Two University of Mobile students have turned classroom skills into a homegrown publishing venture, launching a magazine called “Ant Farm” that spotlights local artists and Mobile’s creative scene.
The magazine was co-founded by Heath Vester, a junior studying fine arts with a concentration in graphic design who serves as design director, and Eleanor Mason, a senior English major who serves as editor-in-chief. The name is a nod to local history: fire ants are believed to have entered the United States through the Port of Mobile, and the founders wanted a title that paid homage to that piece of the region’s past.
Vester said the goal behind the project was to give local creatives and artists a platform to share their work while showcasing what sets Mobile apart from other Southern cities when it comes to art, culture and history. Three issues had been published as of early June, with a fourth planned for later in the month.
Although its founders and much of its staff are current or recent University of Mobile students, the magazine is not officially affiliated with the university, according to a university spokeswoman. The first two issues were released online at antfarmmobile.com, while the third marked the magazine’s first run in print. Print copies have been distributed at Mars Hill Café and Carpe Diem in Mobile, Shop Around the Corner and Moka’s Coffee House in Saraland, and The Little Shop in Satsuma.
That third issue, themed “The Rain Issue,” features photography of thunderclouds and coastal storms alongside a recurring feature called “Ant Farm Approved Makers,” which highlights local businesses and photographers with a distinctive creative eye.
The magazine’s small staff includes 2014 University of Mobile graduate Christian Hilley as director of photography, Christian Mott, a University of South Alabama graduate, as co-editor, 2015 University of Mobile graduate Stephen Tindal as an online blogger and editing assistant, and University of Mobile sophomore Audrey Birkhimer, who works as an intern handling blogging and event planning.
Vester said the team hopes readers come away with a sense of pride in Mobile after seeing the work local creators are producing, and that the magazine, currently funded through student savings and sponsor outreach, will eventually expand into a statewide publication as the founders build relationships with vendors across Alabama.