Estuaries 2021 - 2022

E S T U A R I E S

2 02 1 -2 02 2 V I S UA L A R T S & L I T E R A RY R E V I E W

ON THE COVER

Norah Antons: Two Headed Fishy Angel

Kitty Dough: Octopus’ Garden

Estuaries Editorial Board Managing Editor Olivia Buzzacco Christina Weisner

Literature Sarah Brown Olivia Buzzacco Josh Howell

Visual Art Fay Edwards Kathryn Osgood Christina Weisner

Student Editors Claudia-Michelle Moise-Stancu Junyiah-Reign Powell Design & Layout Patrick Detwiler

This magazine is the eighth annual edition of Estuaries. It features creative contributions from students, faculty and staff.

It was produced digitally and printed at College of The Albemarle, Elizabeth City, NC, in 2022.

Sevil Gulmammadova: Mathilda

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Contents Tiffany Lindsey: Coffee and a Cigarette

VISUAL ARTS Front Cover Inside 1 2 4 5 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 15 16 18 21 22 23 24 26 27 29 30 Back Cover

Norah Antons: Two Headed Fishy Angel Sevil Gulmammadova: Mathilda Kitty Dough: Octopus’ Garden Tiffany Lindsey: Coffee and a Cigarette Annemarie Pomp: Funny Face Carmen Chinchilla: Squares Void Tiffany Lindsey: Forthcoming Kennedy Wilkerson: Untitled Sicily Hegge: Jade Whale Co. Sicily Hegge: Bijoux Vibes Ellen Wells: Flower Power Sevil Gulmammadova: Freedom Amy Wood: in meam commemorationem Annemarie Pomp: Floral Necklace Tiffany Lindsey: Unmedicated Gretchen Wooten: Book 1 Taylor Newton: Bald Eagle II Willow Stokely: Texture Norah Antons: Untitled Richard Pronto: Verdigris Pierced Cuff Kyleigh Holder: Identity Patricia Peterson: Eternal Flame Helen Hoppe: Loves Me, Loves Me Not Kyleigh Holder: Controlling Chaos Jacob Stewart: Zero Danielle Beaty: Just Keep Swimming POETRY

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Mike Williams, Jr.: Yungin Elizabeth Conway: Time Passes By Victoria Bragunier: The Dao of Dishwashing Maddie Chaulk: Destination Aaron Bass: A Walk Jeremy Austin Calvert: Climate 2022 Carissa Baker: Phases of You Jill Lettieri: Love, Sarah Jeffrey Ricobaldi: Full Moon of Snow Mason Alcon: Tarnished Reflection Hannah Saunders: Diagnosis Mike Williams, Jr.: Two Souls Heaven Tripp: They Don’t Know…

Shainna Richardson: Staying True Kayleigh Forbes: Untitled PROSE

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Joshua Craig Stevenson: Apex Caitlyn Mooers: A Necromancer’s Motivation

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Time Passes By Elizabeth Conway

The hands spin around Tick … tock into the background The clock ticks life away And life goes faster than you think As a child, you imagine being old Never thinking it would be cold When you had all the time in the world As just a curious little girl Right before your eyes The truth in the saying “time flies” Memories come and pass by Being forced to say goodbye You rerun life in your head Thoughts and memories you dread Regret fills your brain Like puddles in the rain You stare into the mirror And your life gets even clearer You haven’t lived how you dreamed As a little girl life seemed

Yungin

Mike Williams, Jr. Hey yungin you don’t have hug the block Hey yungin you don’t have to hug the Glock Hey yungin you don’t have move that weight Hey yungin you don’t have to live in fright Hey yungin you a king Hey yungin keep that crown up Hey yungin you can be anything not just a BlocBoy JB Hey yungin stop beefing over a block that don’t even belong to you Hey yungin express yourself freely Hey yungin keep grinding healthy Hey yungin you’re loved

