Blueline Literary Magazine at SUNY Potsdam Celebrates 45 Years

'Blueline: A Literary Magazine Dedicated to the Spirit of the Adirondacks' Announces Special Edition for 45th Year

Potsdam, NY (11/18/2024) — Blueline, a literary magazine in residence at SUNY Potsdam, is celebrating 45 years of publishing exceptional writing and art, with a commemorative issue and special events this year.

The publication, which is titled "Blueline: A Literary Magazine Dedicated to the Spirit of the Adirondacks," was originally founded in 1979 in Blue Mountain Lake, N.Y., by the editor and writer Alice Wolf Gilborn. Ten years later, Gilborn arranged to create a permanent home for Blueline within the Department of English at SUNY Potsdam, where it remains in residence today.

Each year, the magazine sustains its original mission: to publish the highest quality poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and visual art about the Adirondacks and regions similar in spirit and geography.

After decades of continuous publication, Blueline remains one of America's longest running nature magazines. It's SUNY Potsdam's voice for promoting great literature about the North Country as a unique region in the world. The magazine features both new and established writers and artists in every issue. While always focused on the Adirondacks, Blueline has also included fine writing about places as far afield as Washington State and as close to home as the Hudson Valley. The magazine is widely respected for its quality and longevity.

Blueline's editors are committed to providing excellent applied learning opportunities for our interns every semester. Students at SUNY Potsdam can serve the magazine in ways that prepare them well for careers in editing and publishing, public relations, cultural advocacy, environmental stewardship, among other areas. The editors have recently collaborated with interns from a variety of disciplines, including English, graphic design, environmental studies, computer science and finance.

A generous grant from the Gilchrist Endowment for Applied Learning in 2021 has greatly benefitted Blueline's internships in editing and magazine management, providing transformative and valuable experiences for students. The editors work closely with the Lougheed Center for Applied Learning to guide interns toward rewarding employment or to prepare them for graduate programs.

Blueline's 45th anniversary issue includes poetry by Stephanie Coyne DeGhett, Neal Burdick, Alice Wolf Gilborn, Lee Slonimsky, Yuan Changming, David Giannini and many others. Jesse Curran provides nonfiction about Lake George. Short fiction contributors include Linda Batt, Ruth Ann Dandrea, Tom Noyes, Roger Sheffer and Judith Manchester. Regional poet Natalli Amato is interviewed in the issue by Rick Henry. The issue's featured art includes paintings by Danielle Johns and photography by Saikat Chakraborty.

As a way to celebrate Blueline's anniversary on campus, a reading of creative writing about the North Country is being planned for early spring of 2025. Students, faculty, and staff will be welcomed to attend and participate. Date and location to be announced.

Blueline's editors were grateful to recognize the community's support as well through a reading and showcase of art at the St. Lawrence County Arts Center in Potsdam on Oct. 19. The editors and interns have always been proud to serve the College and the region's community of writers and artists. Their lasting support has inspired Blueline to thrive for decades.

Limited copies of the anniversary issue are still available for sale for $15. For information about purchasing copies, subscribing to Blueline, or for submitting writing or art, please visit bluelineadkmagazine.org or email the editors at blueline@potsdam.edu.

The magazine has recently launched the Blueline 45 Campaign to raise funds to grow the publication and sustain its excellent internship program at SUNY Potsdam. To find out more and contribute, visit www.potsdam.edu/blueline45.

SUNY Potsdam's Department of English challenges its students to complete a core of courses that explore the varied ways people speak, write and read. The department offers Bachelor of Arts degrees in English with concentrations in either literature and writing, or creative writing. To learn more, visit www.potsdam.edu/academics/AAS/depts/engl.

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