Between the Stacks Issue 1 - Summer 2022

Between the Stacks

Issue 1: Ocean of Possibilities

Cover Art: Our Ocean, Our Responsibility by Zaina, 16 (p.22)

What's a

A zine is a small-scale, self-published publication, similar to a magazine, which can focus on a wide variety of topics.

Zines are often used to share artwork and creative writing.

Between the Stacks

This is our very first issue of our zine, Between the Stacks. We will release a new issue each semester with a different theme. Each zine will be filled with artwork and writing from young people in our community.

Oceans of Possibilities

The theme for our Summer 2022 issue of Between the Stacks is oceans and marine life.

The Wonderful Ocean

by Carlesia, 11

Oceans are cool.

Oceans are nice.

Oceans are blue just like the sky.

The more you vibe by the sound of the waves, The more you want to stay and play all day.

The ocean is a place you can never leave.

The ocean is a place where you can sit and read.

The ocean is a place to be stressed relieved.

The ocean is a place where you can feel free.

The ocean is a place where you can find friends.

It also has a view that never ends.

Oceans are places that can never be unseen.

Oceans have many animals so please keep them clean.

Just as the ocean spreads far and wide, I have many talents hidden inside. I can dream big and be what I want to be, Just as the ocean I am filled with possibilities.

The View Raenoya, 14

Wave

by Raenoya, 14

What’s that noise? Looking out the window you see a vast color of blue.

The sound of the wind driving the waves which came with a salty but fresh aroma.

The massive waves slapping against the shore. Are you a wave?

Are you that person who slaps against the world as if it was a shore? Do you catch the attention of those around you? I do.

I am a wave. I am a wave that pushes to do everything I can, no matter what.

I am that wave who constantly slaps against barriers. Like the waves of the sea against boulders, breaking them down and washing them away, I break barriers and shatter glass ceilings to continue my path to success.

I will not let anyone, or anything stand in my way.

I am making waves.

Scylla

Ella, 13

"This drawing is not based on the little mermaid. It is based on the Scylla which was a Greek mythology sea monster. Granted the picture I drew is not as realistic to look like her but I tried to go for the texture In the tail or tentacles."

The Creator

by Raenoya, 14

As I stroll under the clouds of lush blue skies, I hear the sound of the wind, and the rumbling of the thunder as the clouds go flying by. The sound of the seagull’s as if giving praise. I smell the salty fresh aroma, of the cool undiluted water, as it splashes against the rocks and bounces to an excited beat.

I see the trees dancing as if a music festival was playing loud and free. Hiding behind those lush green dancing trees was the most beautiful white sand, saturated with vast colors of blue dancing waves. The water slapped against the rocks, planted in the middle of the ocean, as if to say there is no way out, you are surrounded.

Whose ocean is this? Whose handy work is this?

It is the Almighty, the Creator of it all.

An ocean so wide and beautiful as the mind, must have been placed by an artist, who is smiling as His artwork moves to different beats unaware of the future ahead of them.

In my time of meditating on the ocean, God's wonderful creation, I think of myself as one of his special creations. I begin to dream of the great oceans of possibilities open to me.

Possibilities such as becoming the best lawyer, the most creative artist both on paper and off paper, being a top fashion designer of wardrobes for young professionals, or becoming a serial entrepreneur.

I am going to enjoy my life as the trees enjoy the wind.

I am going to give praise to the Creator like the squawking seagulls. I am going to explore the world as the ocean covers the earth. I am going to access the possibilities available to me.

You can also be your own ocean, accessing all the possibilities available to you.

(above) Oceans

Quanna, 11

(left) The Blue Whale

Ella, 13

"I thought because of how Blue Whales are Endangered it would spread awareness."

The Haunted Lighthouse

Ella, 13

"In Saint Simons Georgia there is a light house which is supposedly haunted. I thought it would be a great idea to draw."

Jhamoya, 13

--Nico,

"A free verse poem about water washing away your regrets and helping you find your new, happiest self."

18

Our Ocean , Our Responsibility

Zaina, 16

"In this artwork I tried to show how I want our future of the ocean to be like. The ocean is our life force & very much essential for our survival. Taking action to protect our ocean is our responsibility. For a better future we need to take care of it. All of us should work together to make sure we have a beautiful future for our nature and the ocean."

The Ship

by Zaina, 16

"In this artwork I painted a ship sailing in the ocean . I tried to express how magnificent the ocean can be and how beautifully the ship sails in it . Sometimes the ocean can be calm and sometimes you can hear the roar of the ocean . I tried to express that here as well."

Thank you!

Thank you to the Friends of the Decatur Library for funding this project and to all of our wonderful artists for submitting their work!

Artists:

Quanna, 11

Ella, 13

Jhamoya, 13

Zaina, 16

Raenoya, 14

Nico, 18

Carlesia, 11