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Annemarie Pomp: Funny Face

Carmen Chinchilla: Squares Void

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The Dao of Dishwashing

Tiffany Lindsey: Forthcoming

Victoria Bragunier They multiply everyday one then two then a dozen Crusted with the history of meals already eaten As I examine the opaque disks and silver implements a small sigh escapes my lips A comment on the tradition of the never ending stacks of what must be cleaned in the eternal ritual of domestic life

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Apex

Joshua Craig Stevenson “You want information? Fine,” said Asher. “Good. First question. Who is that little reindeer girl I see around him?” asked the figure. Asher clenched his fist. “No one,” said Asher, gritting his teeth. “It seems to me … Victor is in love. Just checking for his weaknesses. Now, you ask me,” said the figure. Asher sighed. “Why are you killing random people?” asked Asher. “Because every single person in the world has the best feature, even if they don’t know it. I take those features, and throw out mine, and replace them. For example … teeth, eyes … things like that. To save you the trouble of using up another question, I do it because it’s evolution. For hundreds of years, we have lived complacent with each other, hiding our best skills. All of these carnivores have thrown away what they are best at: Killing and surviving. So, I decided to evolve into what some call … an apex predator. My turn. Where is Victor?” said the figure. Asher’s eyes were widened with fear and disgust. “You’re not getting any more answers,” said Asher. He waved to his squad, and they closed in. “That wasn’t the deal, Asher. I’ll deal with you soon.”

The fox-wolf hybrid ran into his apartment complex and walked up the stairs. Victor slammed the door of his room, sat down firmly on his bed, and fell back.

He looked around his dorm room. The pictures of his friends and family all surrounded him, but all he could see were potential victims to this murderer. What if the murderer is after him? Then, he remembered. The bite marks. He grabbed a book he was given when he started his detective and psychology studies. A book about teeth. Every single person had a distinct bite mark, but it can be traced to species. As Victor flipped through the book, he was shocked. This killer had the teeth of crocodiles, wolves, and lions. Three of the most dangerous bites in the world. The killer had replaced his teeth with carnivore teeth.

Meanwhile, the police force gained an anonymous tip that the killer was in a small restaurant downtown. Asher, a friend of Victor’s, led the ambush. Asher and his force walked slowly into the restaurant. There, sitting in the booth, was a tall figure, wearing a black trench coat, and a gas mask, which was poorly sewn together. “Hello Asher,” said the figure. The tiger held up his hand to his fellow officers. They stood still, but kept their sights on the figure. Asher slowly walked towards the figure, and looked around. Many of the patrons and employees were dead. “I think I did a phenomenal paint job here.

Did you know the color red makes us feel hungry? Our ancestors would kill something for food, and see all that red, so they associated red with food,” said the figure.

He laughed a vicious, cold laugh. “But you’re not here to admire my work … you’re here because I asked you to be,” said the figure, leaning forward as Asher sat down. “And why would you do that? To turn yourself in?” asked Asher. The figure laughed again, this time, it was maniacal, and on the verge of insanity. “No! No, no no.

I just wanted information. A Quid pro quo, if you will. I want information on Victor Greene. Give that to me, and I’ll tell you about myself. Make the investigation slightly easier,” said the figure. Asher growled, and nodded.

Kennedy Wilkerson: Untitled

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Sicily Hegge: Jade Whale Co.

The figure jumped onto the table, and Asher flew back as he was kicked. The squad opened fire, and missed as the figure took a knife, and threw it at the face of one officer. The other officers closed in, only to be taken out one by one, as the figure moved gracefully and powerfully around his opponents. Then, all that was left was Asher. Asher reached for his pistol, only for the figure to stab his palm. Asher screamed in pain, howling. “WHO ARE YOU?” he screamed. The figure laughed harder than ever. He held up his hand, and ripped the gas mask from the sides, blood red eyes staring through the holes in the seams, and as it finally ripped off, he looked up at the flickering bright light of the restaurant. He smiled, rows of fangs shining in the light. He looked down at Asher, revealing his face.

