Eastern New Mexico Universities El Portal is accepting submissions from the creative minds around Eastern.
El Portal is a creative journal created and founded for ENMU creative minds in 1939. Today the journal is run by most of English department students from graduate and undergraduate program.
Even though El Portal is housed in the English Department, the journal accepts art forms from all departments focusing on work of artists, writers, and photographers.
While El Portal had its debut with mostly southwest influence due to its location, Tiara Bollig, head editor of El Portal, has been working hard to show the different perspectives by showcasing a variety of global artwork. Currently they take entries from all kinds, and she encourages artists to submit works that are not only related to New Mexico.
During the COVID-19 pandemic the journal struggled to find enough artists to showcase in the issue and the team was so happy to see that this semester that they are back in campus the submissions were overwhelming. This semester alone they have received around 500 entries, compared to past semesters when they would receive only around 250.
Over the years the journal has seen a huge increase in submissions, and they are happy that this is picking up. Bollig said she was impressed with the increasing numbers and the variety of international submissions they received. She’s even seeing submissions from Japan and various countries of Africa besides national artworks.
Most of the creative works they get are in the form of poetry and writing. Bollig encourages photographers to submit more of their artwork so El Portal can showcase their abilities into the journal. Sometimes the journal receives some collage artwork, and she is so thrilled and amazed to receive such great and innovative pieces of work.
Bollig says that one thing she looks for in artwork for El Portal is simple: “I want to feel that punch in my gut”. She wants that artwork that touches us deeply, feel that raw emotion that just takes over you while you experience the piece.
If you are thinking of submitting your work to El Portal be sure to check their page and past issues. They accept submissions year-round. The staff is composed by students, and they all work throughout the school year to better serve the journal.