We have launched! The 2019 edition of Portage is up and running as of April 16th, 2019. Thank you to all of the contributors and staff who worked together to create another great issue!
Be sure to check out all of the sections below to see this year’s talented and hardworking contributors.
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Portage 2019
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Editorial Statements
Poetry
At Portage Magazine we recognize and appreciate all that poetry is capable of. The sting of a powerful final line. The beauty of a well-structured poem. The awe that is conjured by the poet who has full control of their words. Poetry is both the wind in the chimes and the thunder of gods. Here at Portage, we are dedicated to publishing works that inspire these feelings, or any feeling whatsoever. We know how powerful a voice can be and the message behind it. We welcome the poets and poems that remind us of how [adjective] the Midwest is, but also encourage works that show us new unexplored corners of the world. // Gabriel Mundo, Poetry Editor, 2019
Visual Art
This year, Portage Magazine welcomed and embraced the unique visions of a number of artists. Each with their own style- and their own story- the multitude of art types represented help to paint a picture of what the Midwest has to offer. Through their pens, brushes, and camera lens, Portage is honored to spread the talents of these fine individuals. The world, and art itself, speaks to us in a myriad of ways. Let us take the time to fully appreciate our home through the lens of another. Thank you to all who have shared their visions with us this year. // Amanda Zarder, Visual Art Editor, 2019
Prose
Trapped within the few pages of a story is a fragment of life. It could vary from an assembly of events to a single moment. Stories allow the reader to dip themselves in another’s mind, breaking through the narrator’s skin and the barriers of time. No story is exactly alike, and at Portage Magazine, we admire each story’s diverse origin and are fascinated by the many paths those origins take. The Midwest is an intricate blend of history and culture, and the stories woven throughout grant us unending experiences and insight. // Madelyn Spindler, Prose Editor, 2019
Features & Interviews
This year’s featured article focuses primarily on highlighting the work of several Midwestern-based musicians by compiling their songs into a “Mid-Western Mixtape.” The featured article includes a sample of each group’s music, as well as exclusive interviews with every contributor as well as a link to their information. The intended purpose of creating the “Mid-Western Mixtape” is to incorporate music in the Portage magazine, as this sort of article has never been attempted here before. By doing this, we hope to become more inclusive of non-literary art forms as well as support the contributions of musicians to mid-western culture. // Joseph Messink, Features Editor, 2019
Interactive Fiction
At Portage, we celebrate literature across every available medium. One medium that we feel has not gotten enough attention is interactive fiction. A reader gets an emotional thrill out of seeing the struggles and developments of a character going through a plot. Interactive fiction gives the reader the power to experience this firsthand. Join us as we explore this uncharted territory in literary magazines. // Sam Neils, Interactive Fiction Editor, 2019
