a letter from the Iris staff WHAT WE SEE

The first art and literature magazine at St. Paul Academy and Summit School in our archives was published in 1982 and included only senior art and literature. Over the years, the magazine evolved to include more grade level representation, including several years when middle school students were invited to submit to the magazine.

Iris: Art + Lit is the newest iteration of this publication, incorporating not only art and literature from the 9-12 student body but also engaging the community all year. From Open Mic events to Paint Nites, the new student group invited all students to show their artsy side.

So why Iris? In nature, an iris is a flower known for its vibrant purple petals. After roses, irises are the most common flower captured on paint canvases. In mythology, Iris is the messenger of the gods. She is personified by the rainbow, and is a symbol of communication and inclusiveness. In science, the iris determines how much light comes into the eye, impacting vision. Our eye color is genetically set in the iris, and when others look into our eyes to judge our intent and sincerity, the iris frames the black pupil. Iris, in its many forms, embodies nature, myth, truth and how we interpret what we see.

Welcome to Iris.

Poetry

Nikolaus Elsaesser / 12 / Internship

Mari Knudson / 17 / An Unexamined Life

Noah Solomon / 26 / The Oreo Sandwich

Amodhya Samarakoon / 29 / Pink Flower

Leah Hughes / 37 / Shadow

Tess Hick / 48 / Liminal

Ben Atmore / 50 / The Tale of Day and Night

Oscar Millerhaller / 57 / The Environmentalist

Heba Sandozi / 44 / Mina’s Story

Noor Qureishy / 68 / Marium

Diane Huang / 06 / Daily Dose

Eli Striker / 08 / Glimpse into Eternal Nothingness

Brian Orza / 11 / Bare Face

Ned Laird-Raylor / 22 / Grub Hard

Rahul Dev / 30 / Where I’m From

Emilia Hoppe / 34 / Walking on a Bluebird Day

Quinn Christensen / 46 / Teenage Search for Immortality

Lea Moore / 54 / To Be or Not to Be

Arib Rahman / 61 / Children Move from Place to Place

Paul Watkins / 62 / The Walk

John Addicks O’Toole / 65 / Flowers

Hannah Scott / 66 / It’s Been Too Long

Anna Snider / 73 / On Starting Over

Dorienne Hoven / 77 / A Cold Morning