NewsApril 23, 2021

UAFS Releases 2021 Edition Its Spanish Literary Magazine, Azahares

Azahares, the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith's award-winning Spanish-language creative literary magazine, has been released through the College of Communication, Languages, Arts and Social Sciences, and is now live at: The World Languages Department

The magazine contains poetry and artwork submitted by students, faculty, and faculty emeritus along with thought-provoking contributions from Fort Smith and beyond.

“The primary purpose of this magazine is to provide students and community members with an arena for creative expression in the Spanish language as well as a literary space for writing that presents the themes of the Latino experience,” said Mary A. Sobhani, head of the world languages department at UAFS. “And I’m particularly excited about this year’s edition. Completed fully during the pandemic, it has been a feat of resourcefulness, ingenuity, and creative fortitude.”

Although Azahares predominantly highlights student work, providing an avenue for creative expression through English and Spanish writing, submissions are open to all members of the community.

“Azahares creates a space for me to express myself creatively in Spanish when I have no other outlet for language expression,” said Roxy Wylie, a UAFS senior whose poem “Despertando el español” is featured in the 2021 Azahares. “I am not a native speaker of the language but have never been made to feel second best, or less, due to my lack of language skills or the content of my poems. Instead, the World Languages faculty always worked to inspire creativity and encouraged me to push myself in language acquisition.”

“I am filled with pride, gratitude, and – when I look at the printed pages – awe,” said Dr. Rosario Nolasco-Schultheiss, associate professor of world languages and Azahares editorial board member and contributor. “In the last few years, we have also had the privilege of collaborating with Print and Publication Design Professor Katie Harper and her students in the art department for the design of the magazine. Their amazing work cannot be described in words.”

The editorial board is comprised of Dr. Sobhani, Dr. Nolasco-Schultheiss, and fellow world languages faculty members Gray Langston, Madeline Martinez, Dr. Lynda McClellan, Dr. Ana María Romo Blas, Dr. Francesco Tarelli, and Azahares student intern Isela Hernández, of Fort Smith.

Essential to the magazine’s production and design were the following UAFS students: Shreetika Gyanwali of Mena; Quinton Broyles of Muldrow, Oklahoma; and Jenna Drake of Fort Smith.

Community contributors are Martha E. Bieber, UAFS professor emeritus, of Fort Smith; Lovely Mosqueda Ramirez of Springdale, Arkansas; and Mario Loprete, an artist from Italy.

For more information on Azahares literary magazine, contact Sobhani at Mary.Sobhani@uafs.edu.