TWO POEMS – Charley Barnes

Image: Lee Krasner – The Seasons (1957) Charley Barnes is a Worcester-based poet and author who has recently gained her Doctorate degree in Creative Writing and now spends her days wondering what to do with it. Charley’s debut short story collection, The Women You Were Warned About, was published in May 2017, and her debut…

PHOTOGRAPHY – Jim Zola

Jim Zola has worked in a warehouse, as a security guard, in a bookstore, as a teacher for deaf children, as a toy designer for Fisher-Price, and currently as a children’s librarian. Published in many journals through the years, his publications include a chapbook — ‘The One Hundred Bones of Weather’ (Blue Pitcher Press) — and…

TWO POEMS – Martina Reisz Newberry

Image: Claude Cahun – Untitled (1937) Martina Reisz Newberry’s latest books are: NEVER COMPLETELY AWAKE (Available from Deerbrook Editions) and TAKE THE LONG WAY HOME (Available from Unsolicited Press). Her work has been widely published in the U.S. and abroad.  She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Brian, a Media Creative. White Italian When…

ART – Gavin Shepherdson

This artwork by Gavin is also featured in Issue Two of Porridge, available for purchase here. Gavin Shepherdson is a designer and artist from Lanchester, Durham. He studied Animation at Northumbria University and has exhibited short films at Ani’mest and Vilnius Festival among others. This will be his first publication for his artwork. His interests include…

ART – Hendrika Seguro-Bigg

This artwork by Hendrika is also featured in Issue Two of Porridge, available for purchase here. Hendrika Seguro-Bigg is an English Literature and Philosophy graduate from the University of Birmingham. Issue Two of Porridge was her first print publication, though she hopes to continue creating, taking inspiration from the world and its people as she leaves for travel…

PHOTOGRAPHY – Keith Moul

Keith Moul is a poet of place, a photographer of the distinction of place. His digital photos strive for a colourful vision with their high contrast and saturation. Both his poems and photos are published widely and available on his website, http://poemsphotosmoul.blogspot.com.    Lost Lip (2012) The Arches Provincial Park, Newfoundland   Ran Out of…

ONE POEM – Ian C. Smith

Image: Willem de Kooning – Valentine (1947) Ian C Smith’s work has appeared in, Amsterdam Quarterly, Antipodes, Australian Poetry Journal, Critical Survey, Live Encounters, The Stony Thursday Book, and Two-Thirds North. His seventh book is wonder sadness madness joy, Ginninderra (Port Adelaide). He writes in the Gippsland Lakes area of Victoria, and on Flinders Island, Tasmania. Ambrose in…

ART REVIEW: Where Privacy Meets Paranoia – Melissa Mesku

Melissa Mesku is a writer and editor in NYC.  Where Privacy Meets Paranoia  Bushwick artist builds a space for viewers to contemplate privacy “There’s people in your head,” artist Thierry Laurent explains, pointing to a silkscreen collage, one in his series of five called The Unknown. The image is dominated by an Illuminati-like eye. Below it,…

ART – Zoe Paterson

Zoe Paterson is an artist and Political Science graduate living in Birmingham. Horror stories are a big influence in her work, which aims to be simultaneously kitsch and unsettling. Her artistic influences include Francis Bacon, Dave McKean and all of the Goosebumps book covers. When she’s not painting, you’ll find her programming, skating, or learning…

ONE POEM – Aimee S. Green

Image: Wassily Kandinsky – Cossacks (1910) Aimee S. Green is an MA student currently living in Birmingham. Aside from working on a novel for her dissertation, she adores experimenting with short story forms and playing with perspective. She shares her poetry and prose on her blog, at https://aimeegreenwriter.wordpress.com/ Bombs Run. Like the bustling of a…

The Fight for Empowerment – ART REVIEW by Lauren Holder

Featured image credit: Shepard Fairey, 2007, Power and Equality, screenprint Lauren Holder is a recent Psychology graduate from the University of Birmingham. Currently, she is training with the NHS to become a mental health social worker alongside completing a masters in Social Work through the University of York.  1963, the height of the revolutionary civil rights…