The figure was a deer, with little round bumps where his antlers would be. He placed his hand on one of the officer’s bodies, and lifted it to his face, and smeared the blood onto him, licking the blood off his palm. “My name is Adrian, and I … am the next step in evolution.”

Sicily Hegge: Bijoux Vibes

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Destination

A Walk

Maddie Chaulk

Aaron Bass

I see the trees blowing in the distance And I wonder if I am almost there? As the sun sets over the mountains it seems as though All I can do is stare.

I take a trip around a football field At sunset, when no one will watch me there, A little walk to insulate against The debt I’ll one day owe the reaper.

It takes some time to find the moment where I feel the evening air is still enough For me to snatch my free-floating thoughts Before they waft skyward from my mind like Dandelion seeds. I do not know what I will catch when I reach out but I Do it anyway.

I turn and look at the road traveled And know that it’s the past, I long for a new beginning And hope it will last.

As I stare at the road before me I think of the places I will go What will I discover, Who will I meet, And what will I become?

The journey has been a fun one, New beginnings lie before me. I now must find my own way Through this adventure I call life.

Ellen Wells: Flower Power

Sevil Gulmammadova: Freedom

Being in such a populated space As an arena when it’s empty feels Like what it must be like to be a ghost, I imagine, though not those that have been But those that will yet be when quarantine Is over. Those future ghosts are hopeful Things to me. I can haunt the happiness Of those yet to see their families in The stands, cheering them on, hometown heroes Who earned their rewards of hugs and kisses.

I guess fantasizing about connections Would seem heartsick in those healthier times But these are far from that.

Once the still-lingering evening light leaves, A vee of geese recedes into the night In a trailing highway above me, and, Looking like a wave washing up black silt, They carry their damp, marshy smell with them.

It is a strange comfort to be able To touch a bit of wilderness with my Nostrils after several long winter months.

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A Necromancer’s Motivation Caitlyn Mooers

It is a bittersweet feeling to be home after so many years away. To wander and wonder at which the world has built and which it has destroyed. The feeling of sadness incurred when gazing upon your birth lands forever changed. The bittersweetness felt upon the realization that some things will never truly change.

The looming, dark, drafty castle where my family would once break bread is gone. The streets that I once walked are gone. The markets, once filled with the sounds and smell of life are gone. The surrounding mighty city and all its wonders are gone.

The world as I knew it … is gone.

All of it reduced to mere fading memories in my head.

The landscape itself has endured for the most part.

The jagged mountains in the east have been worn by time to resemble dull red hills in the distance. The mighty sea and shore to the south lie farther than before. Fields of spikey waist-high grasses now occupy what was once sandy shore and ebony-colored waves crashing against rock.

This land is still home as it always shall be. The sea breeze continues to waft about, though fainter than before. Familiar flora and fauna far older than I still roam as they please.

Amy Wood: in meam commemorationem

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Even the remnants of the city I loved still lurk about this ancient place. Simply sleeping beneath the surface, ready to rise again when her people return.

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Climate 2022 Jeremy Austin Calvert

Through the seasons that pass, And the colors that pave I find that the trees Always seems to change.

Through winter cold that freezes pain And spring renewal that soothes it away The summer heat which boils and taunts To the beauty of fall where I rest like a sloth.

I dream of life, of colors, of pain Through it all, it all stays the same The wrath of nature which stands like a rock It never breaks, as it heals or rots.

The will it has, unclear, never the same.

We determine its pattern, but it may change.

And should it change? Its beauty unbridled.

And should it rot? Its roots which tile.

For if we wreck nature, will it stay the same?

Will the winter bring cold? Or heat that pains?

Will the spring heal? Or fall lay away?

If we don’t intervene, will it ever be the same?

For if we do nothing, it will all go away.

Annemarie Pomp: Floral Necklace

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Tiffany Lindsey: Unmedicated

Gretchen Wooten: Book 1

Phases of you Carissa Baker

Where do we draw the line?

Where do we draw the line, between friends and lovers?

I don’t think of my friends in the ways in which I think of you.

