Vagus Nerve picking up popularity

The spring 2009 edition of The Vagus Nerve debuted Friday night and will be available on campus newsstands starting today. Photo by Steven Lawton

“Who doesn’t like to have their work shown?” asked Justin Favela, editor-in-chief of the Vagus Nerve.

The spring 2009 edition of UNLV’s art magazine debuted Friday night with a launch party in The Vagus Nerve’s own studio in the Arts Factory downtown. 

The popularity of the latest edition was evident even before issues hit the press or party plates hit the tables as more than 500 visual and 100 literary pieces were submitted for entry.

“It’s great this year finally having a working gallery,” Favela said.

Having their own space breathed more life into the magazine and the experience for students.

The Art Factory is an ideal venue to showcase student pieces. An urban artistic feel permeates the venue as student art pieces hang in every open space on the wall.  Pieces like “Lady Auguste #2″ by Krystal Ramirez showcased fine photography while others like Hilary Steinberg’s “Salmon Rushdie” defined remarkable pen works.

The Vagus Nerve’s CSUN-driven budget publication once a semester.

“Our Marketing Director Jordan Bernot did an amazing job with posters and getting the word out,” Favela said.

Students submitted paintings and photography as well as literary works like short stories and poems. Pieces were accepted via e-mail, CDs and physical delivery.

Choosing among applicants was no easy task. Jennifer Kleven, assistant editor described this year’s process as more difficult than previous years.

“We probably spent six hours on just the visual works and then another six hours on the literary submissions,” Kleven said.

With a panel of 15 assistant editors reviewing all submissions, the process was grueling.

“We take this very seriously. The panel knows that they will be spending many hours looking at the submissions,” Kleven said.

The main focus of the magazine is to promote pieces with originality and exceptional technique.

“We love the pieces that just catch a viewers’ eyes and that’s what we’re mainly looking for,” Kleven said.

Lance Smith submitted “Even If You Tried,” a piece composed completely from bank ink on white paper.  When Smith was asked what drew him to the magazine he smiled from ear to ear and simply replied, “I’m just a part of it,” and then explained that the magazine gives students the courage to publish their work in a studio.

“It’s hard to get your work out there,” Smith said.

Kleven and Favela are proud of the student submissions and the launch party, a sign of their growing success and popularity.

The Vagus Nerve started in 2001 as a small pamphlet distributed with The Rebel Yell. Now the art magazine can be found in more than 15 stands around campus including those in the Student Union and the Lied Library.

“I want to stress that anyone can submit, not just the art department,” Favela said.

Kleven said their newest goal is to encourage more literary submissions.