Editor’s Note | Issue 2

In a world where human worth is often determined by success, the arts are often dismissed as a trivial or a bottom-line purposeless pursuit. Whether the art form is acting, writing, painting or singing, the product is often taken for granted and artists are often left snubbed unless they have achieved wild success.

The chances of becoming a quantifiably successful artist are notably slim, so why pursue it? 

This is a question that is frequently posed either directly or indirectly and despite perfectly valid answers from artists and their patrons, art is still generally viewed as an invalid ambition. 

Quarantine has been a fascinating catalyst for more and more people showing interest in pursuing art themselves or appreciating the creations of independent artists. In a time where so many things have become uncertain from living situations to education, people have turned to creating to find solace in a time of chaos and uncertainty. 

Creating allows us to feel some semblance of control, even in the most unpredictable instances. Whether we’re creating pointed poetry like Melissa Felson’s trio of works or the elegant melange of words that appears in Pamela Sinicrope’s Hello Rheumatoid Arthritis, Goodbye Previous Life, (based on over 700 social media responses from people diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis with data provided by the Rheumatoid Patient Foundation), the ability to create puts us in control of our own corner of the world. 

Being able to take in the passion that ran through every word of our submissions was an absolute delight-- and I look forward to sharing these wonderful pieces with our readers. 

Welcome to Issue 2.

Sadie Honchock, Editor