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Student-run literary journal celebrates five decades in new exhibition
Students put the final touches on the "Muse: Calliope at 55" exhibition.
University of the Pacific’s student-run art and literary journal, Calliope, is marking a major milestone—55 years of amplifying student voices through art, writing and design.
First published in 1970, Calliope began as a small annual publication and has continually evolved, with each generation of students expressing its own voice, style and perspective.
Calliope’s rich history is currently on display in "Muse: Calliope at 55," a retrospective exhibition at the Reynolds Gallery located on Pacific’s Stockton Campus.
A collage of covers from past editions of Calliope.
The student-led exhibition explores how the journal has evolved through the decades, highlighting changes in style, literary expression and visual art. It also offers visitors a behind-the-scenes look at the production of last year’s issue.
“Working on this project taught me the weight of artistic legacy,” said Achish Enriquez ’26, a media arts and production major. “Dedicating my time to this gallery was taxing, but seeing it come together was incredibly rewarding.”
The curation process was a collaborative effort, with students from the English, art and graphic design departments working together on the exhibition with guidance from faculty advisor and Associate Professor John Lessard.
Achish Enriquez ’26, a media arts and production major, views her work on display at the Reynolds Gallery.
“All the credit goes to the students. I was impressed with their precocious professionalism, vision and commitment,” Lessard said. “Their biggest takeaway was a vital connection to previous generations of creators, artists and poets at Pacific.”
Calliope has earned national acclaim, including an Apex Award for Publication Excellence in 2008, but the team behind the literary journal has had to navigate challenges, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The student-led group responsible for curating "Muse: Calliope at 55" speaks to attendees.
After a four-year hiatus from print publications, the Pacific alumni community stepped in to provide support during the 2023-24 academic year. Key among them was alumnus Brad Le Du '77, '79, a member of the Pacific Alumni Association Board of Directors. Le Du said he is continually amazed by the publication’s quality.
“I had read online that the journal had not been published for several years and thought it was very important that it be revived,” Le Du said. “I reached out to professor John Lessard to inquire about what would be necessary to revive the journal.”
Brad Le Du ’77, ’79, a member of the Pacific Alumni Association Board of Directors, speaks to attendees during the "Muse: Calliope at 55" reception at the Reynolds Gallery.
Since its revival, Calliope has seen exponential growth, including a substantial increase in the number of student submissions. With its history on display, students said they look forward to this year's edition building on that momentum.
“I am most proud of the fact that we were able to create a dedicated space for Calliope and truly give it its flowers,” Enriquez said. “I am also incredibly proud of our team for pulling this together.”
Guests gather during the exhibition's opening reception.
The exhibition is free and open to the public through Feb. 27. The gallery is located on the south side of Pacific’s Stockton Campus at 1071 Mendocino Ave. and is open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.
