Here at BHS, we have a plethora of artistically talented students, but often times, they are not put on showcase as some of the other athletically talented students. In an attempt to put these talented students on showcase, BHS staff members Bonnie Butell-Huntoon and Becky Weaver are starting the production of a new arts and literature magazine. The BHS Arts and Literature magazine will include pieces of work created by the creative minds of BHS students.

“There’s a market for this. There is not enough recognition given to the creative students at BHS,” Weaver said. “I worked on my college’s arts and literary magazine at Simpson. It was a great experience so when Mrs.B-H approached me with interest in starting a similar magazine here, I was on board.”

Being an annual magazine, the BHS Arts and Literature magazine will feature the best works of art produced by BHS students throughout the school year.

“Our staff will contribute the magazine in April and May. The logistics of this are still being worked out. Right now the plan is to create a full size, 8 1/2 by 11, magazine with about 50 color pages,” Weaver said.

Aside from the two staff sponsors, the passionate author and artist, Grace Cooper and Jade Slavin, will be the student art and literary editors.

“I knew I wanted to be a part of it because there are so many Art and English students who do incredible work, but never really get the chance to share their pieces or get recognized for their excellence in the fields of art and writing,” Cooper said. “They deserve to have their work recognized and published, and I knew I wanted to do whatever I could to help make sure that happens.”

Within the magazine, works of 2D art, photos of 3D art, and literary writing of all varieties 1800 words or less will be published in full color. Deciding on a name for the magazine, the Avant, editors Cooper and Slavic hope to feature the works of students who have been able to express themselves through an uncommon outlet not yet featured around the school.

“Writing is a very important part of my life because it allows me to, in a way, experience so many different lives that I wouldn’t be able to experience if I hadn’t written about them,” Cooper said. “When I write, I can create new worlds and explore who I am through made-up stories that often stem from real-life situations I’ve encountered. Writing is an incredible form of self-expression, and similar to how I express myself through writing, I love to learn more about other people by reading their work as well.”

The first issue of the Avant will be 50 pages long, with hopes of it growing in the future as more students strive to have their works published in the magazine. Many BHS students are looking forward to having their work featured in the magazine along with seeing other students work.

“I am really excited to be able to show off my artwork, and it is really cool because it is a way to see other people’s artwork also,” freshman Becky Fritzsche said.

Fritzsche plans on submitting some of her drawings and paintings in hopes of them making it into the magazine when it is printed next March.