We asked you to paint your horizons...

On January 13, 2023, in medias res hosted a come-and-go art event in the STM student lounge, resulting in these beautiful paintings. Thank you to everyone who came and participated!

“A Saskatchewan Landscape”

Abena Amankwah-Poku (she/her) is a first-year student in the College of Arts and Science looking to major in Regional and Urban Planning. Abena enjoys being outside in nature, drawing, reading fantasy books, travelling and baking.

“finding horizons mine // the edge of my earth”

Ji Hyun Chan (she/her) is a first year drama student. She loves going to plays, writing tankas and other forms of poetry, and learning new things. As a mature student, she feels that she is trying to broaden her horizons, mentally and emotionally. It doesn’t matter where you are in life, she thinks you can always do better and go further. It may make us uncomfortable at times but there is something freeing about it.

“Home is Where the Sun Sets”

Robyn Claypool (she/her) is completing her one-year business certificate here at USask. In her free time, she likes to write poetry, go for walks to the river, and take trips to Vancouver to see her friends and family. She describes her work as story driven, steeped in imagery, and inspired by the ways in which she lives in this world. She likes to write about the passage of time and how things change. Her poem, “Home is Where the Sun Sets,” relates to the horizons motif in the literal sense of the nature of sunsets and the way change can bring new horizons while you also look back on what you miss—what you’ve left behind.

“The View”

Kurt Chavez was born in the Philippines and moved to Canada when they were six, bringing with them a tendency to doodle. Like many others, they found themself doodling on the margins of homework, assignments, and tests. This soon grew to become a hobby, something they wanted to continue pursuing and improving. This probably comes from that feeling when one is unsatisfied with one’s finished work, knowing that they can do better. Kurt continues to try and improve their art and their skills. While they prefer using pen and ink, they understand the importance of trying out different mediums to grow their techniques and knowledge, so they’ve been dabbling with painting recently.

“Beyond the Horizon” & “Out into the Distance”

Ann Brooymans-Donald has lived and taught art in Saskatoon for over 20 years. She enjoys captivating images in her environment. Her connections with nature is the inspiration for her use of the elements and principles of design. Her work celebrates the prairies. Ann has been in numerous exhibitions throughout Canada and Holland. She has been teaching art in galleries, museums, high schools, elementary schools and universities. Ann holds degrees related to creating and teaching art from Mount Alison University, Concordia University, University of Western, York University and an Art Academy in Enschede, Holland. Ann Donald has recently retired from teaching art and graphic design at Holy Cross High School in Saskatoon. She was the first Advanced Placement Art and Design teacher in Saskatoon. She has collaborated with many art teachers and artists on numerous projects. She was awarded Canadian Art Educator of the Year (Grades 9 to 12) in 2021 by the Canadian Society for Education Through Art. She now works as an artist at Studio on 20th and Clayworks. She can be reached at anndonaldart@gmail.com.

“Rigby”

Becca Dunkle (she/her) is currently in her second year of university, majoring in English and minoring in history. She has always loved writing in her spare time, which she supposes suits both her degree and her publication in this magazine. Becca’s poem is an ode to her childhood cat, who passed away right before Christmas. This poem emphasizes her sorrows, alongside the hope she possesses to meet him again in the “horizon”—which in this poem, is the next life, whatever that may be.

“Dreamers”

Sohila Elgedawi (she/her) is currently in her second year of study pursuing a Bachelor of Science. In her free time, she loves hanging out with her friends, exploring new cafes in the city and of course writing. She would describe her work in general as emotional, every phrase exudes a feeling that fall in the realms of longing for love, acceptance, or happiness. For the theme of horizon she chose to interpret it as future, but in our generation when we think of the future it is often bleak. She attempts to capture that feeling of hopelessness in ‘Dreamers’.

“14/02”

Erin Gilbert (she/her) is pursuing a double degree in Political Studies and French, with one year remaining. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors and connecting with nature as well as observing our social world—she considers herself a plant lover and a people watcher. Her work is often a mix of visual and literary arts, genres, and mediums in an attempt to examine the juxtaposition and complementarity of natural elements to human-created constructions.

