Volume 2022 Parnassus

Letter from the Editor

It is January 2022 as I am writing this, and I am in my last handful of days as a college student. The past four years have, for many of us I am sure, been marked by more than just the usual stresses and joys of life. With social and cultural tragedies, political strife, and the devastating shock of a global pandemic, the ability to create art has, at times, seemed like an insurmountable endeavor. Even so, art, our words and images and stories, has proven itself all the more essential. Art has affirmed, uplifted, and consoled us. Here on campus, the students demonstrated this with their enthusiasm—this year Parnassus received more submissions than we ever have before.

The staff and I have been so humbled by the courage and honesty expressed in these submissions and within the pages of our 2022 issue. We are so grateful to the students who entrusted us with their art. From the very beginning, the staff was dedicated to welcoming as many different voices as possible. To this brilliant team: you repeatedly impressed me with the humility and earnestness with which you pursued this work. You have made this experience easy and it has been such a pleasure to see your devotion to the student artists and this journal.

I also want to thank our faculty advisor, Dr. Aaron Housholder. The artistic landscape of Taylor would not be the same without you, and I am indebted to your influence on my own life and art. You have continually encouraged me, our staff, and countless students across campus and over Parnassus’ history to create, share, and listen.

This year, Parnassus is thrilled to mark our 60th anniversary. We took this opportunity to examine our roots and to ask ourselves who we wanted to be and what we wanted to accomplish. The heart of the staff was to create a place where art was celebrated, new perspectives were shared, and people could connect and be known. In response to these desires and in commemoration of our history, we decided on the advertising theme, “The Mount,” a callback to our namesake—the mountain range in Greece and its mythological connection to the arts. We were particularly compelled by the words of Susan Shank, an editor from Parnassus’ 1980 issue who stated, “Just as the Muses of Mount Parnassus served as a source of inspiration to the ancient Greeks, we hope that this Parnassus, with the products of artistic endeavor which it contains, will inspire other students writers in the years to come.

We have been inspired by the art of students past and present, and our continued hope is to serve as a pace for student art to thrive. We could not be happier with the stories that we have been given. Out of utmost respect for you, reader, and for our artists, I do wish to advise you—this issue contains several pieces that handle sensitive subject matter. It is valuable, and we are glad to share these stories, but please take the caution you feel necessary for the discussions of suicide.

Although it has been demanding, creating and sharing art tethers us to our past loves, present community, and future hopes. These are sacred stories we hope they inspire you to journey forward in that ancient, transcendent climb to the summit.