Issue 18: Coorie

CONTINUE THEVOICE

EDITOR’S

Wearenowintothethickofwinter andIforonecouldn’tbehappier! Winterisprobablymyfavourite seasonoftheyear,butthemain twobeingthatitincludesmy birthday andIlovebeingcosy; whichnaturallyseguesmetoour themeofthisissue:coorie.When Ithoughtoftheideaofmaking thisissuethemedaroundcoorie, Icouldn’tbelievethatithadtaken methislongtocomeupwithit. Coorieisawordandafeeling thatisverymuchattheheart ofthiszineandourcooriemoments featurehasbeenalovedfeature byourreaderssincethefirstissue. Forthoseofyouwhoarenew hereorjustneedareminder, ‘coorie’ isaScotswordthatmeans to‘snuggle,nestle’andhasalso rapidlybecomealifestyletrend

aroundthethemeofcosiness. BeingcosyissomethingIhave alwayslovedandisoneofthe reasonsIcouldneverbearto liveinahotcountry.Tome, thereisnothingquitelikehaving abookinhandcurledupinfront ofafireplacewithallthelayers onandahotdrinknearby.My drinkofchoicearoundthistime ofyearnaturallybeingmulled wine(it'snotjustforChristmas). So,ifthatissomethingyouare fortunateenoughtobeableto dorightnow,thengetcosywhilst readingaboutlotsoffuzzythings. Ifnot,thendon’t worrybecause thisissuewillmake youfeel cosyanyway!Ifeltparticularly warmwhenreading‘Adventures withPapaw’andadoredreading ourneweditor'spieceabout being cosyinAlaska!

KirstyTaylor (She/Her) Editor-in-Chief

COORIEIN…

WrittenbyRachelBlume

WhenItellpeopleIliveininterior Alaska,theydon’treallyknowwhatit means. Theyjustenvisiontheice,the snow,theunrelentingcold.Thisisalltrue. It’sfalland-28degrees.Thesnowweighs soheavyonthetrees,stillgreen underneath theslush,thatIworryabout itfallingdownonmeduringhikes.

Itakemysonwithmeontheseoutdoor excursions.Heisthreeyearsoldand aspitfireofpersonality.Weseethe muskoxen,thewoodbison,thereindeer, andthecaribouattheLiveAnimal ResearchStationalongtheway.The mooseweseeinthewild.

Iunderstandtheharshnatureofthis life.Theintensecoldwhen-40comes. Wegoinsideafterourwalktothe frozenlakeandIshuffleoutofmy snowgear,pulloffmyson’shat,straighten outthehikingpack,andgetready tomakedinner.

I’dneverheardofthiswordbefore. Coorie.Howcansomeonelikemetalk aboutcosinessinafrozen,borealforest inthetaiga?Iletthenewwordsit withme.

Intheevening,weeatsmokedhalibut andIserveupmacaroniwhilewe watchtelevision.MysonandIcurled uptogetheronthecouch.Weare warmandcomfortableunderthe blankets, watchingcartoonsandeating whatwestoredawayearlierinthe year.Thedogchewsonhisbone.A fireburnsoutsidebesidebeercans shovedinthesnowandItellmyfriends I’lljointhemaftermysonisasleep.

There’salunareclipsehappeningand we’vebeentalkingaboutwhatwewant toleaveinthepreviousyear-little thingswrittenonscrapsofpaperwe’ll burn.We'veneverfeltcloser.

Maybeforme,landlockedinthecoldest Americanstate,coorieisthefeeling ofmyyoungsoncurledintomyside, myfingersplayinginhishairbefore he’stoobigtowantmenottodo itanymore.It’sthelaughterofmy friendsasweletgoofwhateveris holdingusback.It’sthewarmthof agoodfireandsmokedfish,thequiet madebysomuchsnow,thewildness justoutsidemydoor.Allofthisstitches itselftogetherandmakesablanket tostaywarmin.Coorie–evenin Alaska.

Souls.

Triggerwarning:Thispiececontainsreferencetodeathandsexualassault whichsomereadersmaywishtoavoid.

