Once again, the new issue is jampacked with thoughtful, engaging creations from an eclectic group of writers and visual artists. Let’s jump in and take a closer look at two of the selections from the issue.

The wonderful cover art for this issue is from Coralie Huon, a multidisciplinary artist located in Grenoble, France. Her series of mountain paintings are a perfect fit for WRJ, and they connect with me personally as well. There is complex symbolism tied to these mountain images: they are a challenge, an intimidating obstacle, perhaps an unattainable aspiration. Mountains represent steadiness amid change, stability in difficult times. From another angle, they can represent ascent, an upward trajectory, a pursuit of meaning. Although there may be many paths to the summit, none will be successful without a deliberate, surefooted approach to the tasks at hand. (And certainly, there is no such thing as a direct route with these types of journeys!) I’ll leave my own interpretations at that, but please visit Coralie’s website to read about some of her own inspiration and, of course, to see more of her beautiful artwork.

The second selection that I’d like to highlight here is from Suus Agnes. Her hybrid series “Slime Mould Dreams” combines paintings with poems, and she uses this unique narrative structure “to explore human relationships with ‘unloved’ creatures,” as Suus outlines on her website. Not only is this a fitting merge of the visual and literary, but it’s also a perfect “micro” view that complements Coralie’s “macro” view.

We may very well have just as much to learn about ourselves from looking under our feet as we do from gazing at the highest peak.

I hope you enjoy the issue!

Aaron Lelito – Founder and editor in chief