The Kaleidoscope Journal of Art and Literature is a Spoon River College student publication featuring short stories, poems, essays, song lyrics, photography and fine art. It is published each spring and distributed throughout the SRC district.

To view a gallery of Kaleidoscope covers and past publications, click here, click here.

In 1983 under the direction of communication instructor Bob Gorg, Student Editor Jerry Swank, and incoming editor David Pires, the Spoon River College Student Senate sponsored a literary publication under the title Collegiate. This first publication was to be a semester project, taking place each semester under new student leadership. After the second year, this changed to a yearly publication.

The Collegiate was filled with stories, poetry, essays and public commentary in the first year but, beginning in the second year, included pen and ink sketches. The second year also saw the initiation of cover art designed and executed by an art student; the 1984, Volume 1, Issue 2 magazine includes the cover design by Christy West. The magazine was edited by student staff and advised by Bob Gorg.

Many changes have taken place since those early years of publication: what was originally an in-house publication was sent out for professional printing and binding; what had a strictly literary focus eventually added visual arts; what was called the Collegiate became, in 1996, after soliciting student input, the Kaleidoscope; a black-and-white, print-only publication added a full-color CD-ROM; and in 2003, founding advisor Bob Gorg stepped aside. During its life, the magazine has had a nearly endless range of formats, appearances, sizes, bindings, and general orientations.

What remains the same: the Kaleidoscope is a student-run publication. Advisors guide the student editing staff in decision-making, but the students run the magazine. The Kaleidoscope editor has the final word on all design decisions, with input from an assistant editor and the advisors.

The Kaleidoscope, now the Kaleidoscope Journal of Art and Literature, continues its mission to publish fine works of literature and visual arts by students, faculty, employees and friends of Spoon River College. The Kaleidoscope is distributed each spring on the day of the popular “Coffee Spoon” event, an annual celebration of the arts that was born as a Kaleidoscope spin off.

Kaleidoscope Cover Design Contest

Deadline: February 18, 2010

The Kaleidoscope staff encourages anyone to submit a cover design for consideration in the 2009-10 publication of the campus art and literary journal. Below are the size and design specifications for the cover.

Color = full range - artist’s choice

Media = Images must be hand drawn or come from scanned 35mm photography OR original digital photography. ABSOLUTELY NO IMAGES FROM THE INTERNET. All images must be copyright free.

Subject = Must represent the college and/or the publication in some way. Should reflect a creative message to illustrate the diverse content of the magazine.

Font = Style is choice of artist. Must include the following content:
KALEIDOSCOPE 2009-10
Journal of Art and Literature
A Student Publication
SRC logo or the words Spoon River College.

The magazine designs must meet the following size guidelines:
Closed and trimmed size of the magazine: 10.5” tall x 8.25” wide
Open size (layout size): 10.5” tall x 16.5” wide
Must use SRC logo somewhere on front or back cover
Layout orientation: Vertical – book style opening magazine
Resolution (if submitting a digital design): 300 ppi in CMYK
File Type: .jpg

If you have further questions you can contact Tracy Snowman
tracy.snowman@src.edu
649-6237