http://www.beirutartbookfair.com/

On December 14, 2012, Rusted Radishes was launched into the world of literature and art. Hind Faraj’s storied face on our cover was held in the hands of a very good showing of people, who apparently, were excited about this new Beirut journal. Okay, tons of them were our friends and contributors, but it remains true that there was a very good vibration of excitement and support. The front room of T-Marbouta was a very nice space for the event, lit up with fairy lights and a warm holiday season buzz, amongst other buzzes. The live musical element was thanks to a guitar duo including Mayssa Jallad, one of our contributors, whose voice and guitar strums climbed softly over the crowd for the duration of the event. We sold and distributed copies (free for AUB students and faculty), we ate bouche de Noel, drank wine, wine, wine, and beer, we listened to contributors read their work. We were merry. Here are a few photos of the event! Thanks to Christina Atik from the department of Architecture and Design at AUB for taking them!

Music!

Thea Hallak, contributor of both poetry and fiction, and incidentally an Architecture student holds two very important items in her hands.

Peter Kalo, in town for the Festival of Stories, joins the launch to tell a story and egg Fouad Mezher on…

Beirut illustrator, Fouad Mezher, doodles for RR.

M. reads his experimental fiction piece “Idiomsearch.”

Antony Dinardo, author of the poem “Big Deal” in our first issue, gets his copies. Staff editors Joanna Abillama and Rawan Nassar distribute cheerfully!

One of our first readers, ever.

Reading the rules of the Exquisite Corpse – a legacy left behind by Crystal Hoffman – which is essentially a long poem composed by haphazard lines of poetry from each individual who drops one into the fishbowl.

New fiction editor, Thurayya Zreik reads the Exquisite Corpse.

Contributors Yasmine Saab and Thea Hallak.

Design editors Hicham Faraj and Sahar Khraibani share a victory hug. An amazing design duo!

We will be accepting submissions of fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, one-act plays, photography, and art and craft stills. Please see the submissions page for particulars on how to have your work considered for publication.

This project is generously funded by the Mellon Foundation.