The recently published 50th issue of Montgomery County Community College’s Art & Literature Magazine, “Resilience and Renewal,” is a standout for many reasons and it has been recognized by numerous awards*. Its sheer size of 180 pages makes it twice its normal size. With a one-inch spine, it more closely resembles a book than a traditional magazine, and its soft matte cover, glossy pages, and sheer weight make it a treat to handle.   

But its most prominent feature is the amount of artwork, poetry and prose included that represent a full range of mediums. It is a true feast for the eyes that shows the full scope of artistic and literary talent coming out of MCCC’s Fine Arts Program and English Department.   

The curated work included was submitted by MCCC students over the course of two years, from 2020 through 2021. In 2020, the pandemic led to the Magazine not being published for the 2020-21 school year, so a decision was made to honor that year and the following.  

“We combined the two years to make it a double issue,” said Francesca Santini, the Magazine’s Editor in Chief. “Because it was the 50th issue, we wanted to make it special.”  

Among the over 100 artists and writers featured, you will find Vessels in Clay by Jack Ruppel, a QR code to an animation by Paulina Rozinski called “Angel Hair”, an “Open Letter to the Man Who Killed My Sister’”, by Estelle Wynn Dolan, along with digital graphic design by Xin Chao.   

Also unique to the issue, Santini sought out letters and messages to include from people who were involved with the Magazine in its earlier years.  

“We wanted to go over the history to show we are very proud of that,” Santini said. “Despite all of the challenges, there has always been an effort from the students to keep the legacy going.”  

The 50th issue includes a new medium that has never been featured in the publication.

“For the first time, we were able to include three short animations that can be viewed via QR Code with the help of Matt Porter, Montco’s Senior Producer and Technical Services Manager,” said Dianne Zotter-Mill, faculty advisor of the Art & Literature Magazine Club, Art Associate Professor and Galleries Liaison at MCCC. “Hopefully, in the next issue we can attract several more students to submit animations for possible publication.”  

Thomas Powers, an MCCC English Assistant Professor, who has been serving as a co-advisor to the Magazine since the fall of 2011, discussed his and Zotter Mill’s contribution to the publication.   

“In this role, along with my co-advisor Professor Dianne Zotter-Mill, I advise the student editors upon strategies for effectively soliciting student submissions for the Magazine and provide feedback throughout the final submissions selection process and editing/layout,” Powers said.  

Despite working in this role for over ten years, Powers still gets personal enjoyment out of it.  

“I am always invigorated by watching the students put together and publish the Magazine,” he said. “I still find myself energized by helping the staff to engage in a process of collaboration and discovery as they work toward evolving the publication to new creative heights each year.”  

Living through a global pandemic   

The latest issue has a double title, and the work is grouped according to year since it is based on the life and times of the past two years of living through a global pandemic. According to Santini, “Resilience and Renewal” are two words that fit what most people experienced during that time.   

“I did this since writers and artists are affected by what we are living,” Santini said." 'Resilience’ is the work collected during 2020 and the ‘Renewal’ is the work collected during 2021.” 

The student-run Art & Literature Club responsible for curating the Magazine was thrown off course unexpectedly in 2020 when they were ready to wrap up the school year just as COVID struck, so that issue never came to fruition as a single issue as was originally planned.  

“With the College still closed there was no way to predict what was going to happen with the Club,” she said. “We decided to keep the Club alive and said, ‘Let’s keep trying to reach out for student submissions and select their artwork.”  

In total, 41 Club members spanning two years had varying levels of involvement in creating the 50th issue.  

“Membership to the club is open, but you have to be a student,” Santini said. “They can be in any major.”  

Now with two issues under her belt as Editor in Chief, Santini, who has an Associate of Fine Arts degree from MCCC and is currently pursuing her Associate of Arts in Liberal Studies degree at the College, said a lot of work goes into collecting work from students.   

“We received 450 pieces of work to review, and 160 pieces were accepted,” she said. “I kept in touch with all of the students that had submitted work, and all of those that were accepted.”  

Santini shared the impact the Magazine can have on MCCC’s students.   

“You can see the pride students have in having their work be featured,” she said. “If the students don’t take advantage, they are losing out on an amazing opportunity.”  

Addition to a student’s portfolio   

Patrick Rodgers, Galleries Director at MCCC, said the Magazine is a great opportunity for students to see their work in print and share it with people.   

