Nikki Giovanni

Artemis 2020 Nikki Giovanni

The Artemis mission has not changed from its conception. Borne out of the writing workshops held for the victims of domestic violence in Southwest Virginia, Artemis Journal has been an advocate for social justice since 1977. We continue to pay tribute to those foundations today by advocating equal and fair treatment of all. Artemis strongly denounces all forms of discrimination. Whether it is a fight against sexism or racism, Artemis works to elevate the voices of all genders and backgrounds--and to provide a pathway for their art.

Our yearly journal highlights voices of artists and writers who uphold the values of the Greek lunar goddess for which the journal was named - Artemis. As the archetype of the mother goddess, Artemis was protector of wild animals, the wilderness, young women, childbirth, and known as a carrier of light.

The theme for this year's journal is "Season of Women" and will be a centennial celebration of the 19th amendment to the US Constitution giving women the right to vote passed one hundred years ago. As we celebrate this momentous event, we are honoring an artist who was also born 100 years ago and made an impact on the art scene here in our hometown, nationally and internally. Dorothy Gillespie, 1920-2012, supported our fledgling idea of starting a feminist literary and art journal by donating a beautiful pastel for our very first cover. The energy she brought to our journal and our hometown was contagious.