Keeping literature alive in Northern Idaho

Fugue, a literary magazine fueled by UI students

Community members and Fugue staff gather at One World Cafe for Fugue’s issue 57 release party on December 5. Emily Pearce | Argonaut

The University of Idaho is famous for its liberal arts programs, both graduate and undergraduate. Out of all the things that have come from the university, the literary magazine Fugue has been a great addition to UI’s liberal arts opportunities.

Fugue is based out of Moscow and began publishing in 1990. The magazine prides itself on being a publisher in Northern Idaho.

“You don’t think of Northern Idaho as this literary arts community,” said UI third year Master of Fine Arts candidate in poetry and Co-Editor-in-Chief of Fugue, Ryan Downum. “What I found here, especially in Moscow, is how important the community is with art and literature. It is really special to be able to engage with the community and try to give back in some way.”

In their issues they have published poetry, plays, fiction, visual text hybrids, interviews and essays. Their issues also show digital artwork, photography, drawings and paintings on their covers. They believe that each issue is an engagement with culture and are proud of each one.

Fugue is managed and edited by graduate students, however there are some undergraduate students involved as well. They are apart of the English and creative writing programs at UI.

“A lot like graduate school, most of what we do in the graduate class tends to be more collaborative, more free-form,” said third year MFA candidate in creative nonfiction and Co-Editor-in-Chief of Fugue, Keene Short. “That helps with community. We already have to work with each other.”

Their issue’s work is not just limited to UI or the Pacific Northwest, either. Fugue gets submissions from all around the world. Anyone is welcome to submit work, Downdum said.

Fugue’s newest release is issue 57, which has a wide variety selection of literature.

“A lot of what goes on inside the classroom comes outside what pieces we accept. The direction we want to take the journal, is definitely stressful but (is) also a nice relief from schoolwork and (allows us) focus on what we are making,” Downum said. 

Emily Pearce can be reached @[email protected] or on Twitter @Emily_A_Pearce.

About the Author

Emily Pearce I'm a psychology and communications major graduating in spring 2022. Read my stories in LIFE, News and Opinion at The Argonaut.

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