{"id":495,"date":"2021-01-22T12:18:09","date_gmt":"2021-01-22T12:18:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.opendoorsreview.com\/?p=495"},"modified":"2025-04-21T13:36:04","modified_gmt":"2025-04-21T13:36:04","slug":"letter-from-the-editor-january-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.opendoorsreview.com\/index.php\/2021\/01\/22\/letter-from-the-editor-january-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"Letter from The Editor January 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This Letter from the Editor appears in the January 2021 Issue of The Open Doors Review. To view the magazine,\u00a0click here<\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

By: Lauren T. Mouat<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every new year offers the symbolic concept of renewal, a chance to remold and reforge ourselves in the white heat of our new intentions. We look with longing toward our epic future selves that do not know fear or doubt, that are confident, accomplished, radiant and that most certainly have finally achieved flat abs.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have we ever looked forward to a year with more enthusiasm than that of 2021? In Italy, this year celebrates the 700 year anniversary of the death of the great poet Dante. If last year\u2019s motto was, in the words of the poet himself, \u201cAbandon all hope, ye who enter here,\u201d this year\u2019s might be, \u201cMy course is set for an uncharted sea.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whatever heroic visions we have for our future, we are not the same people we were at the outset of last year and we are not living in the same world. In this historic moment of isolation, more than ever we create the reality of the world around us based on what we choose to engage with. What do you choose to imagine? That is where you will live.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have always believed in the importance, the necessity, of creating art. Times like these demand it. Art exists in a place where you can\u2019t compare only the dichotomies of yes\/no, black\/white, up\/down, right\/wrong. These superlative places are good for campaign slogans, propaganda and bumper stickers, but they won\u2019t do for our lives. A two-dimensional universe simply doesn\u2019t do us justice. I believe art offers a way to communicate that is subtle, subversive and ultimately irreversible. Peer into another\u2019s soul and know them. Knowing them, you know yourself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As soon as Open Doors was out in the world, it was growing. Submissions started coming in, united by an excitement and a hope that is missing from our news headlines. The pieces in this issue are tied only by their authors\u2019 connection to Italy. Some live here, some long to, some have magical memories of visits to Italy and others have been planning to come here for years. Italy is just the starting point to highlight voices from around the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cynthia Boorujy<\/strong>\u2019s poem \u201cOver the sea Wall,\u201d is a riot of color on a hot day by the sea as memory competes with the desire to protect and prepare. \u201cIl Mare Mi Parla,\u201d by Charles Edward Carey<\/strong> is written in his second language, Italian, a language lyrical enough to capture the \u201critmo\u201d and seduction of the whispering sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many pieces were related to the difficult year we have gone through, to lockdowns and quarantines. Kelly Medford<\/strong>\u2019s \u201cRed Bedroom, Quarantine\u201d is a meditative perspective on a space that we are all familiar with but which we now recognize in multiple layers of rest and confinement. Norah Leibow<\/strong> ponders the future of an America she is less and less proud of in \u201cThe Only thing to Talk about.\u201d Sezgi Uygur<\/strong> details the year spent in Istanbul and its unexpected repercussions on her identity in \u201cFreedom from the Known.\u201d In \u201cItalianizzata,\u201d Rachel Zitin<\/strong> revels in feeling more and more at home in Italy, only drawn closer to her adoptive country by lockdown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some pieces reflect on Italy directly like in John MacDonald<\/strong>\u2019s \u201cBramito\u201d, a story about the tragic aftermath of the August 24th, 2016 earthquake that devastated towns like Amatrice, Norcia, and Visso. \u201cIl Mio Cuore\u201d by Maggie Johnson<\/strong> celebrates the Duomo of Florence and \u201cPalestrina\u201d by Lillia Parker<\/strong> paints a lyrical picture of Rome. John Phillips<\/strong>\u2019s piece \u201cWhen poetry and entrepreneurial innovation meet\u201d illuminates a modern day Italian poet Francesco Terrone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three interviews focus on authors and artisans living and working in Italy. I can\u2019t thank Flavia Brunetti<\/strong> enough for her participation as the guest judge of the first issue of Open Doors. In our conversation we talk about her book All the Way to Italy and falling in love with Rome. Eva Giovannini<\/strong>, Italian author and journalist, spoke to me about her new graphic novel, \u201cOriana Fallaci: il Vietnam, l\u2019America e l\u2019anno che cambi\u00f2 la Storia.