On September 18, 2025, Lone Star College–Montgomery proudly hosted its annual SWIRL Art Show, an inspiring celebration of student creativity showcased in the 2024–2025 SWIRL Literature and Arts Magazine. The event drew a large crowd to the campus gallery for an evening filled with poetry, prose, visual art, and photography.
The opening reception began at 5 p.m. with light refreshments and a warm welcome from members of the magazine committee. Special guest speaker J. Bruce Fuller, a published contributor to the SWIRL Journal, delivered a heartfelt address that set the tone for the evening. Fuller’s poetry has appeared in The Southern Review, Best New Poets 2022, and other respected publications. A former Wallace Stegner Fellow at Stanford University, he has received scholarships from the Bread Loaf and Sewanee Writers’ Conferences. He currently teaches at Sam Houston State University and serves as director of Texas Review Press.
Guests explored a diverse exhibition of student work throughout the gallery, engaging directly with the artists and writers behind each piece. The event highlighted the collaborative spirit of LSC–Montgomery, made possible through the combined efforts of the Art and English departments.
Dorie Bloodworth, Coordinator III in the Creative Arts & Education Division, reflected on the evening: “We had a great turnout and were honored to welcome J. Bruce Fuller. His speech really connected with our guests. His presence, along with readings by poets Vanessa Reyna, Elais, and Abiela Swan, featured in the SWIRL Journal, made the evening truly memorable.”
LSC–Montgomery is proud to recognize everyone who participated in the SWIRL Art Show and contributed to the creation of the 2024–2025 SWIRL Literature and Arts Magazine. Creativity, collaboration, and dedication brought this celebration of student expression to life and continue to inspire our campus efforts to support student success. Special thanks to the SWIRL committee, Amy Austin, Cliff Hudder, Jackson Freese, Robby Wood, Wendy Hanks, Suzanne Moore, and Abiela Swan, for their invaluable contributions to this year’s publication.
The SWIRL Art Show remains a cornerstone of creative expression at LSC–Montgomery, bringing together students, faculty, and the broader community to celebrate the arts.