The Island Reader released its 16th edition this past June. Using the theme of “jack and jills of all trades,” the journal explores the visual and written works of 53 artists and authors. The islands represented in this year’s anthology include Baker Island, Frenchboro, Great Cranberry Island, Isle au Haut, Islesboro, Islesford, Long Island, Matinicus, Monhegan, North Haven, Peaks Island, Swan’s Island, and Vinalhaven.
This year’s inclusions features richly saturated paintings and photographs that capture feelings and faces of island living in Maine. Poetry, prose, and historical narrative detail landscapes, people, and memory.
Since its inception, The Island Reader has been a platform for creative self-expression. With the first edition printed in 2006, The Island Reader began as a thin, black & white, saddle-stapled arts anthology showcasing the work of artists living on four of Maine’s unbridged islands. Since then, The Island Reader evolved into a beautifully produced perfect-bound publication and includes artists and writers from sixteen unbridged islands. The Island Reader is truly unique in regard to its submissions and is special to Maine’s island communities.
The Mission publishes The Island Reader annually while the independent, talented team of co-editors oversees all content. That team includes Kendra Chubbuck of Isle au Haut, Ingrid Gaither of Great Cranberry Isle, MT Martin, Jr. of Islesboro, Kimberly Peabody of Matinicus, Douglas Cornman of Steuben, and Editor-in-Chief Gary Rainford of Swan’s Island.
Since 2006, Sunbeam, a 74-foot vessel, and its caring crew have provided a floating, winter oasis for The Island Reader’s team. The Sunbeam and its crew are an extension of the process, expertise, and resources that make publishing The Island Reader possible.
From July 1 to December 31, 2022, the editorial team welcomes submissions for the 17th edition. Submissions of visual art, poetry, and prose are accepted from writers and artists living on unbridged Maine islands. To learn more about submitting, please review the guidelines.
To order a hard copy of the 16th edition or browse prior editions digitally, please visit The Island Reader web page. To learn more, explore the Mission’s Island Outreach program.