November 2023 Issue

Note from the editor’s: After this issue, we’ll be publishing issues every season (four times a year). We hope you enjoyed volume three and can’t wait for you to read our next volume!

This Issue’s Contents

Poem Of The Month

Our Personally Drafted Disaster

I send my words off

A carefully-crafted personally drafted

disaster

Through the darkness of the forest,

they stumble through thickets and thorns.

In a river, my words thrash about the water,

Swept up by the current, caught up in the storms,

struck by lightning, they fall to the ground shocked

and struggle to crawl forward

Finally reaching a door, unlocked

And as they make their way to the entrance

I’m mortified to see

That they’ve become tattered and destroyed,

And I start to regret that I let them free

Drawing Prompt

Colored Pencil Drawings

Since I don’t usually use colored pencils, I decided to go out of my comfort zone a bit and make a series of portraits and sketches using them. I really enjoy using the technique of layering contrasting colors to create a rich, vibrant effect and add details and shadows.

Send us your colored pencil sketches to sandazine@gmail.com for a chance to be featured in our next issue!

Music Review

VWETO II by Georgia Anne Muldrow

Above: VWETO II

Georgia Anne Muldrow is a musician, vocalist, songwriter, and artist combining elements of jazz, hip-hop, and soul in her music to create a sound that is unique to her. Her 2019 album, “VWETO II” is full of sci-fi celestial sounds and funky beats. Although the album has frequently been described as futuristic, there are many elements similar to 70’s and 90’s electronic music scattered throughout the album.

The 2021 album “VWETO III” was created following this album, which uses similar elements of electronic and jazz music.

Below: The music video for “Mufaro’s Garden” from Muldrow’s following 2021 album “VWETO III”

Empowering Activity

Volunteer in Your Community

If you’ve ever been bored during the weekend or just want to help others, volunteering is a great way to fill your time! You can volunteer at a local thrift store, food pantry, library, etc. There are so many ways to help out, and no matter what you choose to do, you’ll feel like you’ve given back to your community.

Sustainable Fashion

An Outfit Styled With yes and

Yes and is a sustainable fashion brand that creates beautiful clothes and accessories with responsibly sourced materials. The use Global Organic Textile Standard certified materials to reduce their carbon footprint and water consumption. Yes and is also committed to fairly paying their workers and especially focus on empowering women and their local communities. Finally, yes and uses organic fibers that are made to last so that you can be sure to get good use out of your stylish finds!

Simone Midi Skirt – $44

Learning to Appreciate Art

Art is ubiquitous. Throughout history, art has been an avatar of human creativity and emotion. Art has the power to be universal yet incredibly personal. However, for many people, their individual connections with art are limited. It’s completely normal to feel detached from, or even confused by art! Losing creativity, motivation, or even a sense of artistic interpretation happens to everyone at some point. While it might seem difficult to reignite a passion for art, these simple steps can help you fall in love with art.

Understand the Value and Purpose of Art

While you may not initially realize it, art has a much broader purpose besides being beautiful. Of course, art can be visually pleasing, but its true meaning is to convey an emotion, tell a story, honor a culture, inspire a viewer, make a statement, and bring people together. When thinking about how art has evolved, it’s clear to see that art is invaluable. So the next time you see a piece of art that you don’t immediately connect with, try to dig deeper. If you can, ask the artists what the piece means to them or what they experienced while creating it. Look into the history of the design and its impact; recognize that art often extends past a simple picture.

Observe Different Art Styles

There are no rules to art; it is completely subjective and it can look like anything and everything. Maybe mention that art is subjective instead? However, it’s very easy to forget that. Even when looking for artistic inspiration, remember not to get trapped in a bubble of similar art styles. If you find that the unique elements of your styles start to look more like flaws, try to challenge yourself to discover artists who embrace those features. Keep an open mind to new styles and note the differences that make you appreciate them.

Look for the emotions and humanity in art

Since art is commonly used as a form of self-expression, it’s essential to recognize its meaning and significance. Art often represents raw, unfiltered emotions, and having empathy can help you understand an artist’s point of view. Be respectful of ideas that differ from your own and acknowledge that everyone has unique perspectives and varying life experiences.

Keep making your own art

One of the best ways to appreciate art is by making your own art! Being consistent will also allow you to gradually improve– but remember, improvement takes time! Be patient with yourself. Acknowledging that your art doesn’t have to look perfect and setting reasonable expectations can help you appreciate it more. If you’re using a reference photo, keep in mind that your art doesn’t have to look exactly like it. And even if you’re unhappy with how your art looks, it’s still a valid way to express yourself!

Although you may not notice it, art is omnipresent in our lives. Next time you leave your house, look for art. Maybe there’s graffiti on a wall, a sculpture, or even interesting architecture on a building. Whatever it may be, finding ways to appreciate it can help you become a more open-minded and tolerant person.

Photo Collage

Peaceful Moments

Usually when creating a photo collage, I always look for visual similarities that ties all the individual photos together. I’ve experimented with using a similar color scheme, subject, or filter/blur. However, this time, I tried to tie everything together through the emotions and memories from the photos I captured. Behind every photo, there is a specific story I associate with it. One is from the time I spent catching up with a friend. Another is from a trip to the lake with my family. I even included a photo from a block party where I made new friends and new connections. And with all these memories, I felt peace and joy- all of which I’ve captured through these photos.