The Absolute, OCCC’s literary and artistic journal, recently hosted its annual celebration of creativity in the atrium of the Visual and Performing Arts Center – this time drawing in the most participation since its current advisor, Chair of English Jeff Provine, began overseeing the publication back in 2021.
While the previous record totaled around 140 or 150, this year brought in an estimated 180 participants, a new record that Provine hopes will be beaten again next year, noting that “every year it gets better and better.”
Provine, who recently took over as the new chair of English and continues to serve as a professor in the department, said that he plans to maintain his role as advisor to the Absolute as well.
He also revealed that Chloe Elimam, professor of digital media design, will be joining the team as co-coordinator, predicting that the addition will be a “great boost” to the visual side of the Absolute.
The recent celebration began with music provided by OCCC classical guitar students while attendees mingled and ate refreshments.
For the duration of the event, the Inasmuch Gallery was open for the OCCC Art Program Capstone Exhibition, where students in the visual arts program could show off their work.
According to Jeremy Fineman, chair of the visual arts program, the exhibition represented a culmination of the works that students produced throughout their time in the program, narrowed down to put their best pieces forward.
“This is geared at transfer expectations,” he said. “But we meet the students where they wish to be and pursue their goals in the ART 2822: Capstone-Portfolio and Development course.”
The night ended with two awards ceremonies. The first recognized the top works accepted for publication by the Absolute in the categories of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, artwork and photography.
The second honored winners of a new essay contest sponsored by the English department, with submissions judged in four categories: argumentative essays for English Composition I, essays for English Composition II, narrative essays and essays for a level-2000 course.
In the Absolute’s fiction competition, first place went to “The Tumultuous Affinity” by Emmett Langan. Second place went to “Resurrection Debris” by Noah Milligan, and third place went to “Eve” by Mark Jones.
The nonfiction category only had a first-place winner, which was “The Ripple We Leave Behind” by Grace Matheson.
The next three categories had many submissions, prompting the creation of an honorable mention award in addition to awards for first, second and third place.
For poetry, first place went to “bpd” by Jonas McGee. Second place went to “Poolside Eyes” by Alyssa Elliott, and third place went to “I Rise, Unbroken” by Erika Mendez. Honorable mentions went to “Palestinian Pomegranates” by Kade Aspell and “The House That Still Feeds Me” by Isela Walters Harjo.
In the artwork category, first place went to “Burnt Out” by Madison Upton. Second place went to “Underwater Secrets” by Emma Lauritzen, and third place went to “Ham-Burger” by Paulina Martinez. Honorable mentions went to “Heart” by Michelle Jean-Jacques and “Portrait of Veronica” by Will Crews.
In the final category, photography, first place went “Iration-Live at Tower Theater, OKC 7/14/25” by C.J. Barbee. Second place went to “One Big Croc” by Jesus Ramon, and third place went to “Little Sparrow” by Benjamin Rodriguez Nevarez. Honorable mentions went to “The Journey” by Distant Simpson and “The Church and the Black Man” by Mose Hardin.
The night concluded with the awards ceremony for winners of the essay contest, with each category having a first and second place.
In the category of argumentative essays for English Composition I, first place went to “Oklahoma Senator James Lankford’s Solution to Government Shutdown” by Joseph Fontanilla, and second place went to “‘Some Things Will Never Change’: Evaluating Tupac’s Message of Racism in America” by Alissa Horse.
In the category of essays for English Composition II, first place went to “The United States and Deposit Return Systems: An Honest Examination” by Kaden Halstied, and second place went to “Public School and Homeschool: Understanding Both” by Cheyenne Roberts.
In the category of narrative essays, first place went to “No Regrets” by Riley Westphal, and second place went to “The Glue I Never Needed” by Emmy Phan.
In the final category, essays for a level-2000 course, first place went to “Imperialist Hypocrisy in Conrad’s Heart of Darkness” by Martin Miller, and second place went to “The Role of Art and Culture in Combating Oppressive Systems” by Jonas McGee.
As the night concluded, attendees mingled and shared in mutual celebration – not only for those who received awards, but also for one another in their shared love of creativity.