TheSoulProjectisareflectionontheoriginofthesoulwithitsindividual characteristicssuchas:

-Purity,representedbyasnowwhiteplastercast

-Congenitalcharactertraits(typesofpsychopathy,sociopathy,ornarcissism) appearingintheformofapplyingpaints

-Socialinfluence(rules,values,complexity,etc.)manifestedbycoatingthe toplayerswithpaint.

Eachofthestoriesarefictionalbutareinspiredbyrealpeopleandtheirdeath stories.StartingwiththeFifthSoul,theprojectdescribesthestoriesof UkrainiansoulswhodiedintheUkrainian-RussianWar2022.

Soul5

Snow-whiteplasterlightsculpture withgoldcoating.Itwascreatedon April18,2022.

Abrightandsociableyoungmanof 30yearsold,forfiveyearshewas focusedonearningsandcareer growthinasmallcompany.Hetried topayoffthemortgageforan apartmentasquicklyaspossible,and didnottakeavacationforthree yearsandsavedontrifles.Hedied fromshellingreturninghomefrom work.

Plaster,spraypaint,9Wx7.5Hx9Dcm.

Soul6

WorkcompletedApril21,2022.

A26-year-oldgirl,pure,kind,and naivebynature,hasrepeatedlybeen betrayedandusedbyothers.Shestill maintainspurityinthecoreofthe soul.Althoughthebleedingwounds wereonlyonthesurface,turninginto ulcers,shepowdersoverthemwitha filmofpositive.Attherequestofthe neighbors,shewenttothegrocery store.Onthewayshewasabducted andrapedrepeatedly.AskingtheLord forearlydeath,shewasshotinthe head.Ihopeyougetintoawarmand happyfamilyandlivehappilyever after.

Plaster/cement,acrylic,14Wx20Hx13Dcm.

Soul7

Acomplexsoulandasimplesoulat thesametime,Icouldnotfindan approachtoitfortwodays;itwas giventomeonlythesecondtime. Therefore,Ithoughtthatthiswasa teenager,butafterthat,thepaints themselveseasilyformedadrawing anditbecameclearthatthiswasa 73-year-oldgrandmother.After shellingwithcruisemissiles,shedied fromanexplosion,inadream,inher ownhouseinwhichshelivedallher life.Herbodywastornintoseveral piecesandburnedtotheground togetherwithherwoodenhouse.

Plaster/cement,acrylic,10Wx15Hx10.5Dcm

Soul8

Thesoulofapriest(43yearsold) turnedouttobebeautifulwithdark spotsonthesurface.Histhoughtsand desiresweresometimesblackand frightenedhim;hestruggledwith themthroughouthislife,becausehe wasapriest,closetodivinepower andthepurelightofthefire,and couldnotallowthis.Allhislifehe bleachedthemlayer-by-layerand appliedoneafteranother.Aftera whilehisdesiresbecamedull,andhis thoughtsbecamepurer(orsimply fadedintothebackground).Hediedin thebasementofachurchwhilesaving ahomelessten-year-oldboy.Heheld theboysofiercelyandstronglythat heexperiencedblissfulpleasure beforedozensoffragmentspierced hisback,lungsandkidneys.

Cement,spraypaint,17Wx14Hx17.5Dcm

Soul9

EndedApril29

A16yearoldteenager,recently quarreledalotwithhisparents,who didnotunderstandhimanddidnot supporthim.Hewantedtoenter adulthoodassoonaspossibleand movetothecapital,buthewas constantlyremindedthathewasa worthlessstudentandnotcapableof anything.HewasshotbyRussian soldierswhenhewasridingabicycle forwaterinhisvillage.Hewantedto provetohisparentsthathewasat leastcapableofsomething.Diedof bloodloss.

Plaster/cement,acrylic,14Wx21.5Hx15Dcm

Soul10

EndedApril29

A4-year-oldchild.Helovedanimals andnature,talkedtoflowersand plants,anddreamedofadog.He diedduringshellingwhenthewhole familydroveoutoftheirhometown bycar.Thecarhad“Children”written inlargeletters.