Since when do friends fall asleep on the phone and make their Love known. I don’t recall this being a friendly thing, I’ve Never known a friend who does the things you do.

I don’t understand why you do this, Push me away but pull me back when she’s out of your mind.

“It’s always about her” is all I hear but you hold me so dear it seems as if it’s out of fear, so tight as if I might disappear into the dead of the night.

But why?

I’m still here through all the phases of your love.

The waxing and waning Between the full and the new I’m your constant and I’m here for you.

I’m not the sun who lit up your whole world, But I came to light up what’s left, After she took that light that had burned so bright and extinguished you until you were nothing.

I was brought into your life to put you back together by Tearing myself apart in the process, I gave you Every piece of me to feel whole again So, tell me now if this is what friends do Before I spend my life wondering If you think this too.

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Love, Sarah Jill Lettieri Dear Hatteras, I knew I loved you from the first moment I saw you.

I was just a child then, looking out the window of the car at the waves as we crossed the big bridge.

I could feel your salty breath on my face as you ran your knotty fingers through my hair.

As night fell, the stars melted into the blackest sky in a perfect contrast of colliding light and dark.

I watched the flash from your beacon pass across my walls.

Your blustery gusts rocking me to sleep.

I could feel your warmth on my feet as I ran towards you.

I couldn’t stop from rushing into your embrace — salty, crashing, and tossing me playfully.

I knew I would love you forever.

It was years before I was able to stay with you and call you home, but this time I would never leave you.

I made a life with you.

Nested.

You blessed my children, cradling them in the curve of your loving arms.

You had my heart.

It was early morning that I first greeted you properly.

I watched as the sun first stretched its arms across the ocean bed pulling itself up into a new day.

I went to sleep each night with your nightlight passing across my home.

The sound of your ocean waves soothed me and your breezes filled my room with your sweet scent.

Our love wasn’t long lived, but was the kind that lasts forever.

My spirit now lives with you in your sea breezes, crashing waves, sandy beaches and with your beacon lighting my way.

Signaling home.

We are one and I am with you forever.

Love, Sarah

I loved nowhere on earth more than you and riding across the waves, chasing fish, celebrating you, my Hatteras.

My life and love was all here with you.

Taylor Newton: Bald Eagle II

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Full Moon of Snow Jeffrey Ricobaldi

Outside, a blizzard that no one can stand So inside I sit with my cup of tea And a warm, sweet comfort it is in hand Waiting until the storm ceases to be Outside, the wind howls and tree branches snap Unearthly cold the winds deep winter bite No concern to me, inside in warm rap As I ponder the windows future sight Time goes by, the hours roll on and on Day has turned to night, the storm has now past I gaze out the window upon the lawn The sight I prayed to see has come at last A snowy landscape you can’t see in June A landscape that glows beneath the full moon

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Willow Stokely: Texture

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Tarnished Reflections Mason Alcon

One morning is when you can see, That alive is what you could be, Your mind is dead and gone, Scatter the ashes on the front lawn.

Knowing that you will soon become nothing, Easier than leading sheep to the feeding.

Their words are a slaughterhouse, A dulled mind, once there, can’t arouse

Everything is changing around you, They can’t understand what you go through, The flashing lights of the gods are bright, Taking our minds into their clouds of light.

From the fate which it shall pursue.

They are calling, the gods anew, Tempting you to be made in their image, In heart and in mind, they gave advice sage,

The faces we see collected in a book, Why even bother to take a look, The mirror on the wall tells a crooked tale, When you search frantically to no avail,

And yet nobody is more wrong than they Because we can’t finish what they say, To do to ourselves, to strive for a form Of imperfection. Now conformity is the norm,

To find meaning in a missing life, Inner mind tormented with strife, You can’t hear the sounds of anything, Not even the sound of birds twittering.

And now we are all lost in the storms of normalness, Blinded by the sands of conformity and sameness, We make our own ends, we die on our own, Our own choice to reap what we’ve sown.

The trees blow in gales that shake, While you drown in your mental lake Made of internal tears and shakes of pain, While you are slowly going insane.

