Here we are, finally and exactly in time. This first issue of Unbound Brooklyn has been in progress since St. Francis College’s first cohort of MFA writers has been in their final residencies, a couple of years ago that feel much more distant. Without them, this idea for a publication would not be what it is: we literally sat around a table and talked through creation, wrote the mission statement and did all the initial research. Most sincere thanks, Jennelle Alfred, Rodney A. Brown, Danielle Glants, Dana Harris-Trovato, Noel T. Jones, Vincent Longobardi, Steven Moller, Adela Sinclair and Stacy Vargas.
The steps that followed were all about figuring out what force would make this go, then collecting writing. The first call for submissions reflects our fundamental impulses to make space for writing that functions within its own bounds rather than within bounds already established. The work you all sent us has some shared human concerns, but ultimately, there isn’t one thread running through them all. There is our relationships with the natural world, and with each other, some thinking about pandemic life, a breadth of imaginings, and lots of beauty in language, image and sound.
Choosing what to include here involved lots of reading and re-reading and re-reading. The fall semester interns at St. Francis College, Anna Riddo and Celine Yarde, organized the submissions. Then, current and former MFA writers voluntarily read all of the submissions first. Danielle Glants, Ally Hawley, Regina Henriquez, Vincent Longobardi, and Stacy Vargas–this issue reflects your thoughtful reading and generously donated time.
My deeply felt thanks to the writers/artists/musicians who contributed to this issue, and to all who entrusted us with their creations.
Ultimately, this small offering is a collaborative effort; nothing gets done without everyone doing their part. I’m delighted to have done mine. It feels like a very nice start indeed.
Unbound Brooklyn Journal 