roster fall 2010.

HEY.
Hunter College Security: Thank you for denying us access to the room and then allowing contractors to leave the door WIDE OPEN with access to the Envoy as well. ALSO: thanks for leaving a note about this "violation."Thanks for ticking off what equipment could be stolen! Hunterhighers - Since you will be doing asbestos removal until February of 2011, have lost our paperwork for publication, and generally been bureaucratic cuntysluthos, I salute you. I'm sure you guys are doing a phenomenal job getting those turnstyles in so the homeless can't brush their teeth! We are the highest of the CUNY's afterall. Let me straighten my tie and invisible degree (or look over to its tentative holding cell- in between the books I read and issues of the OTR from 2002).

My last G-d damn semester and I have to deal with kids who can't shave asking me about issues I don't deal with on a production end (unless we need COPY, oh lord, copy.)

No, the truth is I love you purple monster fucks. A hawk in polyester. The ceiling falling down. The best professors I've had. (sorry lenny from pratt) and the most diverse bodies I've ever seen.

This summer you can find me holding Spanish sesh with Rev Prado - the man with the phenomenal hair, finishing up a req. This fall you can find me with Levi. Couldn't ask for more, seriously...
Except for the cafeteria to be open so I can eat soup in the summer.
With love and besos,
RebeccaRuth

Where are the issues? Where can I buy awesome inexpensive art? What do I do with these bike photos I've taken!?

A big loud caffeinated hello to Hunter College, New York, and any other domain the OTR has proudly conquered! Now that we're a few weeks into summer session, I thought you'd like an update on a few things going on behind the now oft-locked door to TH212.

First and foremost, the question on everyone's minds/mouths/sleeves/viscera: WHEN ARE THE NEW *?%&ING ISSUES COMING OUT? If you've come to our door with that question, you've probably heard something like "soon," "next month," "next semester," "never," or "get the f&%* outta here." (That last one became an inside joke reserved for our own staff and we apologize if we accidentally used it on anyone else. Zing. Ba da boom. Cheerio.) The truth? We never lied to you. Whatever we told you, we thought was the case, but apparently, getting anything done at Hunter College, let alone printing a magazine the length of ours, is kind of a bitch. So, for several reasons, we have wound up rather behind. (Don't scoff; it's unattractive.)

Bottom line, the facts are these: Both delayed issues (Spring and Fall '09) and the newest issue (Spring '10) have been compiled, edited, and laid out. Alas, every procedure at Hunter requires about 3 weeks and 7 offices more than it needs to, so there's an inexplicable delay in the communication between the school and the company that will physically make the magazines for us. (Read: completely out of our hands for now here at the OTR.) Our hope is that all problems will be sorted out soon and you will see 3 shiny new issues when you return to us in the fall. If you return to us in the fall. If not (and we sincerely apologize to graduates who have been waiting to see their work in print), feel absolutely free to email us your address and we will happily send you a copy of the new issues when they arrive. Please don't lose faith in us.

Happy summer!
-Victoria Sharoyan
Madame Managing Editor
Fall 2010-Spring 2011

PS. Keep reading for info on local art news that might interest you!

----------------------------------------------------------------------

When was the last time you heard "cheap" and "Metrocard" in the same sentence? I can't remember either. But now you can buy these sweet prayer cards, truly unique bits of affordable art with a nod to our wacky city, handcrafted by local artist Whitney Gardner. They're available for as little as $3.99 and can be purchased individually or in packs @ http://www.etsy.com/shop/heywhitney.


"Have you ever had a struggle with the MTA? Waiting and waiting for your train to show up, only to have it arrive so congested you can't make it through those sliding doors? Was your train running on a different line, and you wouldn't know because all the announcements were posted in Chinese and you only know Korean? Well now you can own a token of luck, a prayer Metrocard. Need the A to run express? Take out The A train card and beg to the big blue God for a speedy ride home. Each prayer card is hand made original artwork on the back of an actual used NYC Metrocard. When you buy a prayer card, you leave your fate in the hands of the Gods and receive a subway line at random. If you order more than one card at a time I'll make sure you don't end up with 2 of the same. Each card is listed at $3.99 that includes the cost of shipping! Original art for under $5.00! A better deal than the MTA could give you!"

