Pandora: The Exhibition
Mary Caruthers, ‘24
Jellies
Photograph
Pandora is a well-loved staple among the students, faculty, and staff at Centenary. The works featured in this exhibition were selected from Pandora’s Fall 2022 edition. We interviewed Reece Maguire, this year’s Junior Editor, about what it is like to work on the publication.
What is Pandora? What is your role within the magazine, and how did you first get involved?
Pandora is Centenary’s student lead literary and arts magazine. Twice a year, the staff opens submissions and encourages current Centenary students and alums to submit short stories, poetry, photography, and artwork pieces. Pandora was hiring three new interns in the spring of my freshman year, and I applied for the junior editor position to get involved with the humanities on campus. I wanted to work with other students to create something that would align with my creative interests.
What is the process of publishing an issue? What are the most difficult and most rewarding parts?
Publishing an issue of Pandora takes almost the entire semester, and it always starts with creating mood boards. During our first meeting of a semester, we’ll throw around ideas for a theme (usually suggested by our editor-in-chief, Anna Jane, or Phoebe, our senior literary editor). When we have a rough idea, each person on the staff will go on Pinterest and gather images that follow the color pallet and idea we’re going for. For example, our fall 2022 issue was inspired by Barbie: Mermaidia/Mermaid lagoon. My mood board consisted of bubbles, colorful seashells, rainbows, sea animals, and lagoons with an overall pink and teal color scheme. Our mood boards help us solidify potential colors and graphics, so everyone has a chance to give their opinion.
Once we have a theme, our senior editor Greta and intern A.R. designed posters that announced our submission requirements and deadline. The gap between opening submissions and constructing the magazine can be pretty stressful but also super exciting because the submissions are always amazing. Once we reach the deadline for accepting submissions, the editor-in-chief makes a giant document listing every piece we received in a spreadsheet where everyone can vote on which pieces they’d like to include. This is one of the trickier parts, primarily because it’s so difficult to decline submissions. It’s also the phase we tend to have the least amount of time to complete. Due to this tight deadline, it’s challenging to go through each submission and remain on track with your regular coursework.
Once we have selected our pieces, we decide what page each piece will go on and what two pieces will look pleasing side-by-side. We try our best to match our spreads by theme if it's prose and art or by color pallet if two art pieces are next to each other. This process also takes quite a while, but it is less stressful because we know how many pages are in the magazine and how many pieces we have.
When we have the skeleton of the magazine completed, it’s time for spreads. First, we divide the number of pages amongst each member (though the interns may get fewer spreads the first few times) and turn them into what people will see on passout day. We use Adobe InDesign to add some magic to the spreads. We add fun colors, borders, graphics, and shapes that display each person’s creative abilities. For me, this is the step I enjoy the most because I have a lot of creative freedom. Of course, it is a huge responsibility to get your spreads done on time, but if there’s anything another member or I can’t figure out, there’s always time for help at the 1 a.m. meeting.
Like our other steps, the Pandora staff has a set date for the spreads to be completed, called the 1 a.m. meeting. This is the one meeting we are forbidden to miss because it’s the most important one. Around 5 or 6 p.m., we’ll meet in the projector room on the third floor of Jackson and go through each spread one by one. This process typically lasts until the late-night hours, hence the name “1 a.m.” During this meeting, we double check any grammatical errors that were fixed in literary pieces, make sure students’ names and years are correct, and that everyone is satisfied with the layout. This is a really special time for everyone on staff because it’s when you really bond with each other. We bring snacks, wear our comfiest clothes, gossip, laugh, and the senior members teach the interns how to work the ropes. After my first 1 a.m. meeting, the long hours trapped in Jackson left me with a group of real friends.
When the 1 a.m. meeting finally ends, the remaining tasks are divided amongst the group. After we prepare the final draft of the magazine and send it, which is a terribly confusing process I won’t dive too deep in, we draw stickers and coloring pages, advertise the upcoming issue on social media, and review the budget for the current and next semester. After everything is finalized, it’s just a matter of waiting for passout day to arrive.
Personally, what are your favorite submissions to look through? How challenging is the narrowing process?
My favorite submissions to look through are the short stories and photographs. My concentration is creative writing, so I love reading other students’ work, and I’m blown away every time at how detailed and unique each photographer takes their pictures. As I previously mentioned, the narrowing process is extremely difficult because each piece we receive comes from a talented member of the student body. We have to make a lot of cuts because we only have a certain number of spots available.
What significance does the magazine have within Centenary and the student body?
Pandora has something to offer for everyone at Centenary. Anyone passionate about creating writing and artwork has a chance to show off their abilities and potentially start their publication journey. To see your work in a physical book available to everyone on campus is so rewarding. Pandora is also free and available to anyone who wants a copy, so students who do not contribute can still enjoy the magazine and support their friends. For me, Pandora offers a common interest for students to unite, enjoy, and support the arts.
What does having an installation at the Meadows Museum mean for Pandora?
The exhibit at the Meadows showcases the staff and the contributors’ hard work. A lot of love and care goes into making the magazine every semester, and everyone involved in the process deserves some recognition.
For those that wish to somehow be involved, how could they do so?
To get involved, follow us on Instagram @centenary.pandora and keep a look out for our posters across campus to stay updated on when we accept submissions. You can also email us at pandora.centenary@gmail.com if you have any questions.
Pandora: The Exhibition is on display at the Meadows Museum from February 14 - March 17, 2023.