Branch Magazine
www.branchmagazine.com
The Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival launches today, and we’re delighted to tell you that Branch contributor Melissa Mercier has been selected to be part of it. Check it out if you’re in Toronto in May.
Melissa’s series, Irrational Fear Of Confined Spaces, will be exhibited at Toronto’s 16th Contact Photography Festival, the largest photography event in the world. The images will be on display at the Gladstone hotel from May 2nd until May 27th.
-Opening reception: Thursday May 3rd, 7pm to 10pm
1214 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario, M6J 1J6
About Melissa Mercier
“Irrational Fear of Confined Spaces” is a study of claustrophobia through the lens of Vancouver based photographer Melissa Mercier.
When you look at this series of work you see a direct reflection of the artist herself. Mercier has not been clinically diagnosed with the condition, but feeling trapped is possibly the worst thing she can imagine. The airy nature of this body of work is her remedy to the feeling of being cornered. “I’m so attracted to spaciousness, that I actually chose the space itself to be the subject of these photographs.” says Melissa. The images in this series we’re taken on the shoreline at Banff National Park’s Lake Louise at daybreak after sleeping in a car to ensure a solitary experience. At first glance some of the works appear to be taken underwater but they are all from above, allowing the submerged and protruding elements of the natural setting play with the lake’s surface as if to breathe or suffocate whether above or below.
Issue 8 of Branch is out! Alison Strumberger and Megan Turnbull did an incredible job guest-editing and putting in all their time and effort. Extra thanks to Melissa Bull who kindly lent her language expertise for our French submissions and Roberutsu who worked his magic and put the issue together. Of course, a shout-out to those who are in the issue: we love your work!
As we are all busy (you may have noticed that there are more hands working on Branch now than when Rob and I started this project), we are no longer able to put out four issues per year. We hope this new issue, Make-believe, will tide you over. It’s bursting with goodies from Susan Musgrave, Alexis Dirks, Maude Bernier Chabot (who’s on the cover!), Robert Banks Foster, Alexandra Pasian, Lacy Barry and so much more. So get clicking, gasping, sighing and make-believing. www.branchmagazine.com
Make-believe sneak preview!
Psst, there’s something we’ve been meaning to tell you. Ottawa-based Megan Turnbull did an amazing job as guest art editor for our upcoming issue. It’s coming out soon. Stay tuned!
photo by Sean Cusson
The deadline for the SLS 2012 Literary Contest is quickly approaching!
Submit before February 28, 2012!
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Prizes include…
Contest winners in the categories of fiction and poetry will have their work published in print in the Black Warrior Review, and online in The Walrus. Additionally, they will have the choice of attending (airfare, tuition, and housing included) any one of the SLS-2012 programs – in Montreal, Quebec (June 17 - 30); Vilnius, Lithuania (August 4 - 18); or Nairobi-Lamu, Kenya (December).
Second-place winners will receive a full tuition waiver for the program of their choice, and publication in online magazine Joyland (fiction) or Branch (poetry). Third-place winners will receive a 50% tuition discount and publication in Joyland (fiction) or Branch (poetry).
The contest winner in the category of non fiction will be published in DIAGRAM, and will have the choice of attending (airfare, tuition, and housing included) any one of the SLS-2012 programs.
Further details here.
Yay! We’re happy to announce that the wonderful Alison Strumberger, literary guest editor of Issue 5 (Wild), is returning to guest-edit Issue 8 (Make-Believe).
The deadline to submit is March 1, 2012.
Guidelines here.
(Clockwise) Fred Wah, Ryan Howarth, Found Inspiration, Jean-Paul Corbeil
Issue 7 (Style & Form) of Branch is now live. This marks the final issue of Branch for 2011 and we’re going out in style. You’ll notice a couple new features introduced here: “Branch Out” and “Found Inspiration.” Rob and I really enjoyed putting this one together; it has energy, it’s kinetic. There’s something sexier (a touch dirtier) about it. And that’s never a bad thing. We hope you love it.
Branch, Issue 7 Teaser
I had the pleasure of reading Yonah and Calvin’s script, Amy George, last February. Since then, the pages have transformed into a film and made its way into the Wisconsin Film Festival, Brooklyn Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, and Calgary International Film Festival.
Now, the guys are coming into town for Festival du Nouveau Cinema (playing Oct. 14 and 17) and I am looking forward to finally seeing this on screen. Join me!
Branch contributor, Jessica Hiemstra-van der Horst, is coming into Montreal for the launch of her new book, Apologetic for Joy (Goose Lane, 2011), and Branch editor, Gillian, will be reading with her. If you’re in town on the 30th, swing by D&Q! The event will be hosted by the engaging Sasha Manoli.
We’re elated to share that Branch Magazine is participating in the 2012 Unified Literary Contest, organized by Summer Literary Seminars. The top prizes grant 2 winners the choice of attending one of the Summer Literary Seminars in either MONTREAL, LITHUANIA or KENYA. Each will receive free tuition, accommodations, and travel. Pretty amazing.
Branch will be publishing finalists’ pieces, along with The Walrus, Black Warrior Review and Joyland.
Get writing! Guidelines are here.