The clock is ticking, tik tok, tik tok, Bang that door and break the lock, Open it up and find the keys to hell Take them up and you rebel, Leave them and you will die.

The media tells you a great lie That everything is swell and fine And yet, we all still toe the line Of accountability and free will.

Their tongues, sharp enough to kill, Shred what feelings of morality you may have had.

They annihilate them and feel glad,

Norah Antons: Untitled

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Richard Pronto: Verdigris Pierced Cuff

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Diagnosis

Hannah Saunders Wispy brown hair Always worn in a ponytail Eyes that sparkle When you can catch them A tiny frame, now eight years old And though she be but little, she is fierce* Eight years to wonder Eight years to wait, to hope, to pray, to admit it’s more than tantrums or terrible twos, to try to figure out the fits Nothing works but time, waiting minutes, hours, for it to pass Separating yourself from your reality to stay calm Holding her when it’s over, like flipping a light switch it just stops, and I cry as she sleeps And though she be but little, she is fierce ADHD they tell me, significant, I knew, but I wasn’t ready can’t focus at school, sits and stares off, struggles academically Separation anxiety I knew but I wasn’t ready avoids using the bathroom at school all day because she’s afraid her class will leave her, won’t go into another room in the house alone, doesn’t want me or her sisters too far away and thought her sister was never coming back when she went canoeing Level 1 Autism, formerly known as Asperger’s I knew but I wasn’t ready intense & explosive, going limp, writhing on the floor like nothing I had seen before, leaving a birthday party early because it was too loud and she covered her ears while all the other kids were having fun, repetitive behavior, not walking down the steps until the light stops blinking on the door lock And though she be but little, she is fierce She loves to dance and sing but doesn’t want you to notice.

She loves to play family and restaurant.

She creates slideshows just for fun.

She loves the snow, but the beach is her favorite.

She is smart, funny, and beautiful.

She is sweet, loving, and kind.

She is more than the moments that are hard.

She is more than the challenges of her mind.

She is more than a diagnosis.

She is more than a difference.

And I am proud to be her mom.

And though she be but little, she is fierce. *William Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 3.2.325

Kyleigh Holder: Identity

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Two Souls

Helen Hoppe: Loves Me, Loves Me Not

Mike Williams, Jr.

Two souls collide on a cosmic level Two souls that were torn apart ions ago Two souls that were lost in the cosmos Two souls that granted permission to reconnect Two souls that were destined to be Two souls go through the trial of love and life Two souls navigate throughout the cosmos searching for answers Two souls thinking of each other Two souls are looking for each other in the cosmos Two souls suppress their truths Two souls finally find each other Two souls begin to reconnect Two souls seem to figure out the answers Two souls wonder what’s the bigger picture in the cosmos Two souls intertwine Two souls reconnect Two souls begin to learn each other again Two souls officially tie up with an intimate gesture Two souls wonder the stars guided by their Creator Tow souls become one

They don’t know…

By Heaven Tripp

They say I should stop They say I should go They say all these things, but they don’t know, They don’t know how you loved me They don’t know how you cared They don’t know these things because they weren’t there They weren’t there when you kissed me They weren’t there when we laughed They weren’t there to pick me up, you were there for that You were there when I needed you You were there when I cried You were there even when I thought it was goodbye When I thought it was goodbye, so I ended it quickly When I thought it was goodbye, but I hoped you’d miss me When I thought it was goodbye, but it was just the beginning, The beginning of our story, our story never-ending

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Patricia Peterson: Eternal Flame

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Staying True Shainna Richardson

I lay in bed at night dreaming of you With a vivid picture of your face with the words stay true.