Plaster/cement,acrylic,16Wx23Hx18Dcm

ByKaterynaRepa(1979,Odesa,Ukraine).ShegraduatedfromOdesa HydrometeorologicalUniversityandisbasedinItaly.Katerynaworks withpainting,graphics,mediaart,sculpture,artobjects,and photography.Shealsoparticipatesinpersonalandcollectiveexhibitions inLondon,Berlin,Italy,theUSA,SouthKorea,Ukraine,etc.Herworks areinprivatecollectionsandmuseumsinSouthKoreaandItaly.Works presentedinonlinegalleriesinSouthKorea,Italy,andFrance.Youcan findmoreofherworkhere.

Loveisjustaflower basketfullofwoes

ByMarkAndrewHeathcote

Iwantedtobefoldedinyourarms behindprotectedclosedgardenwalls afountain-I’llbendtothewind’sbreeze ‘Isummonyoutobathe,’lightningdance.

AsIopenmyheart,you’reahiveofbees. AsIlookintoyoursweetbrowneyes IguessI’veneverfeltthissoalive. Shakingdownthosewillowtreeleaves, Carvingournames,writing,Iloveyou. Onyouroliveskin,anunwrinkledrose. ButIguess,Iguessallloveisafairytale. Whenyou’vegivenuppoems,prosaicprose loveisjustaflowerbasketfullofwoes.

Markisanadultlearningdifficultiessupportworker.Hehaspoemspublishedinjournals, magazines,andanthologiesbothonlineandinprint.HeresidesintheUK,andisfrom Manchester.Markistheauthorof“InPerpetuity”and“BackonEarth,”twobooksofpoems publishedbyCreativeTalentsUnleashed.

TheDayGoesOn

Mare

…naturalasaboulder inthewayofapath chestnutflankagainstthewintersun everpresenttothewarmingair prouduntoherself inthefieldofallheryears thislight… alwaysherown thereisnootherplace— nootherworld Man

…andhenoticeslight brighteningthefield bowspickingupbranches, ruinsofoldage eveninthisdelicatemorning histhoughtsturn, anythingcanhappen nothinglasts

openingcornersofyears thedaywarmswheresomething isalwaysabouttobegin

Corner

byJudyDeCroceandAntoniOoto.

CornerPoetry Corner

CornerPoetryPoetry Corner CornerPoetry

CollaborativepoembyJudyDeCroceandAntoniOoto.Authors,poet/professional storyteller/educatorJudyDeCroce,andpoet/abstractexpressionistartistAntoniOoto havecollaboratedandpublishedabookofpoetry,ThePostureofTrees.Persistence, Resilience,andHoperesonatethroughitspages.They’vealsobeenpublishedglobally inprint,online,andinanthologies.TheyaremarriedandliveinupstateNewYorkwith numerouswildlifeneighbors.

InAnyLanguage

ByDanBrook

DanBrook’smostrecentbooksareHarboringHappiness:101WaysTo BeHappy(Beacon,2021),SweetNothings(Hekate,2020),aboutthe natureofhaikuandtheconceptofnothing,andEatingtheEarth:The TruthAboutWhatWeEat(Smashwords,2020).

CharitySpotlight:

WarmEdinburgh WorkingGroup

Attheheartoftheveryconceptof coorieisthefeelingofcosiness. Comfort,warmthandafeelingof contentedness.Presentedinthisissue ofCharitySpotlightisagrouplooking toensurethatfamiliesinEdinburgh canstayniceandtoastyoverthe comingwinter,WarmEdinburgh WorkingGroup.

Althoughnotanofficialcharityinthe SCOregisteredsense,thegrouphas formedoverthelastfewmonthsasa mutualaidworkinggroup,whohave beenworkingtogethertoorganise andproducethematerialsneededto helpinsulatehomesandminimise heatloss.Asaresultoftheongoing costoflivingcrisisandrisingenergy costs,manypeopleareconcerned abouttheirabilitytoheattheirhomes thiswinterandstaywarm,especially forthosewithyoungchildrenor elderlyintheirhouseholds,It’sbeen reallyinspiringtowatchthe communitypullingtogethertoform thisgroupandlendtheirskillstogive themostvulnerablereal,hands-on assistance.