“A Letter to My Anecdotal Self” & “At the Trial of God, You Will Meet Your Body” hoiyan (they/she/he) is a second-year Education student at USask. Having a weak attention to detail and even weaker sense of routine, hoiyan thrives off disorder and whimsicality. They could enjoy adding onto their ever growing pile of unfinished art and writing one day, then playing video games or guitar or with their pets—or all three simultaneously—the next. “At The Trial of God, You Will Meet Your Body” is a poem inspired by the interpretation of ‘horizon’ as a metaphor for a life journey or scope of an uncertain future. “A Letter to My Anecdotal Self” is an odd piece inspired by mundane happenings from the past, present, and perhaps even future, in the form of seemingly simple anecdotes.

“Hay Bales”

Linda Huard (she/her) is an alumna of STM and USask, having finished her BA(Hon) in English in 2016. Linda works for the College and serves as the staff mentor for in medias res. She is grateful to remain here on campus where she still feels right “in the middle of things.” She loves to have coffee dates with friends, discussing life, literature, and art.

“Let Me Live”

Rachel Janzen

“The Cold Welcomed Me and I Embraced It”

Sesan Johnson (he/him) is in the second year of his master’s degree in Interdisciplinary Graduate Studies. He is an award wining researcher whose research interests include the history of medicine, public health, diseases, and African diaspora health. He has published articles and has presented his research at numerous academic conferences around the world.

Contributors

He loves to read and write poems and to engage in public discourse via radio, TV and social media. Sesan’s poem expresses and juxtaposes the world views of his country and Canada. It also refigures his lived experiences in Saskatoon, especially his experiences with cold.

“Choose to Heal, Choose to Change”

& “Dream Beyond the Moon and Stars”

Asma Kamel is a first-year graduate student at the College of Dentistry, University of Saskatchewan. She is a nature and mental health advocate who believes that nature is the best therapist. Her philosophy is that the deeper you delve into nature, the more your spirit is enlightened and hidden pieces of yourself are revealed. Asma is a nature photographer who sees that the beauty of nature is something that can never be replicated or replaced, yet the best way to truly appreciate its beauty is through photography. She believes that each shot conveys a message from nature.

“Choose to heal, choose to change”, and “Dream Beyond the Moon and Stars” are two nature-inspired messages she wants to share with us.

Instagram: @asma7fadl.

“An Ode to Borscht”

Marta Krueger is a multi-medium artist, but her primary art practices are painting and sculpture. Marta has spent the past five years working towards her Bachelor of Fine Arts Honours degree, with a minor in Psychology. She will be graduating this spring of 2023. In the near future, Marta plans to continue exploring her creativity and her education in Fine Arts and Art History. Marta also has interest in studying the connections between visual arts, folklore, and cultural traditions. It is through her connections to her Ukrainian heritage and traditions that Marta draws inspiration for making her art.

“The Painting”

Robin Larocque (she/her) is a master’s student in the Religion and Culture program at the U of S. Her writing spans from the academic to the creative and her observations range from humorous insights into the deeply mundane to the darker side of life (and death). With her writing, Robin seeks to stretch the boundaries of comfortable conversation. Horizons, the theme for this year’s issue, evokes a sense of new beginnings. As a mature student, Robin often finds her journey framed as a new start. “The Painting” challenges this notion.

“Airplanes”

Nolan Long (he/him) is a second year Political Studies major, minoring in Religion and Culture at the University of Saskatchewan. Apart from school, he devotes much of his time to writing both poetry and political essays, both of which can be found online. His work in this volume, entitled “Airplanes,” is a short poem describing the feeling of waiting for an approaching event. It deals with the issue’s theme in the sense that we often wait for coming events by picturing them “on the horizon.”

“In the Partial Shade”

Jocelyn May (they/them) is a first year studio art major. They spend their spare time drawing, reading, writing, and as of late, playing Minecraft. In their written work, Jocelyn likes to express themes of intimacy and explore the human condition. They would describe their writing style as being a string of rambling thoughts rearranged into something coherent. Jocelyn’s poem, “In the Partial Shade” relates to horizons with its pastoral-like setting and using tone to express an anticipated feeling that good things will come.