Six years you have gone Yet all memories of you haunt me In the beginning I was withdrawn Continuing my life without you is my new reality It should be easier, mom, But the loss of you is like hell’s fire with no escape Our history is like a bomb I’ll never forget when you said I was a mistake Before I could breathe life, you wanted me dead I learned to be an adult before the legal age Most of my childhood I was living to survive Protecting you from yourself was my war to wage You told me once stay strong to stay alive Always be you Because no matter what and against all odds I’ll always stay true To myself thanks to you

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Kyleigh Holder: Controlling Chaos

Untitled

Kayleigh Forbes I tried to do my part Look where I am now People have no heart Where will I sleep tonight and how I wonder when will I eat next I work in the daylight Trying to earn respect I have no home I have no job The streets are where I roam They are always filled with mobs In the rain or shine, we have no expression In the blink of an eye, everything fell The whole world turned into a Great Depression When this will end nobody knows Will this go on forever time will show Or is this a nightmare I’ll say a quick prayer Or is this the world we live in everyone beware

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Jacob Stewart: Zero

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Biographies Mason Alcon Mason Alcon was born near Dallas, TX, and has lived on both coasts and two European countries. He is an avid reader, a player of story-based video games, and a dungeon master for Dungeons and Dragons. He is currently the vice president of the COA Writing and Literature Club.

Norah Antons Norah Antons is currently a COA student graduating with an Associate in Fine Arts in Visual Art. Striving to create art from the depths of their imagination and expressing stressors, the use of escapism and chasing the cathartic feelings art brings them and others.

Carissa Baker Carissa Baker is a junior at Perquimans High School.

She has always loved poetry and wrote “Phases of You” about one of her close friends who she holds very dear to her heart.

Aaron Bass Aaron Bass is the coordinator for COA’s Writing Center.

He enjoys art of all kinds, nature and spending time with his friends. He encourages everyone to hug their loved ones and create something they’re proud of.

Danielle Beaty Danielle Beaty is a jeweler, designer and metalsmith and the owner of TurtleBay Jewelry.

Victoria Bragunier Victoria Bragunier serves as a Library Assistant at the COA – Dare library.

Jeremy Calvert Jeremy Calvert was born in Elizabeth City on November 7, 2002. He received his GED at College of The Albemarle, getting college ready scores in reading and social studies. He is currently pursuing a degree in nursing and acting.

Maddie Chaulk Maddie Chaulk is a junior at Perquimans County High School and is currently a member of the volleyball team.

Carmen Chinchilla Carmen Chinchilla is a native to the Outer Banks.

Carmen is a visual artist working towards her Associate in Fine Arts in Visual Arts degree at College of The Albemarle. She hopes to transfer to a four-year university to continue her education. She captures her passion for the world around her in her art.

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Elizabeth Conway Elizabeth Conway is an eleventh grade student from Perquimans County.

Kitty Dough Kitty Dough attended the Art Institute of Atlanta and earned a certificate in Botanical Illustration from The North Carolina Botanical Gardens. She is a member of the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators and the Color Pencil Society of America. She is a student in the COA Professional Crafts: Jewelry program and an artist for the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island.

Kayleigh Forbes Kayleigh Forbes lives in Hertford and attends Perquimans County High School.

Sevil Gulmammadova Sevil Gulmammadova was born in 2002 in Azerbaijan, Baku. Currently enrolled as an international student in COA’s fine arts Program, Sevil explores painting and using different mediums in her art.

Sicily Hegge Sicily owns NovaEmber Arts and has submitted a few of her illustrations of downtown Elizabeth City created using watercolor and acrylic paint.

Kyleigh Holder Kyleigh Holder is a dual enrolled student at College of The Albemarle. She is seventeen years old and is working to obtain her Associate in Arts degree. Her hobbies include reading, writing and art.

Helen Hoppe Helen Hoppe is a jeweler and metalsmith, and a student in the COA Professional Crafts: Jewelry program.

Dr. Jill Lettieri Dr. Jill Lettieri is an Associate Professor in English and Communication at COA. A resident of Hatteras Island, she wrote “Love, Sarah” in memory of a friend.