Andmanyskillsetsthereare!While carryingoutsomebasictaskstohelp peoplewinter-prooftheirhomes,they

alsoprovideadviceonotherchanges thatcanbemadetogoevenfurtherto maintaintheheat.Theyhavealso beenhardatworkcrafting;outsideof theirhomevisitstohelpwinterproof people’shomes,someoftheirwork hasincludedmakinghandymachines tomakelargequantitiesofdouble glazingunitsandsewingdraft excludersfromupcycledmaterials. Thematerialshaveallbeenacquired bycrowdfundinginthelocal communityandtheyhavesmashed theirgoalinlessthanamonth.

Althoughtheirfundinggoalshave beenmet,anyadditionalfundingwill gotowardshelpingmoreandmore familiesinEdinburghkeepwarmthis winter,andyoucandonatebygoing here.Formoreupdatesonwhatthe groupisupto,orifyouwanttolend anypracticalhelp,youcanvisittheir Facebookgrouphere.

ByMiloLeigh

ThingsWe’re Loving

Thisissuesomeofourteam(Kirsty-Editorin-Chief,Milo-Secretary,Kesla-Editor Hannah-SocialMediaCoordinatorand Thomas-Illustrator)aresharingallthe differentthingstheyhavebeenlovinglately! Soreadontofindoutwhatthey’vebeen reading,watching,listening,andcooringin

Reads

K:‘BookshopontheCorner’byJenny Colganwasexactlythecosy,easy readIneededtocurluptothefire with.

T:‘TapestryofSpells’byLynn Kurland.It’sare-readoftheNine Kingdomsseries,acomfortable fantasy-romancewithgreat characters.

M:“ThingsWeSayInTheDark”by KirstyLogan,aseriesofshortdark taleswithsapphicromanceelements, anexcellentreadforspookyseason!

H:Lately,I’vebeenreallyintoselfhelpbookstogivemeabitof motivationinvariousaspectsinlife. I’mhalfwaythrough‘AtomicHabits’by JamesClearwhichisgreat.

KE:“ReadUntilYouUnderstand”by FarahJasmineGriffin–Followsthe journeyofGriffin,theliteraryscholar andherjourneytoherloveforBlack literature.Also,Ijuststarted“ItStarts withUs”byColleenHoover.I absolutelylovedthefirstbook. Lookingforwardtoreadingthesequel overwinterbreak!

Watches

K:Ialwayslovedramas,especially Netflixdramas.IknowI’mbasicand mylatestobsessionisRoyals.Ican’t getenoughofitandIamalready countingdownthedaystoseason3!

T:I’mabighorrornerdsoI’veloved theCabinetofCuriositiesby GuillleramoDelToroonNetflix.Ican tellheloveseachstoryandhasbeen wantingtofleshthemout.Whatisso greatisthechancetoseeanewstory directoreachweek.Ifyou’realsoa spookyperson,giveitawatch.

M:TheMidnightClub,onNetflix,had mehookedfromthestart.Although it’sahorror,itmademesoemotional andithitshard,andissotastefully doneforthesubjectmatter.

H:IjustfinishedwatchingThe WatcheronNetflix.Thefactthatthis wasinspiredbyatruestorymakesit evenmorechillingbutIwouldstill recommendit.

KE:IhonestlyjustcompletedtheSex &theCityseriesandbothmovies finally.Ittookmesometimebutit wassuchafantasticwatch(and partialrewatchbecauseIhadseen someofitalready).Icameforthe clothesbutstayedforthebeautiful lovefilledstories!

Listens

K:Anyonewhohasbeenalongtime readerhasprobablybecomeawareof mylifetimeloveofTaylorSwiftand naturallyMidnightsdidnotdisappoint. MyfavouriteTaylorsongsare constantlychangingbutrightnowIam constantlyrepeatingDearReader, You’reOnYourOwnKid,Mastermind, Anti-hero,andIamobsessedwith BiggerThanTheWholeSkywhenI needacry.I’vealsorecentlybeen lovingtheSkinnyConfidentialpodcast.

T:I’mofftotheSlamDunkfestivalin 2023,soI’vebeenpreppingwitha SlamDunk2023playlistonSpotify. I’vefalleninlovewithaparticular song,‘BottleLightningTwice’by SincereEngineer.I’lladmitthatmy pop-punkrepertoireisstuckinthe early2000s,soupdatingwiththis playlistishandy.

