a note of farewell WHAT WE SEE

When we look at a piece of art or read a piece of literature, our unique perspectives and experiences shape how we understand it. Similarly, the iris in our eye controls how our pupil takes in light, determining the extent of what we see. Iris: Art + Lit is composed of artists’ and writers’ creative visions, but the content is shaped by each reader’s interpretations as well.

Even though the magazine represents only a small sample of work that was submitted and an even smaller sample of the art and literature that students have created over the course of this year, it allows us to celebrate our creative spirit and to explore how the same piece of art or writing can evoke dramatically different emotions depending on the eyes that view it. Everyone brings something new to a piece of art, and I encourage you to discuss what moves or interests you in the magazine with friends, to engage the creators of the work in conversation, and to think about what speaks to you. I hope that no matter what your personal perspective is, you have found one piece of work in this magazine that inspires or interests you in some way.

Dianne Caravela, Iris Editor-in-Chief