Editor ’ s Note
the journal of literature and the arts at saint david ’ s school
Editor ’ s Note
“ Joyful balance ,” our school-wide theme for 2022-2023 , resounds throughout Volume XIV of the Obelisk . The writing collected here from Saint David ’ s boys expresses a wonderful balance of lived and imagined experiences evoking joy of many kinds . In these pages , you will encounter the joy of overcoming uncertainty and daring to follow unknown paths of inquiry , the joy of appreciating happenstance and understanding that victory is often counter-balanced by loss , the joy of relationships that spark inspiration and the desire to be one ’ s best self , the joy of finding courage to challenge norms and to look for learning in moments of struggle , and the joy of laughing at absurdity while asking , Why not ? Saint David ’ s boys ’ works of art , too — their paintings , drawings , pottery , woodwork , and sculptures — demonstrate a remarkable joy in the balance of skills and imagination . To see for yourself , leaf through these pages and you will find fantastically colorful landscapes , elegant and innovative shapes , creatively delineated spaces , startling contrasts , revealing iconography , multi-dimensional lines , and connections between past and present .
It is so rewarding to witness each boy at work as he strives to realize a particular vision in art and writing that feels personal , beautiful , complex , and true . Starting in classes and continuing through workshops and their own time , boys who invest steady care and take risks always surprise themselves with what they can create and discover . As this journal ’ s editor , I love seeing how that surprise ripples on through the committees of faculty and alumni