By Kenya Chaney
Staff Writer

Looking for a way to express your outlet with literature and art? Piedmont’s
Trillium may be your answer. Trillium is Piedmont College’s literary and art journal. The project was established in 2006 by Professor of English Lisa Hodgens.
In 2009, the project was handed to Professor of English Sian Griffiths. In 2012, Griffiths collaborated with Graphic Design Professor Kaitlin Wilson Botts.
The Navigator spoke with Professor Kaitlin Wilson Botts, who is the assistant professor of art graphic design. Botts first came to Piedmont in 2009 and since then has been a part of Trillium.
“The first year I came here we designed Trillium as a website. Before, it had basically been photocopied and passed around. I had originally put it together as a design class. The literature class would get together on the literature submissions, and my class would design the publication. In 2010, we decided to switch to a magazine format,” she says.
Botts encourages students from all majors to be involved with Trillium.
She says, “You don’t really have to have an art background to really enjoy the class. You just have to have an opinion. Some students in the class are graphic designers, some of them are artists and some of them are photographers. But then we have some students who are more generalized than that. There are many ways for them to participate even though they aren’t artists or designers. Trillium is a nice general class that anybody can take and enjoy.”
Botts has future plans for Trillium.
She says, “This year we’re doing a magazine format. We’re also doing fund raising to build up our budget. One of the things students talk about is the format. Should we do a magazine format? Should we do a website? So I think when we get a lot more funds in the future we can get more creative with what Trillium can actually look like. Our biggest issue right now is we want people to know what Trillium is on campus. Awareness on campus is our biggest goal for the next couple of years.”
Being involved with Trillium can offer a fruitful experience for everyone. “I want students to know that their opinion matters. Everyone has opinions on design whether you have a background or not.
I want students to have experience with participating in a collaborative project. In a lot of classes, you just sit there and do your own thing. For Trillium, it’s great to have students come in and have different opinions and put together a successful publication.” Botts says.
Sophomore art and Trillium student Ricky Kujanpaa says, “It’s a bringing together of art and literature and the entire campus. Surprisingly there are a lot of people who are not art majors who do submit. We do need more people involved. We would like everyone to submit their talent, and share it with the world.”
Trillium is currently in its production stages. There is a chance at a cash prize and becoming a published artist for those who do submit. If interested, please submit your artwork to the Martins Building on Feb. 11 and 12 from 9a.m. to 6 a.m. for jurying. For all digital work, please send to [email protected].