Editors' Letter

We are not just one thing. We are this complex mixing of identities. The progression of music.

The theme comes from a series of performances that explore personal transformation by saxophonist and composer Ted Nash. Nash’s original composition was first performed with Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. This spring Nash performed it yet again with the Santa Barbara Symphony. He also worked with local musicians and help them produce their own original compositions, which they debuted at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. They were joined on stage by writers in this issue. The stage itself was decorated by local K12 students inspired by Joan Tanner’s unorthodox use of materials. Together these artists explored the idea of transformation, both personal and collective, bringing word and music together in this exuberant community-sourced celebration of the expressive and empathetic power of art. Nash, himself, was inspired by a letter written by his son Eli about his transition. A recording of Eli reading this letter is included below, along with photos of the event at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art.

We were moved by the way Eli highlighted different aspects of himself in his letter. He's a doctor, has all these other interests like watching movies, and he loved his childhood even as he longed to change. Coming out as trans is so powerful and scary. While trans people have existed and always will, in the American mainstream it's a fairly new thing that we are barely embracing. We call on everyone to share whatever platform they have to support and empower trans folx.

This issue is a collaboration with the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. We want to thank Patsy Hicks and Kristy Thomas for their support. 

Why does someone have to be like me to be human? As editors, we felt the need to show that we are all different pieces of this mosaic, of what it means to live. Each work in this issue wildly diverges from the next. There are poems about haunted houses, Shakespeare, dolphins, and dystopia. There are stories about plagiarism, the weather, rebellion, and writing, itself. We need to humanize one another: to appreciate our diversity, maybe even more than what we have in common. This issue is just one little step that we are taking to do that. 

This art, this story, this poem, this work doesn't have to be you, but you can listen. These are their songs.

Joshua Escobar, Emma Trelles, Jose Macias, Ian Martyn 

Issue 4 Editors