Dear Readers,
Touchin’ meeeee, Touchin’ youuuuu! Welcome to Volume XVI of The Grail, and our very tactile first issue! We’re excited to introduce a new board eager to get our hands dirty putting this lil magazine together and into your mitts this semester. In an age where others seem so far away, our ~touch~ issue highlights works relating to all things physical (and meta-physical).
In “Touch,” Sophie K. shows us how quickly true connection can be felt, whether that’s dissolving, tingling, or all of the above, in a story of friendship (1). Feel the soft touch of rose petals with Michelle’s photography and roughhouse in the snow with two coyote’s in Josh K.V. 's exploration of wild Yellowstone (3). Then, be sure to keep your flashlight and pumpkin head on hand for the second installment of Allison W.’s supernatural serial (4). Grab a partner and dance in the rain with Sidney F.’s image of the Canyon (6) before Priya reminds us to beware Phaedra the Siren and the lure of infatuation (7). Fall in love and wither away as Jules takes us on a journey through the frustrating effects of time (9). Will S. offers a not-so-gentle takedown review of Doug Liman‘s “hashtag-so-true” heist romcom Locked Down (10). And finally, Ema C. shows us it’s never too early to start reading The Grail, with an absolutely touching portrait of her newborn son (12). As we continue to keep our (at least) six foot distance from each other, we hope the contents of this issue of Volume XVI touch your heart.
In honor of Black History Month, we’ll be skipping our next print issue to make space for Black voices and students. In the meantime, please redistribute your money and resources to Black people, in this month of learning and action and always.
Check this spreadsheet for donations directly to Black Reedies.
XOXO,
Your Spring 2021 Editors
Aislin Lighter Steill, most likely to be sending candy hearts to mushrooms (yet again)
Bahar Tarighi, most likely to send scratch-and-sniff stickers to random mailstops
Erik Beserra, most likely to make bread for himself on Valentine’s day <3
Lauren Mondroski, sigma male? more like sigma grail, amirite?
and Sophie Halpin, most likely to lounge around all of Valentine’s Day
Fiction by Jules Dubel, Sophie Klingborg, Priya Narain, and Allison Wallace
Photography by Ema Chomsky, Josh Klein Valente, Michelle, and Sidney Fong
Review by Will Stevens
Playlist by Grail & Friends
Playlist:
Reachin’ out'
Odes to hands-on love, DNT anthems, no one’s heart makes it out of this playlist untouched.
This issue is dedicated to Craig Lauder,
whose many years of printing service, knowledge, and aid was greatly appreciated and will be greatly missed.
He bolts upright from the classroom floor to find there is hardwood now instead of emerald carpet. His legs are shorter than they’d used to be, clad in long khaki shorts that show shriveled monkey limbs from the knees down. No. No, no, no!
His hands are shriveled like the prunes he’d so often associated with old age, thick white hairs curling off the backs of them, follicular steam. Where had she gone?