Event Coverage: iliad literary-art magazine’s Student Showcase
The iliad Literary-Art Magazine celebrated their award-winning 2022 publication “Astraeus” by holding a fundraiser at Hendershot’s that featured poetry and live music from CCHS students on Dec. 13.
iliad literary-art magazine Editor-in-Chief Kaija Gilbertson Hall and Managing Editor Ethan Caspary Poucher, seniors, perform onstage at Hendershot’s during the iliad’s Student Showcase on Dec. 13. Gilbertson Hall and Caspary Poucher have played music together for several years and decided to spotlight their compositions at the event to support their publication. “I feel really great about our performance. We work so well together both in iliad and musically, and it was exciting (with) everyone being here to see this, so it’s very fun,” Gilbertson Hall said. Photo by Aza Khan
In a celebration of their work and the Clarke Central High School student body, the iliad literary-art magazine held their first-ever Student Showcase at Hendershot’s on Dec. 13.
The event featured several works published in the iliad's award-winning 2022 edition, “Astraeus”. Coupled with live music performances from iliad Editor-in-Chief Kaija Gilbertson Hall, a senior, and Managing Editor Ethan Caspary Poucher, a senior, along with local band Panic Wave, the night exceeded Gilbertson Hall’s expectations.
“I was delightfully surprised by how many people actually came out to the event,” Gilbertson Hall said. “It was just such a great atmosphere having half the crowd being (CCHS) students and then half the crowd being adults and patrons and supporters of us. It added a fun vibe to the event.”
The night kicked off with a short speech from Gilbertson Hall before she gave way to several CCHS students, who performed their published work, which ranged from musical compositions, poetry, and a fictional eulogy. After a short break, Gilbertson Hall and Caspary Poucher performed some of their music, including their song “The South”, which discussed the unique experience of growing up in the South and was a highlight for CCHS freshman Lila Sloan.
“(My favorite part) was the singing (and) the duet onstage,” Sloan said. “(“The South”) is just (a) relatable (song) growing up (here). I was born on the West Coast in California and then I moved here when I was six years old, so I mainly have only known what it's like to be in the South.”
iliad Writing Director and ODYSSEY Media Group Webmaster Maya Shrivastav, a sophomore, performs their poem “Taking Flight” at the iliad Student Spotlight at Hendershot’s on Dec. 13. Shrivastav wrote the poem for the iliad’s May 2022 publication entitled “Astraeus”, and was happy to perform it live. “I was nervous at first, but I think I’m pretty proud of it,” Shrivastav said. “I was excited to be able to share my work because I just love writing it.” Photo by Aza Khan
More poetry and performances followed before the night concluded with a performance from local band Panic Wave, of which CCHS senior and Athens Community Career Academy student Nik Sweet is a member. According to Sweet, his bandmate Caspary Poucher encouraged him to come out to the showcase, which he viewed as a success.
“From my perspective at least, (some of the songs we performed) sounded like the best they (ever) did,” Sweet said. “I have submitted to the iliad before and I think it's a really cool thing that they're doing. I think they run it in a very cool way because it's focused (on the art).”
The showcase also doubled as a fundraiser for the iliad, as attendees were able to purchase merchandise and magazines from the organization as well as donate online. Gilbertson Hall felt that the event was a success for the iliad, CCHS students and the community.
“Now that people in the community are seeing us, (we hope) that they’ll be more involved with the iliad,” Gilbertson Hall said. “Honestly, I really hope that we can do this again. If this can become a yearly iliad event, that’d be incredible.”
By Wyatt Meyer