EDITOR'S STATEMENT
by Ana Chen, Co-Editor-in-Chief
by Ana Chen, Co-Editor-in-Chief
I have to be in a certain mood to write. Without that clear, near-eerie sense of creative intention, my thoughts can’t latch onto words. Without that inspiration - that muse - my words can’t find their way onto paper.
COVID-19 has isolated us. While many of us are lucky to be isolated with our families, a bleak distance now separates us from friends, significant others, and support systems. Isolation could mean economic instability or health-related inaccessibility. Some of us are isolated with people or circumstances that may harm us. And some of us - artists - have been isolated without our muses.
The pressure to create has never been stronger (after all, isn’t this the free time we’ve always wanted?), but sometimes nothing seems to come together. For those of us who use art as a coping mechanism, this pressure can be suffocating.
What do we do when we’re running short on inspiration? I find that (re)turning to other artists can be both cathartic and refreshing. Even without a global pandemic, art can feel somewhat lonely.
So, we hope that our May issue can be a source of comfort and inspiration. The caliber of art in here - art that is at once mindblowing and slow-burning - exemplifies our resilience, empathy, and compassion. Take your time with these pieces: test your weight against them, read and reread them, let them unwind before you. Art, more than anything else, is a testament to humanity.
In the meantime, please visit our Resources page for more information on and tools for COVID-19. We may be isolated, but we are far from alone.
Happy reading, and please stay safe!
- Ana Chen, Founder + co-Editor-in-Chief
COVID-19 has isolated us. While many of us are lucky to be isolated with our families, a bleak distance now separates us from friends, significant others, and support systems. Isolation could mean economic instability or health-related inaccessibility. Some of us are isolated with people or circumstances that may harm us. And some of us - artists - have been isolated without our muses.
The pressure to create has never been stronger (after all, isn’t this the free time we’ve always wanted?), but sometimes nothing seems to come together. For those of us who use art as a coping mechanism, this pressure can be suffocating.
What do we do when we’re running short on inspiration? I find that (re)turning to other artists can be both cathartic and refreshing. Even without a global pandemic, art can feel somewhat lonely.
So, we hope that our May issue can be a source of comfort and inspiration. The caliber of art in here - art that is at once mindblowing and slow-burning - exemplifies our resilience, empathy, and compassion. Take your time with these pieces: test your weight against them, read and reread them, let them unwind before you. Art, more than anything else, is a testament to humanity.
In the meantime, please visit our Resources page for more information on and tools for COVID-19. We may be isolated, but we are far from alone.
Happy reading, and please stay safe!
- Ana Chen, Founder + co-Editor-in-Chief