M:My“OnRepeat”albumforthelast fivemonthshasbeenFlorenceandThe Machine’sDanceFeveralbumandmy favouritesongconstantlyrotatesonit. Currently,myfavouriteisBomb,but youcanalsocatchGirlsAgainstGodon thecuratedplaylist!

H:RecentlyI’vebecomeobsessedwith ChristineandTheQueens,aFrench artistthatIwasawareofbutnever properlylistenedto.Mypersonal favouritesatthemomentareTilted,5 DollarsandThewalker.I’vealsohad MaggieRogersonrepeatsinceIsaw herliveatthestartofNovember.

KE:CurrentlylovingDestinConrad’s newEP“SATIN,”especiallythesong “It’sYours.”

CoorieInWith

K:Ihaveafewkeycoorieessentials. Oneisacosyblanket.Iparticularly lovethisonefromDunelm.Ialsoneed tohaveahotdrinkinhandand recentlyI’vebeenobsessedwith WhittardsWhiteCremeBruleeHot Chocolateandfinallycomfyclothesare amustandIbasicallyliveinthese joggersbyFatface.

T:OnecooriethingI’vebeenreally enjoyingisabeaniehatIgotlastyear. Idon’twearittobewarm,butto receiveakindofhug.It’scomforting, genderaffirming,andsortofhidesme fromthefaff.

M:Mycoorieessentialhastobe candles.I’mveryanti“biglight”soI livefordimlightambience,andwhat betterwaythanwithaselectionofnice smellingcandles,tealights,waxmelts, andfairylights.

H:Mymum(blessher)justboughtme teddybeddingsoIcanstaywarmin bed.It’sthebestgiftI’veeverreceived andI’drecommendittoanyonewho hasacoldbedroomorstrugglestostay warminbed.Socosy.

KE:Definitelymynewkitten, Luminous.Cuddlesandnaptimeswith herarethebest.Asforanon-living coorieessential,I’llgowithbigchunky knitsweaters(jumpersformyUKfolx) withmaxi/midiskirts,&leatherboots thathitjustbelowtheknee.Thisismy currentgo-tooutfitanditmakesme feelsochic,yetcosyandwarm.

Stravaig:

Ifyouareover23years-old,notanAmericanFootball lover,yetfindyourselfinState College,Pennsylvania,here’swhat youdonext…

ByKeslaElmore

StateCollege,Pennsylvania,ishome totheBig10,megaAmerican University,PennStateUniversity. Forthosethatmaysomehow wanderintothistownasatwentysomethingwhoisnotlookingto rageinakeg-stand-fratparty-esque weekendorisnotanAmericanCollege footballfanaticcomingtotailgate with otheralumni—hello!Youareinthe rightplace&nottoworry--Ihavea fewspotsforyou!

Indeed,StateCollege,alsoknownas HappyValley,isabsolutelygeographically beautiful,nestledinthemountainsin CentreCounty,PA.ThebeautyofTussey Mountainisoftenincleareyeshot dependingonwhereyouarestanding intown.Foruswriters,readers,and peace-and-quietseekers,thissmall littlecollegetowncanbetheperfect cooriegetawaytoisolatefromthe hustle and noiseandgetthespace youneedtofeelinspired.Withthatsaid, oneofthemostbeautifulplacesto writeandthinkhastobeoncampus attheArboretum.TheArboretumis abeautifulandisolatedbotanical gardenoncampus,perfectforphotoopsandpicnics.Filledwithbeautiful greeneryeverywhereyouturn,itisthe perfectplacetocosyupwithabook andalattetorelaxorgettowork.

