Editor’s Note:
I am so excited about this issue of FORTH. To present work from both internationally-acclaimed poet Elizabeth Alexander—featured poet at President Obama’s Inauguration—and the Westside-based poetry duo Steve & Sekou national slam champions—we had to expand our page-count to give our readers such literary giants. The message from each poet about how literature and the arts can change the social climate is both bold and inspiring to say the least.
In addition to these featured poets and their work, are the other exceptional pieces in this issue. This includes the down-n-dirty journalism of Marco Mannone, the extraordinary moments captured by photographer Greg Garthe, the subtle, sensual, images of sculptor Dennis Gray, and much more. From these talented contributors, I feel FORTH Magazine is truly fulfilling its mission to act as the forum for the literary and artistic culture of Los Angeles. As Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, it is my honor and privilege, through the pages of the magazine, FORTH-sponsored events, and my own personal journey into this world, to reflect and help develop the artistic & literary passion so abundant in this city.
The notion dawns on me once again that we, all of us, are truly creators; manifesting every moment of our lives, using our intellect and free will and our innate, undeniable, inescapable sense of adventure to be the author of our own realities. These strange and crazy and deeply unique journeys define how we craft human existence. Every movement, every chuckle uttered, every person we touch is a unique expression created by each of us. We are indeed life artists. All helping to reflect and re-invent the experience of human consciousness. For the artist or writer, to expand this experience through painting, sculpture, literature, or any other means is to go forth into that creative frontier, and FORTH Magazine is here to give them a voice along the way.
Jeremy Shawn Pollack
Publisher & Editor of FORTH
Download PDF of Issue #3
Table of Contents
Literature
Featured Poets
Elizabeth Alexander Interview by Raya Tha Truthsaya
Take America Back by Sekou (Tha Misfit) and Steve Connell
Poetry
Another Woman by Toni Miller
The Two Times I Loved You the Most in a Car by Dorothea Grossman
Not Again by Dorothea Grossman
Indian Summer Where I Live by Dorothea Grossman
The Book of the Dead by Laura Schultz
Hollywood Babylon by Raya Tha Truthsaya
Fiction
Remington by Wendy Sue Morris
Black-Eyed Susans by Lisa Rae Cunningham
Science Fiction
The Far Touch (Part III) by Charlie Thomas
Non-Fiction
The Robert DeNiro Slave Brigade: Coalition of the Doomed by Marco G. Mannone
Art
Paint
Acrylic on Canvasby Michael Pukac
Séance For Departure: The Jack Parsons Project by Kuger Peterson
Lone Star – Rendered by Kuger Peterson
Beatby David Philips
Scavenging for Love by Justin Mientell
Photography
Photography by Greg Garthe
Mixed Media
Mixed Media by David Brady
“Sea Dream” by Gary Eisenberg
Obama Roach by Adam Tan
Sculpture
Sculptures by Dennis Gray
Culinary Art
Culinary Art by June Pagan
