welcome to...
"what even is the phoenix?"
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The Phoenix, established in 1960, is Westmont College's annual student-produced arts and literary magazine.
Every year, a new team of editors are assembled to promote, curate, and launch a publication filled with contributions made by Westmont's student body, adhering to the theme that the Phoenix crew determine during the fall.The Phoenix hosts a number of events throughout the school year in promotion of the publication and Westmont's artistic community. Of these events often include the annual Open Mic Night, where the theme is announced, and the highly-anticipated Phoenix Night in the spring, which involves the launch and distribution of the magazine alongside a celebration.Submissions look a little different every year, but this year, they will be open from January 19th to February 13th, giving students ample time to ponder and create the artwork they would like to submit-- especially as it relates to the theme."What do I submit," you ask? Any art that applies to the theme! Paintings, drawings, poems, essays, photographs, digital art, short stories, and other literary/visual pieces will be published in the magazine, while songs and spoken/musical pieces will be recorded in a studio and released alongside the magazine in a collective album. If you have a piece of work whose definition exists outside of the ones listed, still submit! We'd love to see your work!
"what's the deal with this year's theme?"
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The theme for edition 66 of The Phoenix is...
COALESCENCE
"The joining or merging of elements to form one mass or whole."polyphony/macrocosmic/harmony/mosaic.The Phoenix crew's decision for COALESCENCE to be the theme for the 2026 publication came about as a result of every editor's common fascination with and interest in exploring and considering ideas as smaller parts that contribute to one greater, unified entity.We are taken by this theme due to how it can and should apply to things big and small, physical and metaphysical. No thing in our good world exists in a vacuum, and we want the Phoenix to be a platform through which that fact can be celebrated.The bees that make up a hive. The minds that realize scientific breakthroughs. The creatives that put together an award winning film. The organs that power a body. The nutrients that constitute a meal. Among countless other instances of coalescence, consider all these great collaborative feats, and you paint the image of the great universe as we know it-- a universe that works only because every thing in it not only works together, but is a product of working together.In this year's magazine, we want to encourage displays of coalescence through the art that is made and shared. Snap a photo and have a classmate render it. Write a collaborative poem where you alternate stanzas with a friend. Sketch something, and let your roommate color it. Write the beginning of a short story, and have your someone else finish it. Compose a song, have your partner write the lyrics. Submit two works of art that are related to each other, part one and part two. So on and so forth.Like many things, art is made in community and for community-- even when done so unintentionally. By imbuing acute intention in the way we create in companionship with others via COALESCENCE, us at the Phoenix believe we can steward some great breakthroughs within Westmont's artistic collective. We hope that you will be a part of it.
It's so incredible that you want to submit to the Phoenix!-----
Click the logo of the Phoenix above to lead to the submission form. We're so thrilled to hear from you and look forward to seeing your work! Best wishes!
meet this year's phoenix team!-----
Editor in Chief
Hi friends, I'm Ashley Clark! I'm a senior double major of English and Theatre Arts, with a minor in Writing. I have an immense passion for the written word; I write plays, films, short stories, the occasional poem, and back in the day, fanfiction (we all start somewhere). Besides writing, I also enjoy other creative endeavors such as acting, literary criticism, and designing things like costumes, lights, or this website. In my free time you might find me with my earbuds in listening to one of my many carefully-curated playlists, or to tonight's hockey match on the NHL radio. I'm thrilled to be EIC this year, and look forward to utilizing the Phoenix to platform you and your exciting artwork!!
Business Editor
Hey I’m Justine! I’m a Sophomore, and I’m majoring in Psychology and English. I love all things creative, especially roaming used bookshops, writing stories, and painting places I’ve traveled. You can usually find me listening to 70’s soft rock (Bread, anyone?), and my most-watched movie is Guardians of the Galaxy.
Art
Editor
Hi y’all! My name is Elise Cho and I’m a 4th-year English major with a double minor in Studio Art and Theatre Arts. As you may have guessed, I enjoy reading, writing, and drawing, as well as wandering around campus or State Street when I have the time. I also have a proclivity for the color green, so if you spot me out in the wild there’s a good chance I’ll be wearing at least one article of green clothing; please don’t be shy if you ever have a burning question about the Phoenix! I look forward to what y’all will craft for our edition this year!!
Music
Editor
Howdy! I’m Ethan Ish! I’m a freshman Engineering major and Music minor. I have been playing the guitar for seven years and producing music for four. I have always enjoyed making music, perhaps to the annoyance of my friends and family who are surely tired of me singing all the time. I also like to write prose and poetry, and though I have yet to publish anything, I have an impressive array of small projects that I started on a whim and never quite finished, and even one or two projects that may actually be finished in the future. I’m really excited to work with you all on your musical ideas and make them into a reality through the Phoenix, and more importantly, I can’t wait to hear the submissions!
Writing
Editor
Hi everyone, I’m Celeste Van Dien. I am a senior art history major with a minor in writing. I spend my time reading, baking bread, and drinking lots of coffee. I am so excited to serve as the writing editor for the Phoenix this year!
Graphic Designer
Hi everyone! My name is Kaitlyn Diffenderfer and I am a senior English major with a minor in Writing. I am very passionate about reading, writing, and storytelling. Outside of my classes I enjoy acting, singing, graphic design, and spending time with my family and friends. I am so honored and excited to be a member of the wonderful Phoenix team this year! (P.S. Kaitlyn made the stunning background that you're seeing right now and all over our Instagram! -Ashley)