Despite the cacophonous mix of clubs on campus, Folio Magazine stands out from the rest as the only publication that features exclusively visual student art in print. This tangible art source provides students with an artistic outlet and a means to share their work with the McGill community. Now putting together the magazine’s sixth issue, editors, Paula Alaszkiewicz U2 student and Michael Beauvais U3 student, have set out to expand Folio’s audience beyond the Roddick gates. Penetrating the Montreal art scene will be no easy task, but the dedicated editorial and curatorial team of 2011 is ready to experiment.
Although small, Folio’s pages are bursting with inventive designs that exemplify Montreal’s edgy aesthetic. One of the benefits of publishing art in print is the inclusivity of this format, which is able to incorporate various mediums, from photography to sketching to digital art. For example, the fall 2011 issue features a hand made piece of furniture and an artist that works primarily with oil paint on transparent paper, among other works. This broad selection ensures that any student will find something within the publication that they can connect with, whether that may be the impassioned strokes of a paintbrush. or the mathematical blocking of a photograph.
The magazine’s pages act as a forum for artists to connect with the public and test out their respective artistic styles. McGill students welcome these experimental works with an open mind and an analytical eye, for each issue of Folio spreads around campus in a matter of hours. As Alaszkiewicz says, “we want submitters to know that even though they don’t attend art school, that doesn’t mean they aren’t in a community that appreciates what they produce.”
In line with Alaszkiewicz and Beauvais’ fresh perspective is their choice to go carbon neutral this fall. As one of the few – if not the only – McGill publications to use an environmentally friendly printing method, Folio proves that artistic awareness and environmental conscientiousness seem to go hand in hand. “We hope that eventually Folio will leave no carbon effect…whether that means in regards to production or parties,” Beauvais explains.
In celebration of their recent accomplishments, the Folio team has organized a launch party, taking place on November 3 at Casa del Popolo. It promises to be an artful evening, featuring the musical stylings of Marble Lion, Zoe Kiefl and d’Eon, as well as Joanna Lai’s video art. The goal of the launch party is to expose both students and Montrealers to the immense artistic talent nestled amongst the overarching academic environment of McGill. Folio is certain that weaving an artistic thread through campus will enrich McGill’s image and prove that it is more than just a research university.
In the future, Folio hopes to collaborate with the Art History and Communications Student Society to bring students within the faculty bring artist talks. These sessions will enlist a few Folio artists – who exhibited a clear artistic vision – to discuss their art amongst their peers and specifically address how their academics have influenced their work.
But, for now, Folio has the sixth issue and a party on its mind. How could they not, with all of the hard work and commitment it takes to create each issue? As Alaszkiewicz puts its, “I just can’t wait to hold the finished product in my hands and relax.”