Tiffany Lindsey Tiffany Lindsey is a mixed media artist with a focus on modern and abstract formalism. She discovered her attraction to creating abstract artwork as a teenager at the North Carolina School of Arts summer program in Winston Salem. There she worked alongside many professional creatives. Upon her arrival back home she decided she wanted a degree in the arts and applied to College of The Albemarle to obtain her associates degree. Tiffany now works at the local Arts Council on the Outer Banks and practices with fellow artists painting and making ceramics.

Caitlyn Mooers Caitlyn Mooers is a dual enrolled student and is currently pursuing her Associates in Science. She has always had a strong passion for writing and enjoys sharing it with others through COA’s Writing and Literature Club.

Taylor Newton Taylor Newton is currently a Dual Enrolled Student through First Flight High School studying Visual Arts.

Patricia Peterson Patricia Peterson is a jeweler and metalsmith, and a student in the College of The Albemarle Professional Crafts: Jewelry program.

Annemarie Pomp Annemarie Pomp is a retired art teacher. She graduated from Newark State College Kean University, with a BA in Fine Arts Education. Inspired by nature, she produces hand wrought silver pieces and paintings in watercolor and oil. Annemarie has received many awards for her jewelry and pottery at local Art Leagues.

Richard Pronto After retiring early from a successful career in Social Work, Rick decided to satisfy his desire to be creative and pursue a degree in jewelry design from The College of The Albemarle in Manteo. Rick is currently living in Hertford, where he designs and creates his jewelry and metal designs out of his home studio while continuing his coursework through COA’s Professional Crafts: Jewelry program.

Shainna Richardson Shainna Richardson was born in Ohio, and graduated from Eden Prairie High School in Minnesota. She is retired from the Army. Shainna loves to read and write.

She has seven beautiful children and three amazing Chow Chows.

Jeffrey Ricobaldi Jeffrey Ricobaldi is a native of Elizabeth City. He graduated from COA in 2015 and currently works at Food Bank of the Albemarle. He enjoys visiting museums, attending theater and art events, and participating in cosplay. He also enjoys board games and baking - and is willing to share his recipes if asked.

Joshua Craig Stevenson Joshua Craig Stevenson, 20, was born in Elizabeth City.

He works on stories and fictional books as a hobby and plans to work on fashion design. He often uses his imagination as inspiration for his work.

Jacob Stuart Jacob Stuart is a creative from the Outer Banks. Jacob is currently enrolled at College of The Albemarle and is pursuing a career in visual arts. He is an adventurer at heart and aims to embody his journey through life in various artistic mediums.

Heaven Tripp Heaven Tripp is a 16-year-old student living in Hertford.

She is dual enrolled in Perquimans County High School and College of The Albemarle.

Ellen Wells Ellen Wells is a metalsmith and artist, and a graduate of the COA Professional Crafts: Jewelry program.

Kennedy Wilkerson Kennedy Wilkerson is a student at COA who is currently working on her associate’s degree in fine arts. Her work is an attempt to stir up the concepts and issues that rest in her mind.

Mike Williams Mike Williams, a recent graduate of COA, is a visual artist and poet. He uses life experiences in every piece he works on.

Amy Wood Amy Wood is a student in the College of The Albemarle’s Professional Crafts: Jewelry program.

Gretchen Wooten Gretchen Wooten is a dual enrolled student in COA’s Visual Arts program. She has enjoyed testing the waters in various mediums, but does not yet specialize in anything in particular.

Hannah Saunders Hannah Saunders is an Adjunct Instructor at COA, and a Graduate Teaching Assistant and PhD student at Old Dominion University, who has taught for sixteen years.

She enjoys spending time with her husband and three beautiful, unique daughters as well as traveling, reading and blogging at Sweet Potato Py.

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Danielle Beaty: Just Keep Swimming

COA – Currituck 107 College Way Barco, NC 27917 252-453-3035 COA – Dare 205 Highway 64 S Manteo, NC 27954 252-473-2264 COA – Edenton-Chowan 118 Blades Street Edenton, NC 27932 252-482-7900 COA – Elizabeth City 1208 North Road Street Elizabeth City, NC 27909 252-335-0821

www.albemarle.edu