What We’re Talking About in Issue 0602 (December 2021)
The complete table of contents
as it appears in the December 2021 issue of Blank Spaces.
from the editor—Learning How to Walk
fiction — Gary Kirchner put us into the mind of a Canadian offensive tackle during the final play of his football career, exposing the under-appreciated mental struggle of a lineman, and a pure love of the game in his high velocity story, Twenty-Three Yards.
The Farmhouse by Crystal Randall Barnett is a haunting tale of impulse and selfishness, dumping us in the middle of a group of bandmates who learn a fatal lesson about greed.
Inspired by stories relayed through her parents as she grew up, Ivanka Fear presents The Emergent Immigrant, showcasing the harsh realities of the former Yugoslavia in the 1940s as a boy dreams of a better future in Canada.
red solo cup — Exploring the architectures of perception, existentialism, and longing, emerging poet Jessica Lee McMillan brings us a taste of her poetic voice with Word Garden, Proven Objects, New Ceilings, and Saltwater Taffy.
Haley Down returns to nature and the beauty of hands-on living with her tender poems, Cedar Canoe and Magnolia.
shameless — Memories from his childhood on Vancouver Island inspired Terence Young’s reflections on his late father in his contemplative telling of Swimming Lessons.
different strokes — The Renew Collection by artist CMBearArt is a meaningful treasury of alcohol inks on heavy Nara and Yupo papers, presenting an expression of letting go and allowing the art to direct the result.
flash fiction — Take a journey back to Eighteen Ninety-Seven. Pauline Shen invites you to follow a family as they relocate from the east coast to the prairies in pre-1900 Canada and grapple with the meaning of the word “home”.
Enduring Traditions by Lori Twining is a tender moment of remembrance between a widow and her children as they work together to keep the memory of their loved one alive through the holidays.
more than words — Ontario photographer Angela Zheng presents a small collection of abandoned Hamilton storefronts, capturing the sentiment of early pandemic days through her series titled Nostalgia.
make art not war — In Infinity Maps, contemporary and abstract artist Donna Wise uses bold colour-saturated strokes that fuse together geometric forms and texture to give voice to her inner world, allowing her to map the infinity of her surroundings.
between the lines — Gail M. Murray brings us a review of Tuscan Daughter by Canadian author, Lisa Rochon.
write prompt challenge winner — Write prompt winner Gabriel Munro presented a powerfully unique contest entry with his story All Over, Anyway, one that the judges called “vivid” and “visceral”.
final word — Haley Down closes us off with a final poem. I Think About The River gently asks us to slow down and take notice of the beauty around us, challenging us to somehow reflect the movement of water within our own lives.
