JCC Holds Black Review Review & North Country Writers Contest Celebration

Jefferson Community College School of Arts & Humanities unveiled Volume XXXII of the Black River Review and recognized the winners and honorable mentions of the 2022 North Country Writers Contest at a celebration held on May 5, 2022 in the John. W. Deans Collaborative Learning Center on campus.

The BRR, a journal of poetry, musical arrangements, prose and fine arts, is a publication of works submitted by JCC students, alumni, faculty and staff. During the celebration, JCC students were recognized for their outstanding contributions in art, writing, and music. The BRR cover art, an oil painting titled Colors for All Seasons, is the work of Jefferson student Emma R. Corbett, Lowville. 

Recipients of the Outstanding Art Contribution Award are Emma R. Corbett, Lowville, for her oil painting cover art and Anna M. Snell, Watertown, for her oil pencil sketch titled Pastiche of Leonardo da Vinci’s Lady with an Ermine and pencil sketch titled Momentary.

Recipient of the Outstanding Music Contribution Award is Vatressa S. Teamoh, Watertown, for her composition titled Mollitiam. 

Recipients of the Outstanding Creative Writing Contribution Award are Malachi R. Adkins, Watertown, for his poems titled Dr. Faustus’ Sonnet, An Excerpt From the Personal Writings of Eleos and Dice and Macbeth, King of West End, North Carolina, Reflects on His Life Choices; and Zoe R. Turtura, Adams, for her poem titled Gin.

In addition to Volume XXXII of the BRR unveiling and award presentation, winners and honorable mentions of the 2022 North Country Writers Contest were recognized during the celebration.

Winners of the 2022 North Country Writers Contest are:

• Poetry Winner: Michael L. Keck, Black River, Black Creek, Croghan 1962
• Fiction Winner: Amanda J. Marshall, Lacona, Elaine Patterson of Solus Road
• Nonfiction Winner: Emily M. Levinson, Cambridge, MA, Farming as an Act of Letting Go

James I. O’Connor, Chippewa Bay, received honorable mention for his poem entry, June Hours. Patrick L. Keck, Belleville, received honorable mention for his fiction entry, Work Language, and Joshua M. Kachurak, Pulaski, received honorable mentioned for his fiction entry, Moon and Back. Margaret Taylor, Watertown, received honorable mention for her nonfiction entry, The Black Hair Experience: An Identity Crisis.

Winners of the 2022 writer’s contest were awarded $75 while those receiving honorable mention were awarded $25. All winning and honorable mention entries will be published online and are printed in the 32nd edition of the Black River Review.  

Sponsored by the JCC School of Arts & Humanities. Funding for BRR awards is made possible by the JCC Campus Life Social Committee. 

Photo Caption:
The BRR cover art, an oil painting titled Colors for All Seasons, is the work of JCC student Emma R. Corbett (above), Lowville.

Photo Caption:
JCC students recognized for their outstanding contributions in art, writing, and music to the Black River Review are (l-r) Malachi R. Adkins, Watertown, Outstanding Creative Writing Contribution Award, Zoe R. Turtura, Adams, Outstanding Creative Writing Contribution Award and Emma R. Corbett, Lowville, Outstanding Art Contribution Award. Unavailable at time of photo: Anna M. Snell, Watertown, Outstanding Art Contribution Award and Vatressa S. Teamoh, Watertown, Outstanding Music Contribution Award.

Photo Caption:
Winners and honorable mentions of the 2022 North Country Writers Contest are (l-r) Joshua Kachurak, fiction honorable mention, Moon and Back, Amanda Marshall, fiction winner, Elaine Patterson of Solus Road and Michael Keck, poetry winner, Black Creek, Croghan 1962.  Unavailable at time of photo: Emily Levinson, Cambridge, MA, nonfiction winner, Farming as an Act of Letting Go; James I. O’Connor, Chippewa Bay, poetry honorable mention, June Hours; Patrick L. Keck, Belleville, fiction honorable mention, Work Language; and Margaret Taylor, Watertown, nonfiction honorable mention, The Black Hair Experience: An Identity Crisis.