----------------------------------------------------------------------


This last one's urgent! Photographers, you have until tomorrow to dig up or take your best bicycle photos. Deadline's tomorrow to submit them to Hoopla Hoop, a great new online magazine that's celebrating bicycles this June:

"Hoopla Hoop is a new online magazine about life in New York City. Every month, our new issue will feature a curated photo gallery. We are soliciting entries for our first submission-based selection for the June issue. The theme of the June issue is Bicycles. We hope you are inspired by the beautiful weather to get on your bikes and ride and celebrate one of the iconic images of new urbanism. We want to publish the most beautiful and striking work we receive, and we love film photography! Specifications: By submitting to Hoopla Hoop, you are granting us one-time online publishing rights to use your photograph in the issue for which we are soliciting only. Your images should be 800px on the longest side, and not over 250k. When submitting the images, please consider quality over quantity. If we receive work that we are very fond of, we may contact you in the future to do a spotlight on your art. While HH does intend to feature New York City-related work, you may submit any shots related to the theme no matter where you took it, but please be aware we will most strongly consider photography that relates to both the theme and the goal of the publication." SEND ALL SUBMISSIONS TO submissions@hooplahoop.com by June 17th, 2010 with the following details:
Name:
Website:

(Per each photo submitted)

Filename:
Title:
Caption (if desired, 1-2 sentences):
Camera/Format/Film (if desired):
Location:

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Time for summer lovin,' now go have a blast!
-V.S.

Support WHCS

WHCS is throwing a bit of a party in Thomas Hunter 105 this Wednesday- May 19th @ 7:30.
Free Booze. End of the semester dealie.

Attention Bloggers, Artists & Writers!

Hey, it's Jess here!

A friend of mine from 20 Something Bloggers, Kim of Perfectly Cursed Life, has recently started a 'Zine called Drop of Ink, intended as a space for bloggers, artists & writers alike.  Here's a description of Ink's mission by Kim herself:

"The mission of Drop of Ink is to provide bloggers, artists and writers everywhere a space to publish, promote and promulgate. We exist to create a dialogue between bloggers, artists, writers and their audience, within which true change may come.  Drop of Ink is published quarterly online in an easy-to-share format that can be printed or saved for posterity.  Think of Drop of Ink as your home away from home. Whether you blog, journal, draft or write, Drop of Ink is there to put your words out to a larger audience."

So go check it out -- they are currently accepting submissions for the second issue!

Upcoming Event: Old Talk @ Phoebe's Cafe

Hullo, all!

OTR Publicity Manager Jess here, with a bit of event news!  A couple of good friends of the Olivetree, musical duo Old Talk (comprised of Adam Cohen and Jon Paul Boulier) are playing a FREE gig over at Williamsburg joint Phoebe's Cafe on Saturday, May 15th! 

It's guaranteed to be a good time -- Adam promises some Batman underwear-donnage will be in store, as well as the group taking song requests.  Or if you prefer, familiarize yourself with some of their original material from their MySpace by clicking on the link above. 

RSVP on their Official Facebook Events Page, or just bring yourself and a couple of friends.

Time:

7 PM

Where:

Phoebe's Cafe

323 Graham Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11211

 

Advocacy for Hunter College English Undergraduates

Submissions are closed for the Spring Semester of 2010. Thank you for submitting your pieces. They have been logged and are currently being reviewed by our editors.

The Olivetree Review's production staff is currently undertaking a major endeavor. Fruits of these labors should be available ASAP.

Would you like to attend a Chapbook Seminar...for free?
http://www.centerforthehumanitiesgc.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=19
May 3rd & 4th
-------------------

OP-ED:
I know Jennifer Raab does not read this blog because she is reeeeeally busy doing other stuff. REALLY BUSY SIGNING HER NAME- so I figured I'd fill you in. This has been bugging me. Last week several of my OTR companions and I went to go see Seamus Heaney get his honorary degree and read some of his fantastic poetry to a packed auditorium. Wonderful. He was as sweet and modest as could be- a Nobel Prize winner with a heart, etc. He handled a nutty Q&A with grace and was humorous to boot.
Who provided Heaney with his "honors?" The MFA writing program of course. A small assembled crew who is intimately aware of each others works and writing styles- who are- no doubt about it- deserving of praise. What bugged me? The way the whole thing was handled as an uppercrust sort of deal. The Undergraduate sector of Hunter College (I've been here four years- this is opinion- but also experience) is completely disjointed. There was no mention of an undergrad literary community!