“Pro et Contra”

Dr. Caroline Arbuckle Macleod (she/ her) is Assistant Professor of Classical and Near Eastern Archaeology at St Thomas More College. She studies ancient Egyptian wooden coffins, the contribution of women to the field of archaeology, and the portrayal of archaeology in digital games. She loves to travel, visit museums, cook, and play video games with her husband and son.

“Beyond the Wall” & “Reach”

MEERAH is a Saskatoon-based graphic designer and artist who explores digital and traditional mediums. Common themes in her art include mental health and integration. She is a third-year student at the University of Saskatchewan pursuing a B.F.A. Honours in Studio Art. She is also the President of the Visual Arts Students’ Union, a Board Director at PAVED Arts, and the Design Director for Youth Helping Youth.

“Before the Night”

Joseph Medernach is an undergraduate Computer Science student at the University of Saskatchewan

“whatever it was it was and it is not it now” & “your mother and i have the same hands”

Greg Orrē [pronounced “greg-ory”] (he/ him) explores connections between nature, art, and spirit through songwriting, poetry, painting, and video. In 2020, the Saskatoonbased multidisciplinary queer artist began sharing his project, I Am In It, with an album and a handmade poetry collection. Published by Labyrinth Anthologies and in medias res, his writing often questions how clearly he is viewing his current horizon. Greg Orrē is working on two new poetry books, and will release his sophomore album, I Am In It, Vol. 2, in late 2023. Greg completed a BA (2011) and a BEd (2013) at the U of S.

“Peace on the Horizon”

Lara Paul is a local Indigenous educator with personal interests in the visual arts. After years of work simultaneously poured into motherhood and university studies, she now finds that practicing art and enjoying trips to the lake provide the self-care needed to heal and prosper with balance in the modern age.

“Long Summer Drives Across the Prairies”

Rida Pervaiz is a 4th-year pharmacy student at the University of Saskatchewan. Her passion for photography runs in her blood as she has learned it all from her father. She enjoys capturing landscape photography and has a soft spot for Urdu poetry. People often describe Saskatchewan as flat farmland, but Rida believes that people have not yet taken the time to discover the beautiful landscapes that the prairies have to offer.

“Before the Storm”

Narges Porsandekhial (she/her) is an Iranian multidisciplinary artist, studying her MFA degree at the University of Saskatchewan. She primarily works in installation, socially engaged practices, public art, and text-based work. Her work deals with the repetition of daily life activities, while focusing on conceptual and social practices, mental health issues, and institutional critique from time to time. She believes that art is not a luxurious object for a specific group of people and it’s the element of storytelling that invites a broad audience to the work.

Instagram: @narrporr Website: nargesporsande.com

“Polar Bear”

Kas Rea (she/her) is a Saskatoon-based artist who primarily works in chalk pastels. Her work focuses on themes of nature, specifically the importance of animal and plant preservation in Canada and Bolivia, where she has family connections. Rea recently completed her BFA from the University of Saskatchewan, where she was also the 292 Gallery curator and on the board of the Visual Arts Students Union. Rea also completed her Certificate of Art and Design and attended Kenderdine Campus at Emma Lake. She currently works full-time at Remai Modern as the Community Programs Assistant. Instagram: @kasreavisualarts Website: www.kasrea.com

“A Step Closer to the Undefined”

Mariana Campos Rivera is from Mexico City and moved to Saskatchewan in 2019. She enjoys swimming, reading short stories, and working towards the fall of the patriarchy. This is her first published nonfiction piece. She is currently a Research Assistant at the University of Saskatchewan working on Climate Communication and Education. “A Step Closer to the Undefined” is a short reflection on how our experiences become a blurry but foundational part of our identities.

“Beyond”

Kyungsoo Ryu (she/her) is a second year Accounting student in Edwards at the University of Saskatchewan. She also works as a Graphic designer at Visual Arts Students Union (VASU), Graphic design coordinator at Pre-Law Student Society (PLSS) and more! Her passion has always been in arts, graphic design, and photography. Currently, she is into film cameras and wants to learn about film development.

