In its 33rd year, local literary journal with international cred still going strong

CORVALLIS - Calyx, a literary journal and press that features women, receives so many submissions, it allows hopeful contributors to turn in their work only during a narrow window of time from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31 each year.

Despite the constraints, they still process about 1,000 submissions annually, not to mention at least two books on average that arrive in the mail every day from authors and independent publishers hoping for a coveted review in the back of an upcoming Calyx issue.

The small offices of Calyx, situated on the second floor of the building that houses The Clothes Tree, at Second Street and Madison Avenue in downtown Corvallis, brim with bookshelves full of such works.

In its 33rd year, the independent press with the big reputation still flies under the radar of most locals.

"We're almost wider known in New York than we are here," senior editor Beverly McFarland said. She has been with Calyx for 20 years.

A large part of Calyx's renown over the years has come from publishing notable authors and artists early in their careers.

Writers previously published in Calyx have included Julia Alvarez (who wrote "How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents"), Olga Broumas ("Beginning with O"), Chitra Divakaruni ("The Mistress of Spices" and "Sister of My Heart"), Molly Gloss ("The Hearts of Horses"), Barbara Kingsolver ("Animal, Vegetable, Miracle") and many other others.

Calyx was also the first U.S. press to print the work of Mexican painter Frida Kahlo in color in its 1980 international issue. The written submissions in that issue appeared in English and more than 10 original languages.

In 1989, Calyx won the American Book Award for a collection of art and writing themed around Asian women's perspectives called "The Forbidden Stitch."

"We have lots of firsts," McFarland said.

The Calyx staff includes three part-time employees and about 50 volunteers, including interns that hail from all over the country - this summer from as far away as Ohio and Michigan. Of course, many locals have volunteered with Calyx over the years as well.

The selection process for each journal issue is headed up by a five person editorial collective. For the summer issue that just came out, the collective was C. Lill Ahrens, AliceAnn Eberman, Marisa Silver, Linda Varsell Smith and McFarland. The art editors were Kristina Kennedy Daniels, Margarita Donnelly, Carolyn Sawtelle and Eberman.

Everything is reviewed by at least two people (one must be in the editorial collective) before it is rejected or moved on in the selection process.

"The strength of the collective is having lots of perspectives," McFarland said.

University of Oregon student Andi Calliope Linden was among those with work chosen for the most recent issue.

The three black and white photos that lead off the art section of the summer issue are Linden's first published work.

Linden heard about Calyx after attending a reading featuring Ursula K. LeGuin and other contributors at UO last year.

"It was really cool to see some literary women get together," Linden said. "To see a place for young women to express their art."

Linden is among only six Oregonians published in the summer issue. Other contributors hail from 20 states and the United Kingdom.

Calyx relies on funding from foundations and individual donors to operate.

Recently, the nonprofit was one of nine Oregon arts organizations that received grants totaling $350,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts. Calyx's share, meant to preserve jobs, was $25,000.

CHECK IT OUT

WHO/WHAT: Calyx, A Journal of Art and Literature by Women with poetry, fiction, essays, art and book reviews.

UPCOMING:

• Reading with Portland and Salem area writers, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 16, Annie Bloom's Books, Portland.

• Calyx Glitterati "Twice the Spice,"

6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, The Clubhouse, Adair Village.

GET IT: Calyx Journal is available in bookstores nationwide, through subscriptions (CALYX, PO Box B, Corvallis, OR 97339) or on the Web, see www.calyxpress.org.