Mission Statement

​MASKS Literary Magazine is published in partnership with the Columbia College Chicago Library and the Aesthetics of Research Program: an ongoing series of exhibits and events dedicated to exploring the role that libraries play in the artistic process, creative community building, and resource-sharing in the arts.
 
We focuses on supporting emerging writers and artists. This is a meritocratic space in which new writers can build their portfolios, find their audience, engage in a professional editorial process, and get their work out into the world.  While we have no restrictions on the writers or content published beyond our issue's theme, we’re passionate about publishing new writers, new artists, and new perspectives. As such, we've pledged to increase representation of the BIPOC, LGBTQ+, women, disabled, multilingual, and other marginalized and underrepresented communities, because the publishing world needs diversity. We support and join the movement that is making that happen.

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L.A. Hawbaker

Managing Editor
(she/her) L.A. Hawbaker is a writer and artist based in Chicago by way of New Orleans, Hawaii, Poland, Thailand and Prague. She's a staff writer at PopMatters and has had work published in Bright Wall/Dark Room, Reflex Press, Allium Journal, and Newcity Magazine, among others. She has exhibited art at the Bridgeport Art Center and Oak Park Art League in Chicago and sold at the Frenchman Art Market and Pirates Alley in New Orleans. She was the 2020-2021 Artist-in-Residence at Columbia College Chicago's Aesthetics of Research and the recipient of the 2021 Friends of American Writers Scholarship. ​You can find her on Twitter @lhawbaker & www.lahawbaker.com.