• There is no core literary community outside of the classroom. Or is there? WAIT. What about all of the people who submit their work from workshops? What about the people who OPERATE the literary journal. Jennifer Raab talked up a writing community that consists of a few people selected through a rigorous process. What she has no idea about- and probably never will - is the undergrad community. A community comprised of writers finding their voice, their style, AND gaining writing chops to move forward through academia (or, shock, real world job-force after however long it takes to get out of the ten foot requirements checklist and not MFA-no offense to the MAFFERS, git 'em) Heaney was kind enough to mention the "baby steps" of the writing process. Perhaps this is what made the unintentional snub so obvious.

• How many of us are learning the ropes, working internships, holding down part and full-time jobs, commuting from Staten Island, Orange County, Long Island, Westchester, - the far reaches of Brooklyn AND dedicating ourselves to promoting something we are passionate about- the chance for works of literary and artistic merit to meet a public audience?

• Who are these amateurs who violate the halls with pens for their thoughts and not Sharpie's for the stairwells?

..............We the cave-dwellers of the crumbling Thomas Hunter building.

• Is the ceiling falling down? Is our tuition going up? Was there asbestos removal two doors down without the provision of masks? Are stair railings bent or completely missing? Is the new key card system hindering our editorial work and making coming and going in an office that we independently maintain difficult (you try putting in a work order)? WHY YES.

I voice these complaints here. I also urge all English Undergraduates to partake in all of the free literary events on campus. Show strength in numbers. The ceiling isn't leaking in the faculty cafeteria in the West Building- it is safe.
Thanks anyway HC for keeping us on the map with awesome people like Seamus Heaney.
(If anyone deserves praise for reaching out to the undergrads with scholarship info, contests, etc. it is Thom Taylor- so we sincerely thank him for being an advocate- whether he realized how far his emails reach or not =) Thanks to the professors in the English department who get paid so little, torture us so briefly, and embolden us.

It has been a great Spring. No doubt that World Cup coffee and writing prompts have made some of this semester more active than others. We write. We share. We edit.
Thank you to my literary partners.

Rebecca K.
Senior Poetry Editor
Class of 2010

It's not too late!

Hey, y'all. If you haven't heard, the deadline's been extended to this Friday, April 23rd. Word.

-Victoria

Spring 2010: Open Mic/ Editing Commences!

This month is National Poetry month. Head over to poets.org and sign up for a free poem to be emailed to you daily. Better late then never…

• Our Open Mic is this Wednesday, April 14th.

The theme is banned books- but we're also introducing a bookshop to the mix. Please bring your loved, used, no longer needed/wanted books to our event. Come and pick up a few for yourself. There is a possibility there will be back issues of some rad lit mags/ photo mags.
Our event, as per usual, will provide the concerned attendees with free libations. Come drink some wine and eat some little nosh-plates we'll have set up.
This event is in the Thomas Hunter Building, Room 105.

• Concerning reading at the open mic:

This time around many of the staff have chosen to read provocative pieces we've been working on throughout the semester. We encourage you to do the same- as well as reading passages from favorite authors, reading your own poetry/ performance art. Bring your talent to the stage and feel comforted by the fact that you'll be in a friendly atmosphere which promotes acceptance and embraces the knock-kneed, nervous, 1st timers, and total hams. There are no limitations/ censorship.

• On another note:

Our submission deadline has PASSED. We received a great many submissions and thank you for your contributions. The editors are currently commenting and sorting pieces for our final meeting in May. It is not too late to commit to reading pieces and being part of the process. (Due mostly to the bombardment we got on Friday- as opposed to the trickle-in that was expected). If you would like to edit, please stop by the office and talk to a senior editor who can fill you in on the important details and anything else you'd like to know.

Thank you to the Hunter College literary community for your continued support, patience, and persistence.

Photography Exhibit!

The Olivetree Review's good friend, Jon Michael Anzalone, is exhibiting at two shows this month. We thought we'd fill our art-minded audience in on them!

First up, Bushwick Local

Exhibition: Bushwick Local
Opening reception: Friday, April 9, 6:00 pm–12:00 am
Place: 369 Harman Street, Brookly, New York

Opening reception featuring dance by Backspace Performance Ensemble; DJ Lois Lame; refreshments from Brooklyn Brewery and chef Masato Okamoto; and beginning at 9:30 pm, live music curated by el diabl' Productions.

