A spectacle can be a lot of things: a distraction, entertainment, maybe even a dog whistle to attract all the wrong people. But I’m not afraid of a spectacle. I’d even go so far as to say we need more spectacles. The “we” (of marginalized, disenfranchised voices) need not hide, but rather put pen to paper, brush to canvas, and limbs to instrument to remind the world that a monolith never existed.
What does that have to do with being the Art Director of FIYAH Literary Magazine? Not much, admittedly, at the beginning of my tenure, but everything if we want to continue to hope for better, especially through the arts and culture. And a cover isn’t always just a cover — a magazine is never just a magazine — without a vision, a purpose, and a community. FIYAH has all three.
I don’t know what I’ll be able to achieve, but now that I’m here, I’m itching for a spectacle. One that entertains and distracts but also heals and inspires because art makes noise and saves lives, so giving up is not an option for us right now.
Of course, I can’t forget to thank all the ambitious hands and minds that brought FIYAH to where it is today. And thank you to those who will carry it forward. For now, that includes me as the new Art Director, and I’m feeling quite ambitious.
Let’s create the future together,
Kerine
(Find more of my work on Instagram – @kodexname)
