Artemis Magazine began in 1977 as a showcase for art and writing by women, a special project of a women’s resource center run by the Roanoke organization Total Action for Progress, or TAP.
That women’s resource center has long since closed, but the magazine lives on, returning after a hiatus to become the Roanoke Valley’s highest-profile annual literary venture. Though most of the poets and artists who fill the Artemis tables of contents hail from Southwest Virginia, contributions have come from across the country and even overseas.
“Our survival is a testament to the power of creativity and collaboration,” wrote Artemis founder and editor Jeri Rogers in the forward to the latest volume. “Our enduring legacy is a testament to the many volunteers who have dedicated their time and effort to make this journal a reality.”
On Friday, the premiere of Artemis’ 31st issue in 47 years will reach another high-water mark: The 19 th U.S. poet laureate, Natasha Trethewey, will be both the volume’s featured poet and the featured reader at the launch event, which starts at 5 p.m. at the Taubman Museum of Art.