Letter from the Editors

Our Spring 2022 Letter-from-the-Editors reflected upon beginnings–those of the season and those of our still-young publication. However, this issue represents more of an ending for us two co-editors. We are leaving our post at the close of this school year, and, in our last issue as editors-in-chief, we would like to reflect upon the mission of our literary magazine as we have understood it for these past two years. 

Vermilion was founded to be a space for artists in the Catholic University community. Specifically, artists in pursuit of beauty. Every artist honing their craft engages in this pursuit. We view beauty as the ability to capture what is oftentimes most difficult to express. Praying the rosary, birds taking flight, dressing for a funeral, birds staying put, the controversial Georgetown Transformers: these images are only a few of the different vehicles utilized by this issue’s artists. Each artist pursues in their own tone, their own voice, their own genre.

When we created Vermilion, we wanted to give artists a way to share this work, but we also wanted to use this magazine to inspire a commitment to craftsmanship of beauty in the arts. In any craft, the enduring accomplishments from the past set the standard for what counts as a great work. We don’t get to decide what is great and what isn’t. The history of craftsmanship has already, to some extent, decided that for us. Poetry, painting, photography, and all other forms of artistic expression are possessed of traditions that pass judgment on every new work of art. We use these preexisting traditions to discern the pieces of greatest expression; we allow the beauty to speak for itself. 

Since the founding of the magazine, we have been honored to receive hundreds of submissions from artists striving to craft beautiful works of art. We leave our work with the magazine with confidence that Catholic University will continue to attract such artists to its grounds. 

It has been one of the greatest blessings of our academic careers at Catholic University to lead Vermilion. We cannot express enough heartfelt thanks to the Vermilion staff members of the past two years for their laborious hours devoted to the magazine. Last, we express our great affection and thanks to Dr. Taryn Okuma, our faculty advisor. Without her vision and leadership, Vermilion would never have come into existence, and we would not have known the joys of learning from such a thoughtful and caring mentor. 

A blessed Easter season to you all, and we hope you enjoy Issue 4 | Spring 2023. 

Ave atque vale. 

Matthew Sawtelle & Jessica Wyeth 

Co-Editors-in-Chief

Spring 2023