Bushwick Local is an exhibition that pays tribute to the local artist. It samples from the following eight, who are tuned to immediate change, broad cultural trends, and transcendent human desires:

Jon Michael Anzalone
Allan Bailey
Daniel Derwelis
Chris Georgalas
Reiko Hamano
Andrew Hunt
Christopher Sachs
Gustabo Velazquez

Directions: L or M subway from Manhattan. L to DeKalb; exit at the front of the train; continue east on Wykoff towards Himrod for two blocks; turn right on Harman Street. M to Knickerbocker Avenue; exit near Greene Avenue and go west on Knickerbocker one block to Harman Street; turn right on Harman.

Dates: April 10–May 16, 2010
Gallery hours: Tuesday, Saturday, Sunday, 11:00 am–7:00 pm
Contact: EventaCo.Bushwick@gmail.com 917-494-4511

Brought to you by Sadie Flateman, EVENTA TRADING COMPANY




Second one up:

INDUSTRIOUS*SENTIMENT*TRANSITION

Three emerging photographers, Erica Reade, Lemia Monet Bodden, and Jon Michael Anzalone wish to invite you to their first collective photography show, INDUSTRIOUS * SENTIMENT * TRANSITION.

Opening Reception: Friday, April 16th, 6 – 10 PM | FREE
April 16th - April 30th
Hosted by Division of Human Works

Erica Reade, Lemia Monet Bodden, and Jon Michael Anzalone will present their first group photography exhibition, INDUSTRIOUS * SENTIMENT * TRANSITION, opening at Division of Human Works on Friday, April 16th. The exhibition can be viewed by appointment from April 17th through April 30th.

Please join us at Division of Human Works in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Admission is free and refreshments will be served. Live music will be provided by DJ Paul Haney.

For inquiries, please contact: lejphoto@gmail.com

Artist Websites:
Erica Reade - ericareadeimages.com
Lemia Bodden - quelquestore.com
Jon Michael Anzalone - defeats.us/ph/

Exhibition Location:

Division of Human Works
1501 Broadway
Brooklyn, NY

divisionofhumanworks.org

Directions:

J Train to Halsey Street. Exit the station and walk west on Broadway 3.5 blocks on the north side of the street to 1501 Broadway.

Jon's work can be seen at:

http://www.defeats.us/ph/

and

http://www.goodbyewren.com/

Please come support the local art scene!

Open Mic and Book Swap Coming Up!

Jacked from the Facebook event page (Feel free to invite yourself. You should be able to find it easily on our fan page or group.):

--------------------------------------



It's finally time for The Olivetree Review's semi-annual open mic! Come read your poetry, sing your songs, rap your raps, and perform your heart out. (We're mostly about poetry here, but we welcome any kind of performance.) TH105 provides the stage, we supply the liquid courage to get you up on it. (And food too, of course.) Sign up to perform either at the open mic or in advance by e-mail, at our office TH212, or whenever you see us tabling in the hallway.

The theme this semester is BOOK-BURNING & CENSORSHIP, so feel free (but not obligated) to be inspired by that idea in the work you choose to present. And as always, costumes are welcome and encouraged. (Think dark, masquerade, your favorite character from a banned book, or any way that YOU interpret censorship.)

We feel legally obligated to state that there will be no literal burning of books at this event, nor does the Olivetree in any way intend to SUPPORT censorship. On the contrary, we want this to be an OPEN open mic: open to your words, thoughts, and ideas.

We will, however, have a very realistic (*snort*) "pyre" where we'll be collecting books. So please, BRING BOOKS YOU DON'T WANT ANYMORE and throw them into the "fire." Someone else will take them and whatever's left unclaimed at the end of the night will be donated to charity. (Feel free to bring those books by our office, TH212, anytime before the event if you don't want to lug them around all day.)

Date: Wednesday, April 14th
Time: 7:30-10pm (come and go at whatever time works for you)
Place: Hunter College, Thomas Hunter Building, Room 105
Cost: FREE FREE FREE
What to Bring (all recommended but not required):

• yourself and like-minded friends (you don't have to be a Hunter student to attend)
• a piece or two to read/perform
  
• a costume if you so desire
  
• book(s) to burn (ie. donate)
• an appetite for food and drink (alcoholic and non- shall be provided)

--------------------------------------

Also, a reminder that our submission deadline is this coming Friday, April 9th so get your creative writing and art to us ASAP! (Hunter undergrads only, plz k thx sry)

-Victoria

Writing Prompts/ Spring Business

Several of us here at the OTR have taken it upon ourselves to scrap the formal workshop idea which never got off the ground. We've been arranging times for people to get together and work on informal experiments:

Writing Prompts.

