The 2024 print issue plays with concepts of collaboration. For the first time in Tab Journal’s twelve years, the Creative Director has paired with another designer, Jessica Oddi, to create the visual language of this print issue. The bold visual backgrounds demonstrate a painterly process of two artists in the same space mark-making on one canvas together.

These visual elements become front and back partners of each poster–sheet–page. The conversations between this design and the poems themselves (text and voice) amplify the definition that this printed issue is at once a singular object and two interdependent parts, like a door hinge or a pair of pliers. One component cannot operate without the other. Pairs are categorized as twos or duos of parts, people, or ideas, but pairing carries the complexity of layers. The pairing of wine and cheese embodies two objects with their own distinct processes, standards for quality, time for aging, textures, and experience of taste. In medicine, theragnostic refers to the pairing of diagnostic biomarkers with therapeutic agents to provide treatment matched to an individual. In a kinematic pair, each of two physical objects imposes constraints on the movement of the other. Pairing risks the mismatch, invites the unintended connection, and suggests what is left out by quantitive limits. The goal for this issue is partnership, conversation, and celebration of the depth and complications of useful pairings.

Tab Journal Vol 12.1 January/February 2024 Download

Paul Brooke: Grotto of Neutrinos

Grotto of Neutrinos by Paul Brooke

Grotto of Neutrinos Morse Code by Paul Brooke

Yan An, translated by Chen Du and Xisheng Chen: Tenebrosity

Tenebrosity by Yan An Yan An translated by Chen Du and Xisheng Chen

Julia Kolchinsky Dasbach: I always want to leave you at night

I always want to leave you at night by Julia Dasbach

Xander Gershberg: Registry [Train to Krakow], Registry [Willi Tannenbaum] and Registry [Travels]

Registry [Train to Krakow] by Xander Gershberg

Registry [Willi Tannenbaum] by Xander Gershberg

Registry [Travels] by Xander Gershberg

Anton Lushankin: Innuendo

Innuendo by Anton Lushankin

Katie Manning: Dear Shadow

Dear Shadow by Katie Manning

Adesiyan Oluwapelumi: Fractals

Fractals by Adesiyan Oluwapelumi

T.W. Sia: You will never lose family

You will never lose family by T.W. Sia

Tab Journal Vol 12.2 (March-April 2024)Download

Yan An, translated by Chen Du and Xisheng Chen: Situations of a Bird and Two People

Situations of a Bird and Two People by Yan An Yan, translated by Chen Du and Xisheng Chen

Denise Duhamel: Poem in Which I Contemplate Loneliness Through a Peephole and Poem in Which I Contemplate Imposter Syndrome

Poem in Which I Contemplate Loneliness Through a Peephole by Denise Duhamel

Poem in Which I Contemplate Imposter Syndrome by Denise Duhamel

Reuben Gelley Newman: [Two toads devolved in a cello brood] and [Two nodes divulged in a mellow mood]

[Two toads devolved in a cello brood] by Gelley Newman

[Two nodes divulged in a mellow mood] by Gelley Newman

Cyn Kitchen: When Leaving, Again

When Leaving, Again by Cyn Kitchen

Jerry Lieblich: in and of, how, not what, and for wind today a wind

in and of by Jerry Lieblich

how, not what by Jerry Lieblich

for wind today a wind by Jerry Lieblich

Raymond Luczak: My Ghost Boy and First A-S-L Sign Me-Learn What | My First ASL Sign

My Ghost Boy by Raymond Luczak

First A-S-L Sign Me-Learn What | My First ASL Sign by Raymond Luczak

Sandra Marchetti: Friday, 1:20

Friday, 1:20 by Sandra Marchetti

Andrew Mauzey: The Moon Enjoys a Performance

The Moon Enjoys a Performance by Andrew Mauzey

Kimberly Ann Priest: in memorium

in memorium by Kimberly Ann Priest

Susan Rich: Heartscape/Cityscape

Heartscape/Cityscape by Susan Rich

T. W. Sia: In the clearest sketches after memory

In the clearest sketches after memory by T.W. Sia

Emily Velasquez: Book Review of “Promises of Gold / Promesas de Oro” by Jose Olivarez

Special Issue: California Coastal Commission Poetry Contest

Every year, Tabula Poetica selects finalists for the Coastal Poetry Contest for K-12 students hosted by the California Coastal Commission. This year, Chapman University students in Tab Journal Editor Anna Leahy’s MFA poetry writing class served as the mid-level judges. Tab Journal is thrilled to share the poems of young Californians as part of this collaboration with the community and Annie Frankel, the Public Education Program of the California Coastal Commission. You can also view the winning art and poetry selections at the California Coastal Commission’s website.

Tab Journal Vol 12.3 (May-June 2024)Download