Instagram @rks.zip

“January Hands”

Bailey Schaan (she/her) is a booklover, creative, and third-year honours English student at USask, with a minor in history. Bailey’s work seeks to bear witness to the moments of in-betweenness, tension, and mundanity inherent to life and reflected within nature. In her poem “January Hands,” Bailey explores how one can simultaneously be content with the darkness of winter while longing for light of new seasons. It is in within this tension where she strives to campout for the remainder of the cold months. Besides writing, Bailey adores autumn, tea, rearranging her bookshelves, and spending time outdoors with the ones she loves.

“Horizon”

Shahane is a studio art major at USask. They have always been passionate about the arts and have been exploring various forms of creative expression since childhood. Drawing, painting, and sculpture are their true loves, and they constantly experiment with different mediums. In their free time, Shahane also enjoys photography and digital art. They hope to use their education and experience to create meaningful and impactful pieces of art that celebrate the beauty of nature and human experience.

“(seconds for st romero)”

Mike Sluchinski is an alumnus and currently has an undeclared major. He writes bad poetry and does construction and renos on the side. His poem, “(seconds for st romero),” addresses a very short time period, which might also be considered a horizon. In Romero’s case, it reflects a transformation of spirit and body, travelling between worlds—the separation of the physical and spiritual realms—within a terrible and tragic moment, sadly, his death.

“Dream of Tomorrow”

Liam Timmerman is a first year business student and a Metis transgender man. He is from Melville Saskatchewan and is in pursuit of not only a Bachelor of Commerce degree, but exploring Metis culture in the city of Saskatoon. He has a passion for exploring gender expression and mental health struggles through his artwork. Liam currently resides on campus and invests his time exploring all the opportunities Saskatoon has to offer when he isn’t studying. When he is not spending time with family and friends, you can find him sharing his artwork on Instagram @_asherlux_.

“Discernment” & “Transience”

Graham Wall (he/him) earned a B.A. in Sociology with a minor in Philosophy from the University of Saskatchewan in 2017. When he’s not reading theoretical books, you can catch him making quirky beats for his electronic music project, Silent Music. Graham has worked with words on a variety of topics, including the arts, marketing, and mental health. “Discernment” and “Transience” approach this issue’s theme psychologically. The former explores the valence and limitations of processing contradictory information, while the latter discusses cognitive faculties by means of nature symbols.

“Winter in Saskatchewan”

Cynthia Wallace (she/her) is an Associate Professor and the Department Head of English at St. Thomas More College. She likes to read, write, cuddle with her kids, bake and make things, and listen to peoples’ stories in her free time. Her poem describes a winter morning when the prairie sky reminded her that winter doesn’t last forever: it was a reminder that she really needed that day, for all sorts of reasons.

“Dangerously

Below the Horizon”

Krista Wilde was born and raised in Saskatchewan, and this is her first published short story. She is currently an English student at the University of Saskatchewan. “Dangerously Below the Horizon” is a short story set in the early 20th century Canadian prairies about a settler boy’s life on the farm as he struggles to navigate relationships with his family.

“Pro

et Contra”

Dr. Hannah Kirby Wood is a lecturer in the History Department at St. Thomas More College. When she’s not immersed in the Middle Ages, she enjoys exploring whatever city she’s living in (she’s lived in quite a few!), lovingly pestering her cat Heloise, and watching reruns of Parks and Rec. Her favourite book is Le Petit Prince, because it reminds her that the simplest things are the most beautiful.

“Once They Were Children”

Emily Zbaraschuk (she/her) is a secondyear student who is majoring in English and minoring in studio art. She is fascinated by the intersection of art and writing and has enjoyed working with in medias res as the layout and design editor. Her piece of creative nonfiction, “Once They Were Children,” considers the threshold between childhood and adulthood, asking why horizons shrink for the marginalized as they age. In her spare time, she crochets, tries new recipes, and forages for fun facts on Wikipedia.