Asforfood,thereareacouple gemsthataredeliciousand uniquetoStateCollege.Mygo-to caféforstudying,lattes,and paninisishandsdownSower’s Harvest.Itisafarmtotable deliciouscafé(unfortunatelyclosed onSundaysandMondays)with aquaintatmosphereforaquiet solodateorbrunchwithfriends. IhighlyrecommendtheirHealthy HoneyAlmondBiscottilatteand theSpicyMangoSrirachachicken paninionagrillatilla(whichthey bakethemselves),aswellasthe chocolatebananabreadmuffin. YUM!Ifyouarewillingtodrive alittle,thehistorictownofBellefonte islessthan20minutesfromState Collegeandhasadorableshops andrestaurantstovisit.Oneof myfavouritehiddengemsisUrban FlavorHouse.ThisAmericangrill servesallthebestcomfortfood frommilkshakeswithwholeentire cookieswedgedontop,tofresh donutsmadetoorder.Foryour entree,Ihighlyrecommendthe grilledtoperfectioncowboy burger.

Bellefonteisalsohistoricallymarkedas beingastopalongtheunderground railroad.TheBellefonteArtMuseumis housedindowntownBellefonteandis currentlyhostinganexhibitonthe

undergroundrailroadfromMarch25th–December31stcalled“TheUnderground Railroad:AJourneytoFreedom.”The historyofthetownitselfmakesita uniqueandimportantstoptomakeif youareinthearea.

HeadingbacktoStateCollege,fordessert, IloveMomotaro,whichisanAsianfusion pastryshopthathasamazingbubble teas,andcheesecake!Ialsocanadmit thatthefamousoncampuscreamery, PennStateBerkeyCreameryisdelicious aswell,astheicecreamismadeinhouse bytheDepartmentofFoodScience.

Lastbutcertainlynotleast,ifyouare lookingforagreatcocktail,Isuggest Chumley’s.Chumley’sisalocal LGBTQIA+divebarwithamazingdrinks andvibesforachillandintimatehappy hourwithfriends,butalsoagreatplace tojustgrabadrinkafterworkalone.State College,thoughsmallandoften overwhelminglycollegetowny,hasits beautyandnooksofpeacewhenyougo lookingforthem.SinceIhavedonesome oftheheavyliftingbycuratingthislist foryou,you’rewelcome!EnjoyHappy Valley,andbesuretobringagoodbook withyouforthetrip!

FEATUREDARTISTS

Thiswoman,whowasdiagnosedwithbreastcancer,justhadahaircutbyher daughtersasapreparationforlosingherhairduetochemotherapytreatments.In thephotoshefindsconsolationwithhercat.

19

ByAnastasiaAnkudova.AnastasiawasborninRussiaontheislandof Sakhalin.Since2012,shehasbeenlivingandworkinginSt.Petersburg.She paintsoilpaintingsandteachescreativeworkshops.Herpaintingsresidein housesacrosstheworld.Sheisalsoanartistcoach.FollowherInstagram @cozyplace_art.

AdventureswithPapawByRosalynYoon.Rosalynisanillustratorand painter.ShehasabackgroundinFineArtsandovertimegradually transitionedintodigitalmedium.Shemakesavarietyofillustrationsfrom editorialstoportraits,takinginspirationfromdailylifeandcinema.These canbeviewedinherseries,DiaryofaMisfit,onherinstagram: @rosalynyoon.Sheiscurrentlyworkingonachildren’sbook.Moreofher workcanbeviewedhere.

ByVarditGoldner.Varditisaphotographyandvideoartist.She'sengagedin documentingtheIsraeli-Palestinianconflict,mainlyitseffectsondailylifeof Palestinians,andaddressessocial,environmentalandanimalissues.Shestudiedat theFacultyofArts–HamidrashaatBeitBerlCollege,Israel,completingthe PostgraduateFineArtsProgram,andsheholdsanM.Sc.inphysics. 20 22

CoorieIllustrationbyVanessaMay.VanessalivesnearBremen,in Germany.Asahobbyartist,shestartedwithletteringin2017,andin recentyearsshehasfalleninlovewithbotanicalwatercolourpaintingsand illustrations.Aboveall,shelikestocreatedetaileddrawings,small cottages,andfabulousflowerdreamworlds.Shewouldbeveryhappyto welcomeyoutohercreativeworldonInstagram@mrs.may

Runningyourfingersthroughapet’sfur Beingsurroundedbymycommunity

Sittingdownafteralongday.

Pullingablanketoutof adryer,niceandwarm

TheTeamat