Artemis 2026 Celebrates its 50th anniversary since beginning in 1977
Over five decades, the Roanoke-based, award-winning journal has published more than 3,000 poems and works of art from both first-time creators and some of the most celebrated names in American literature and visual art. Contributors have included Pulitzer Prize winners, Poet Laureates, and emerging Appalachian voices, all appearing side by side in a publication that is one of the few in the United States to integrate visual art and poetry throughout its pages fully.
The sold-out Sept. 4 celebration marked five decades of an annual, juried publication that interlaces poetry and visual art while celebrating the beauty, creativity, and distinctive voices of the region.
Founded in the basement of Roanoke’s YWCA in 1977, the mission of Artemis Journal is to “uplift and showcase the creative voices that echo from the Appalachian hills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, nurturing artistic expression and weaving a strong, interconnected community.”Founded in the basement of Roanoke’s YWCA in 1977, the mission of Artemis Journal is to “uplift and showcase the creative voices that echo from the Appalachian hills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, nurturing artistic expression and weaving a strong, interconnected community.”
For half a century, Artemis has done just that. The 50th anniversary public launch featured U.S. Poet Laureate Arthur Sze and internationally acclaimed artist Michele Oka Doner, whose work graces the cover of the anniversary journal.
The evening began with a warm Star City welcome from the Taubman Museum of Art Director Cindy Peterson. Joanne Casuallo, a Taubman Museum trustee, followed with remarks about Doner and her artistic contribution to the anniversary edition.
Then came a special recognition for the woman who started it all.
Roanoke Vice Mayor Terry McGuire presented Artemis founder Jeri Rogers with a proclamation declaring Sept. 4, 2026, Artemis Journal Day in the City of Roanoke.
The announcement was met with thunderous applause from the sold-out audience.
And it was a fitting tribute to Rogers, whose life and work have been deeply intertwined with the creative life of the region.Rogers is a publisher, poet, photographer, and editor who has published more than 3,000 poems. She is also, in my view, what might be called a “healing art therapist” — someone who has spent decades using creativity to help people discover their voices, process their experiences, and see new possibilities.
Rogers believes that “art can light the way.”
For thousands of people, she has done exactly that.
50th Anniversary
Special Guest Poet, Arthur Sze, U.S. poet Laureate
Roanoke Taubman Museum of Art
September 4, 2026
The 2026 edition of Artemis, themed “Origins,” reflects both where the journal began and how far it has traveled. Juried selections from artists and writers across the region and beyond will appear alongside nationally recognized contributors, including the US Poet Laureate. Arthur Sze, acclaimed poet; Nikki Giovanni, Virginia State Poet Laureate; Ron Smith; Carolyn Kreiter-Foronda, US Poet Laureate; Natasha Trethewey, acclaimed artists; Sally Mann; Betty Branch, and Steven Kenny.
Roanoke Taubman Museum of Art