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New issue of 'Existere: Journal of Arts and Literature' on stands now

The next issue of Existere: Journal of Arts and Literature, a nationally distributed, York University student-run literary magazine, is now on stands and at the York U Bookstore.

Existere coverA highlight of the Spring/Summer 2014 issue is George Elliott Clarke in conversation with English and creative writing program alumna Ekraz Singh (BA Hons. ’13), executive editor of Existere. Clarke is the current Poet Laureate of Toronto and visiting professor of Canadian studies at Harvard University (from the University of Toronto). He is, however, fundamentally, a poet.

His newest book, Traverse (Exile, 2014), is an autobiographical poem and is also reviewed in this issue. In 2001, Clarke won the Governor General’s Award for poetry for his book Execution Poems. His book Whylah Falls was selected as one of the five choices for the inaugural "Canada Reads" in 2002. In 2008, Clarke was made an honorary Fellow of the Haliburton Society (the oldest literary society on a college campus in North America – King's College, Halifax) and inducted as an officer of the Order of Canada. Three of Clarke’s poems are published in the new issue of Existere.

The current issue features new works from 27 writers, poets and artists. The cover features One Tree Hill by self-taught photographer-artist Lance Nizami of Palo Alto, Calif. The inside covers feature the works of OCAD’s Jenni Grandfield.

Fine poetry and writing from around the world grace the pages of the new issue. In poetry, David Romanda’s “Adventure” comes to Existere from Japan. Pamela Davis’s “Down Canyon” comes from California. And Betsy Martin’s “Baking in the Sun” made its way to the journal’s pages from Boston. Davis has recently completed her first book of poetry and was recently awarded an International Publication Prize by the Atlantic Review.

In fiction, from Antioch University in Los Angeles, is MFA candidate Kirsten Imani Kasai’s mice which plays with traditional prose style. Seattle teacher Shaun Anthony McMichael’s Thought Mirage in Theatre No. 3 and Long Beach teacher George Morgan Scott’s Balloons also represent the American West Coast vibe.

Non-fiction is in great abundance in this issue. Also from the West Coast but further north in Vancouver, comes Peter Bracking’s Opening Moves and Aaron Chan’s Between Channels. Debuting from Montreal is Grand Douglas Martin’s Cedar Jacque. Toronto is represented by Nicole Haldoupis and her review of Danny Jacob’s debut novel Songs That Remind Us of Factories. York University grad Erin Della Mattia reviews Toronto author Anthony De Sa’s Kicking the Sky. De Sa was interviewed in 2008 (Vol. 28, Issue 1) about his debut novel Barnacle Love just before it was long-listed for the Giller Prize). Associate Editor Celeste Dubé reviews Jacob M. Appel’s new novel The Biology of Luck.

There are many other delights inside, including more artwork featuring fine human forms from award-winning York almuna Michelle MacKinnon (BFA ’11), and plenty more fine writing from Fredericton, Toronto and elsewhere.

Existere publishes new and exciting works from contributors around the world. It was founded and first published in 1978 at Vanier College. The journal is supported by Vanier College Council as a venue for emerging and established talent from York University and around the world – and as a place for York University student volunteers to gain valuable hands-on experience in publication production.

Copies can be found at the York University Bookstore, Book City (Annex, Danforth), Presse Internationale (Bloor, College, Danforth), select Chapters/Indigo stores and by mail.

For more information, visit the Existere website.

Submitted by Existere’s publisher, Edward Fenner