UCR’s Review of Arts and Writing (RAW) magazine has long prided itself on its ability to provide a well-curated, high quality product showcasing our community’s creative abilities. The current board does not disappoint – the Fall 2016 RAW edition was ripe with experimental art and visually pleasing photo pieces. Amidst the busy preparations already underway for the Spring release, the RAW board took the time to speak with Tabula Rasa on their vision for the upcoming 10th edition.
Firstly, a quick intro for those who may not be completely familiar with RAW’s mission. RAW is a tight-knit board that works to feature submissions sent in from the UCR student body. Hannah Davita Ludikhuize (Chair), Kurt van Wyk (Secretary), Anna den Hollander (Treasurer) and Roos Vroon (Designer) are the brains behind the operation, with their end product being a semesterly compilation of artwork in various forms/media. RAW as a journal aims primarily to serve as an open forum for UCR students, enabling seasoned artists and amateurs alike to share and publish their work in a semi-professional context.
RAW is deeply rooted in the larger student community, not only due to the fact that this comprises their pool of artistic submissions. RAW is motivated to highlight a vital yet often overlooked aspect of student living – the creative expression of the innermost thoughts and feelings of us budding scholars. In doing so, RAW hopes to encourage everyone to tap into their artistic potential, and to remind us all that is possible to keep in touch with our creative sides whilst hammering out papers and cramming for exams. The editors are finally a crucial part of RAW’s public presence, and it is the input of these dedicated volunteers that makes RAW such an overwhelming portrait of the UCR community as a whole.
The RAW board works hard, but this is not to say that they do not enjoy every minute of it. Being in such a small, intensive group setting encourages all members of the board to take part in what is a fast-paced, thought-provoking process. The whole journey from point A to Z is entirely dependent on group input, communication, and opinionated discussions. From keeping their social media updated to selecting those final few pieces, there would surely be no end product without the hard work of this dedicated core of four.
This semester marks the 10th anniversary of RAW magazine (the theme for this semester’s special edition will soon be unveiled)! In looking back to the first few editions of RAW, the current board is filled with immense pride. From increased submissions to the heightened paper and design quality of the overall product, RAW sure has come far. It is the solid foundation established by earlier boards that encourages each year’s new management to continue daring to push the boundaries.
While RAW happily considers each and every submission it receives, there are a few things the current board would like to see more of. The RAW board looks forward to expanding on the ‘writing’ aspect of their title, and is hoping to see more poem and short story submissions. Abstract, ambiguous artworks and detail-oriented photography that is open to a wide variety of interpretations is also very much welcome. Finally, RAW would love to see more direct representations of the student condition, so do consider turning those procrastination doodles into something a little more productive. RAW encourages everyone to put his or her work out there, be it anonymous or otherwise!
Noga Amiri, Class of 2018, is a Literature and Art History major from Hilversum, the Netherlands.
