The Tapestry senior staff considers all the pieces for a final time, ensuring that they meet the level of creativity desired in the book.  Then the fun begins.  Several members of the Tapestry team go to work on transforming the submissions from simple entries to an actual book.  Photographs serve either as an interesting backdrop for a piece of writing or stand on their own.  The name of each artist appears twice: on the table of contents in the front of the book and also where their work appears.

Alternate Phase

So your submission was given thumbs down at a meeting.  Rejection by one group of students does not equate to a total loss.  It’s not like your piece is put through the shredder or erased from the hard drive.  A senior staff member has taken it upon himself to review all rejected submissions, looking for a hopeful piece that, with some minor alterations, could be reintroduced into a meeting and possible be given the green light.  So, if you hear from Eddie, make sure you head down to 176.  You never know, a second chance might be all that you need!

If all else fails and your piece just can’t seem to make it past the vote or even if one of your submissions has already been accepted, keep submitting!  Getting into the Tapestry book is all about odds.  The greater number of pieces you have floating around in the folders on Thursday means a greater chance that the vote will be in your favor.  Just remember: Don’t quit, just submit!

Jadie, Sam, and Sana Bills Stop By.

Hello
This is Jadie, Sam, and Sana Byll$$.
Here are a few haikus about ourselves.

We like to watch port-
landia and drink coffee
and te is good too

Beyonce gave birth
To a baby girl named Blue
Messiah has come

Mini wheats taste bad
Without frosting and milky
Fish are friends not food

Happy New Year!

Hello Tapestry Fans!

In order to bring in the New Year, we are resolving to begin our NEW Tapestry blog. What will we put on this blog, you ask? Who knows. I hope for us to post awesome art and writing we stumble across, to discuss what happens in the Tapestry QRT and during magazine production, and to share in the general life of people who appreciate creativity. We will be taking turns in the Tapestry QRT blogging, so you should expect new voices and topics each week.

What would you like to see? Feel free to contact us with comments or suggestions.

Here's to the second semester! Good luck with finals.

Love,
Mrs. Green (on behalf of the Tapestry Staff)

Dates to know:
Weds. Feb 1. 11:30-2:25- Artist Alisha Wormsley.  Alisha will share about her reverse migration project during which sha has traveled from Pittsburgh, through various cities and towns, back to Africa to discover her family history. She is a multi-media artist. I am very excited to hear more about her work. To see more about her go to her web site: http://alishabwormsley.tumblr.com/

Thurs. Feb 16. 11:30-2:25- Slam Poet, Adriana E. Ramirez.  Adri will perform some slam poetry as well as share her other works of creative writing. She will also lead us in a writing workshop. See her work: http://askadri.com/zadriana/

Tuesday. Mar 27th 8:00-2:00-  Creative Writing Workshop at Pitt University. Stay tuned for more info.