“It can be a good addition to a student's portfolio to show to another school or employer. Plus, it reflects the pride you put into your work and acts as a kind of yearbook in a way, as well,” Rodgers said. “You'll always have that record of your own and your classmates' work.”  

He stressed it is more than just a magazine given the skill-building process it takes to bring each issue to fruition that is considered a creative partnership between the Fine Arts Program and the English Department at MCCC.   

“The publication is actually the work of a student club, with student editors, faculty advisors, and student contributors all working together to create this amazing body of work,” Rodgers said. “It brings together poets and writers with visual artists in a variety of media.”  

Published in May and distributed at graduation, a copy of the Magazine can be found at the entrances of MCCC’s Blue Bell and Pottstown art galleries this fall. However, don’t expect to find a digital copy of the Magazine online.   

“It’s printed because you can hold it in your hand and flip through the pages, and you get to experience the tactile pleasure of holding a physical book,” she said.   

Santini enjoyed the process of seeing the tangible Magazine come to fruition.   

“This has been a great experience to learn what it takes to design a publication and I enjoyed interacting with people of many diverse backgrounds,” she said.   

Since so much of her time was dedicated to the design of the Magazine, Santini is now looking forward to exploring other areas beyond graphic design as she embarks on her third issue as Editor in Chief.   

“Now I want to start taking more of the creative English classes and see that aspect of the work,” she said.  

Showcase various mediums   

For the first 40 years that the Magazine was in existence, it was focused solely on literature.   

“Around 11 years ago, they started adding art, and then it became what it is today,” Santini said.   

In addition to showcasing various mediums, the Magazine also serves as a marketing vehicle for the school in its ability to highlight two of the College’s programs.   

“It’s an opportunity to show the quality of work and what the College stands for,” she said. 

Passionate about her role as Editor in Chief, the first time Santini took on the position in 2019, she said she was frightened by what lay ahead for her since it was unknown territory. Prior to becoming a student at Montco, Santini, who also holds a Ph.D. in Science, previously worked as a scientist.   

“I had a career in biomedical research working in government, academic and industrial settings,” Santini said.  

She took a sabbatical and realized she wanted to do something different.  

“You reach a point where your life is driven by something else, and you feel you are missing something,” Santini said. “I like the arts, and I thought, ‘Oh, maybe I can study painting and maybe do scientific illustrations.’”  

MCCC was a convenient solution to pursue the arts given the Blue Bell Campus is very close to where Santini lives in Montgomery County.  When the Editor position came about, she was motivated by the opportunity to gain experience in graphic design and editorial work, with the support of two “first rate professionals” in their field.  

“I love this, but I can take it because I’m not a traditional student who juggles school and work,” she said. “The Editor in Chief role is so much work – it is full time.”  

Nationwide competition   

Santini recently submitted the 50th issue to a nationwide competition run by the American Scholastic Press Association.  

“It’s an association that evaluates the quality of magazines, yearbooks and newspapers across all schools in America,” she said, adding that in 2019 MCCC’s “Transitions” issue won two awards: Most Outstanding College Literary-Art Magazine and First Place with Special Merit.  

Despite the accolades for her work, Santini’s goal is to continuously improve upon each issue as she eyes up the next one.   

“Every year we try to improve with the feedback,” she said. “The Magazine gets more sophisticated each year.”  

Submissions for MCCC’s Art & Literature Magazine are open to all students enrolled at MCCC.  There is no cost to submit and no payment if your work is featured. The deadline for the 2022 issue is Dec. 31, 2022. Send your artwork, including animation, poetry, and prose for consideration to: mc3artlitmag@gmail.com.  

*Since this article has been published, the Art & Literature Magazine and its student staff and faculty advisors have received the following awards:

Three awards by the 2022 American Scholastic Press Association: First Place with Special Merit, Outstanding Photograph: "Unknown Rider" by Patrick Biebel and Outstanding Theme.  

2022 GD USA Design Award. GD USA is the sponsorship of design competitions for excellence in the creative community and is part of the flagship of the American Graphic Design Awards publications in print, web, mobile and digital. The award recognizes the team of students, led by Editor-in-Chief/Designer Francesca Santini; Art Director, Dianne Zotter-Mill, Art Associate Professor & Faculty Advisor; and Copy Editor, Dr. Tom Powers, English Assistant Professor & Faculty Advisor.

Accepted into Locally Sourced, a new publication sponsored by Philadelphia  American Institute of Graphic Design in the Mid-Atlantic issue. The magazine was accepted from 30+ design programs from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and New York colleges and universities. 

Article updated: January 31, 2023