PCC’s Literary Art Magazines Reach New Heights

Two big milestones are happening in Portland Community College’s literary scene. PCC is launching the 50th issue of Alchemy literary magazine and the 40th issue of Pointed Circle. The longevity and quality of these student-produced magazines reflect the dedication of staff and the student talent. 

PCC serves as a launchpad for aspiring creatives, with three active literary magazines featuring fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and visual art. These magazines are edited, designed, and produced by student editors across the Sylvania, Rock Creek, and Cascade campuses. In 2023, then Alchemy editor Hannah Rae Whittle was awarded a full-ride scholarship to Smith College.

Justin Rigamonti at the Carolyn Moore Writers House. (Photo/PCC)
“Serving on these editorial teams has a tremendous impact on our creative writing students, giving them real-world editorial experience that not only serves as actual resume material for writers but also launches a few of them into ongoing editorial work,” said Justin Rigamonti, Pointed Circle advisor and Carolyn Moore Writing Residency Program coordinator. “In fact, all of the PCC alum residents at the writers house have been former editors of one of PCC's lit magazines, and that isn't a fluke—these courses are a doorway into the national writing community, showing our students what publication is all about, giving them hands-on experience with how the literary industry works.” 

Alchemy

Alchemy is a 110-plus-page magazine showcasing prose, poetry, and visual art by PCC students and contributors from around the globe. Each year, a Graphic Design Program student designs the cover. The magazine has earned accolades, including a gold medal from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association for its 2015 issue and a silver medal in 2007.

Alums featured in the magazine include U.S. Poet Laureate William Stafford, Gloria Bird (founding member of the Northwest Native Writers Association), Kesha Ajose-Fisher, the 2020 Oregon Book Award for Fiction winner (“No God Like the Mother”). The 50th issue features work from 27 students, 12 alumni, three faculty/staff members and two Carolyn Moore Writers House residents.

Pointed Circle

Since its inception in 1984, the Pointed Circle has been curated by Cascade Campus students. Staff say it is an innovative, diverse and prestigious anthology for an international readership. The magazine encourages writers and artists of all genres to submit their work, and it is produced by students registered in related coursework. 

The magazine’s 40th issue includes contributions by PCC students, faculty and alumni, and includes selections from the first three years of the Carolyn Moore Writer’s House, including work by award-winning writers Ismet Prcic (winner of the 2013 Oregon Book Award for Fiction), Jae Nichelle (viral poetry star and author of the 2023 collection “Gods Themselves”), and Jose Hernandez Diaz (winner of the 2023 Benjamin Saltman Award).

Alchemy and the Pointed Circle anniversary edition are available at the PCC Bookstore for $5. Visit: https://www.pcc.edu/bookstore/.