Life Through Word and Lens Celebrates Student Creativity Through Writing, Photography and Multimedia Showcase

Cowley College’s Media and Digital Journalism and Creative Writing programs recently hosted Life Through Word and Lens, an interdisciplinary student showcase celebrating the creative talents of students across multiple storytelling mediums.

The event began when Marlys Cervantes and Meg Smith combined Cervantes’ Creative Writing Portfolio Review with Smith’s Digital Photography Gallery Opening to create a unified showcase bringing the two programs together. Over time, the event has continued to evolve based on student work and interests, expanding beyond writing and photography to include student film premieres, audio and video projects, and, most recently, the addition of Writers’ Corner.

In preparation for the showcase, Abigail Green and Smith worked with students to build professional portfolios and prepare their work for presentation. Green’s Creative Writing students curated portfolios featuring poems, short stories, journals, and other written pieces. This semester, Green introduced Writers’ Corner, a live reading component featuring student presenters in an intimate setting designed to resemble a cozy coffee shop. The Wright Room was transformed with mismatched chairs, lamps, and warm décor to create an inviting atmosphere for attendees.

Despite taking place the same evening as the downtown Art Crawl, the event drew a strong turnout from students, alumni, and community supporters. More than 15 photographic prints were sold during the evening, and three presenters shared their work during Writers’ Corner.

Digital Photography students selected and framed images for exhibition as part of their portfolio development. Pieces that did not sell during the event remain on display in the Life Through Word and Lens gallery hallway located west of the Wright Room in the Brown Center.

By adapting each semester to reflect the unique creative output of its students, Life Through Word and Lens continues to provide an engaging platform for collaboration, artistic expression, and portfolio development across disciplines.

Hunter Ferguson | Integrated Communications Specialist
Cowley College
125 S. 2nd Street
Arkansas City, KS 67005
hunter.ferguson@cowley.edu