THOM #22

Dear Reader:

AS I WRITE THIS LETTER, THE AIR OUTSIDE IS still steamy from a late summer heat wave. But in the vapors that rise from the blacktop, I see visions of fall: a season filled with the promise of new beginnings in the brush heavy fields and loblolly pines, and in the welcoming of familiar traditions. Autumn is a resplendent time to be in Thomasville, especially as we herald the return of the annual Wildlife Arts Festival (November 7–17), which celebrates the 29th anniversary of this much anticipated event.

Our festival’s featured artist is Wyoming-based Kathryn Mapes Turner, whose work feels grounded yet ethereal: static portrayals of birds that dare to take flight at a moment’s notice. Having spent time in Thomasville earlier this year doing studies for work that will be shown this fall, she relished the idea of exploration and pushing boundaries.

One of the biggest challenges I face as editor of THOM magazine is that each subject is as fascinating as the next, and the writer in me wishes I could have produced every profile myself. But in shepherding the process, I cherish the role that THOM plays in our community: serving as a lifeline to the creative spirit that thrives here. I am grateful to the writers and photographers who share their time and talents and am excited to bring some new contributors into the fold.  If there is a theme among these stories, it is certainly one of curiosity about “what’s next,” attached to the desire to stay grounded in the traditions we hold dear.

Christiana Roussel, Editor