This is Balestra, an emerging literary and multi-media arts magazine. A balestra, our namesake, is a footwork action used in Olympic Fencing. The balestra is a small, accelerating, jump, typically before exploding forward with a long, attacking, lunge. Balestras change the tempo, break the rhythm, and catch your opponent off guard. Here at Balestra Magazine we seek to do the same.
Balestra is a place for everyone. Whether you’re an emerging artist submitting your first poem for publication, an established writer looking to experiment with something new, or an experienced creator in the mood to share your work, Balestra is the platform for you.
We challenge our creators to explore and experiment; to play with forms, themes, and styles unique to the individual artist and as exciting and challenging as they dare to be. In keeping with this mission Balestra refuses to censor any submitters. All works, no matter how uncomfortable, sensitive, or even at times disturbing, are welcome at Balestra so long as they have corresponding artistic merit.
The first edition of Balestra will be an experiment. An artistic endeavor lead by the Balestra Editorial Team but made possible by all of our incredible contributors. We look forward to constructing this first edition and iterating upon it with every subsequent edition to carefully sculpt the premier literary and multi-media magazine for emerging, and experimenting, artists.
Thanks to everyone reading this. We hope you return for our first edition as well as every edition afterwards and look forward to accompanying you on the incredible journey of Balestra.