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We are excited to present an issue that features a range of genres in both literature and visual art. As an editorial board, we sought pieces that provoked our thoughts and emotions in ways we didn’t think possible. For us, that meant choosing works that suspend time, and act like a currentless cove, which lets you enjoy the beauty of the author’s world. As we worked our way through the final cuts, we noticed that the pieces were connected by a larger theme than what they represented individually.
It quickly became evident that these works collectively represented different moments, or arcs, we might experience throughout life. This is showcased in the pastels of Blue City where the viewer is given many doorways to choose from, each with its own journey.
In the first arc we see youthful innocence reach a transformative incident in which the realization that “growing up is not as easy as it seems”- takes place. This loss of innocence is captivatingly painted in Adam Huening’s “All the Guilded Butterflies”:
“Zyn scrambled to linger over the body of the broken butterfly. He stared down at her torn wings, still sparkling and magnificent even though in ruin. And the boy wept for the loss of such beauty never understanding how it could go so willingly to its own destruction.”
In the second arc, there is an often eerie resonance between fulfillment and emptiness. Tempra Board’s “How to do Sunday Morning” captures this give-and-take:
“And then realize,
If you’re still searching
For happiness, for something more,
You have no idea why.”
The third arc includes fallen aspirations and coming to terms with their end. In the midst of life's challenges, we tend to lose sight of what's really important. The beginning of Perkins’ “Conversation with a Dying Woman” reminds us to cherish our time with our loved ones.
“I’m sorry
I was so mean to you yesterday
when you came to my bedside.”