"Art is restoration: the idea is to repair the damages that are inflicted in life, to make something that is fragmented — which is what fear and anxiety do to a person — into something whole."
Quoting the words of artist Louise Bourgeois, Advisor Gail Greiner opened this year's Penumbra dedication. This annual collection of creative expression, had its digital debut Thursday, May 21, with the dedication ceremony in a digital format as well.
Harkening to the Bourgeois quote, Greiner elucidated, "The work in these pages is a celebration of our need to create ... as a way of making some thing, some thought, some experience into something whole."
Greiner applauded senior editors Callie Morgan, Flynn Murtaugh, Laila Pina, and Allison Telesz for their initiative in changing things up this year (increasing the book size) for creating an "especially rich and beautiful book this year."
This year's staff — which included associate editors Samantha Freeman and Lucy Nelson, assistant editor Jaffir Wajahat, and staff members Menna Delva, Liza Dowling, Nancy Duer, Andie Durkin, Allie Farber, Kavya Krishnamurthy, Alex Lind, Katherine McNamara, Max Morfoot, Comfort Omotunde, Paige Parisi, Jackson Rassias, Katysha Sorokin, and Annika White — was credited as being "the biggest and most committed and consistent staff we've had in years."
Speaking at the digital dedication ceremony, Freeman explained that this year's book was shaped around the concept of artistic and written journal entries to "celebrate the process behind the final product."
She continued, "Each spread demonstrates the progression and thought that goes into the creation of a final piece, showcasing the depth of the work and the beauty of the process."
With cover art by Jemma Siegel (and contributions from Vicki Stuart and Alex Lind for inside section dividers), the publication was designed to look like — and in some cases actually is — the inside of someone's journal.
Penumbra was dedicated this year to English Department Chair Kevin Coll, and in the printed dedication, the editors explained, "His unwavering commitment to helping students improve their writing and find their voices has made GFA a more inviting and connected place, an embodiment of Penumbra’s mission."
To experience Penumbra, and to watch the dedication ceremony, visit Penumbra 2020 online.