Sometimes we do freewrite... sometimes we chose a word out of Merriam-Webster. The results can be spoken aloud or kept to oneself as inspiration for new work.

I've often found that in the medium of poetic creation - word association and free-flowing ideas can soon become concrete jumping off points for surprisingly expressive formulation. Freewrite and prompts help loosen words the way the live bacteria in yogurt makes one more "regular." Yep...

Past Writing Sessions:

Friday March 5, 2010: 3:30-5pm.
Monday March 8, 2010: "sametimish"

Future Writing Sessions:
Monday, Wednesday, Friday during my office hours. Monday nights possibly. Friday evenings possibly.

Writing sessions will be announced a few days in advance. Follow our fan page on Facebook or our twitter.

A few things: we are a supportive and collective group of writers, artists, and people who appreciate the written word. We will never judge your work, especially free-write. It is hard to gain a voice and this is one way to make the jump. Our door is open. Our literary magazines in our office shelf are available to everyone. Many of our officers are now upper juniors/seniors. We've taken a lot of classes and have textbooks, professor advice, etc. Navigating the shitty bureaucracy of Hunter College the City University of New York is no easy feat.

I'd like to take this time to make a few more thankful remarks to some of my co-workers:

I'd like to thank Jess for being around more. Her loyalty to the Olivetree Review is certainly something incredible. Gentle and non-judgmental, her presence is a leafy relief in such an occasionally chaotic whirlwind of yammering mind cramping.

I'd like to thank Nora for her kindness. I feel like dedicating a song. Next open-mic, I swearit. I'd also like Nora to be my prom date. Nora?

Last but not least-
Thank you and Happy Birthday to Shakti, Senior Fiction Editor. A woman not afraid to share her writing and read the most personal things aloud. Her dedication to literature (she makes book references and I blank stare) and the process of keeping writing and production of the written word a NECESSITY at the Olivetree Review is phenomenal. If I had to chose one motivated person with a diversified portfolio of experiences, anecdotes and hutzpuh, Shakti it would be. Check her blog for examples of her responses to writing prompts.
---------------
apologies go to Victoria for the egg salad sandwich left in her drawer. she is my personal valedictorian.

If you have any questions about joining the OTR, becoming an editor, submitting, or meeting for freewrites please email olivetreereview [at] gmail.com

All publishing questions and production issues should be directed at Reuben our Managing Editor. Email him at the same address with his name in the subject. Other staff at the OTR is no longer fielding questions on aspects of production in which we are not, and have never been- a part of- or responsible for.

Rebecca K, (S.P.E. of OTR).


(pic of S.K. used without permission of the Author because I'm sure he wouldn't mind.)

Spring 2010: Submissions Open!

Click to enlarge.

Deadline April 9th.
Submission Contracts available outside of office 212 in the Thomas Hunter building.

Spring 2010: Bio Edition Part I: Workshop Part: II

the olivetree review.
hunter's hardworking completely student run literary nutso factory. we want more cogs and Mr. Spacely shipped but they never arrived.

let's see here:

1. friday the 19th we've got a lovely line-up of orators and mingle-doers slated for a 5pm. be there. bring friends. bring nips, noshes and nasty photos of your ex. (happy v-day).

meet the staff:

• art editor Megan: enjoys soup, watching mars attacks with rebecca, looking cuddly, getting shit done, flyering and her cute dogs that love when it snows because Meg will be home to cuddle with them. can see merit in art pieces in a way that blow your chonies off.

• treasurer Victoria: has a folder for everything, affinity for odd stockings, a perfect GPA, master of literary nerd puns, can copy edit the Odyssey, likes scones, food that needs to be microwaved. known for drastic haircuts and an eclectic wardrobe variety that livens up the room.
  

• managing editor Reuben: is always revising his work, looks great in hats, direct descendant of Walt Whitman, loves poetry and fiction. reuben is a partner in crime (re: "bottles" spring 2009) and has actual work stations set up in his room for his creative process. night owl. don't ring this bloke before two p.m. thee man with thee workshop plan.

STAY TUNED:
Next edition explores: Shakti, Jess and Nora. As the semester progresses- bios of editors will appear like magic. People w/o senior positions are not exempt. I am exempt because I update this blog.

<3Reeboot.