\u201d Artisan Laura de Cesare<\/strong> spoke with me about the art of weaving, its roots in the history of mankind and modern innovations and the importance of always following the things that make you dream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYoung Eagles\u201d by Justin T. Walsh<\/strong> takes us to Amsterdam in a split-second capture of pride, grace and exhilaration. We might all feel a little \u201cSuspended in Midair\u201d this year but as this piece by Sezgi Uygur shows us, what an enlightening state that can be. May we find the \u201cright kind of blossoming,\u201d as in Walsh\u2019s poem, \u201cRise.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is my greatest wish that this magazine can offer a place of gathering for those out there with the intention to build and create. As Jennifer Lewis<\/strong> pens in her visual poem, \u201cWhy We Create Art,\u201d \u201cWe\u2019re all linked if we have the empathy to see it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank you to all who submitted to this very first issue of Open Doors and welcome to the new year. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This Letter from the Editor appears in the January 2021 Issue of The Open Doors Review. To view the magazine,\u00a0click here. By: Lauren T. Mouat Every new year offers the symbolic concept of renewal, a chance to remold and reforge ourselves in the white heat of our new intentions. We look with longing toward our epic future selves that do not know fear or doubt, that are confident, accomplished, radiant and that most certainly have finally achieved flat abs.\u00a0 Have we ever looked forward to a year with more enthusiasm than that of 2021? In Italy, this year celebrates the 700 year anniversary of the death of the great poet Dante. If last year\u2019s motto was, in the words of the poet himself, \u201cAbandon all hope, ye who enter here,\u201d this year\u2019s might be, \u201cMy course is set for an uncharted sea.\u201d  Whatever heroic visions we have for our future, we are not the same people we were at the outset of last year and we are not living in the same world. In this historic moment of isolation, more than ever we create the reality of the world around us based on what we choose to engage with. What do you choose to imagine? That is where you will live. I have always believed in the importance, the necessity, of creating art. Times like these demand it. Art exists in a place where you can\u2019t compare only the dichotomies of yes\/no, black\/white, up\/down, right\/wrong. These superlative places are good for campaign slogans, propaganda and bumper stickers, but they won\u2019t do for our lives. A two-dimensional universe simply doesn\u2019t do us justice. I believe art offers a way to communicate that is subtle, subversive and ultimately irreversible. Peer into another\u2019s soul and know them. Knowing them, you know yourself.  As soon as Open Doors was out in the world, it was growing. Submissions started coming in, united by an excitement and a hope that is missing from our news headlines. The pieces in this issue are tied only by their authors\u2019 connection to Italy. Some live here, some long to, some have magical memories of visits to Italy and others have been planning to come here for years. Italy is just the starting point to highlight voices from around the world.  Cynthia Boorujy\u2019s poem \u201cOver the sea Wall,\u201d is a riot of color on a hot day by the sea as memory competes with the desire to protect and prepare. \u201cIl Mare Mi Parla,\u201d by Charles Edward Carey is written in his second language, Italian, a language lyrical enough to capture the \u201critmo\u201d and seduction of the whispering sea. Many pieces were related to the difficult year we have gone through, to lockdowns and quarantines. Kelly Medford\u2019s \u201cRed Bedroom, Quarantine\u201d is a meditative perspective on a space that we are all familiar with but which we now recognize in multiple layers of rest and confinement. Norah Leibow ponders the future of an America she is less and less proud of in \u201cThe Only thing to Talk about.\u201d Sezgi Uygur details the year spent in Istanbul and its unexpected repercussions on her identity in \u201cFreedom from the Known.\u201d In \u201cItalianizzata,\u201d Rachel Zitin revels in feeling more and more at home in Italy, only drawn closer to her adoptive country by lockdown. Some pieces reflect on Italy directly like in John MacDonald\u2019s \u201cBramito\u201d, a story about the tragic aftermath of the August 24th, 2016 earthquake that devastated towns like Amatrice, Norcia, and Visso. \u201cIl Mio Cuore\u201d by Maggie Johnson celebrates the Duomo of Florence and \u201cPalestrina\u201d by Lillia Parker paints a lyrical picture of Rome. John Phillips\u2019s piece \u201cWhen poetry and entrepreneurial innovation meet\u201d illuminates a modern day Italian poet Francesco Terrone. Three interviews focus on authors and artisans living and working in Italy. I can\u2019t thank Flavia Brunetti enough for her participation as the guest judge of the first issue of Open Doors. In our conversation we talk about her book All the Way to Italy and falling in love with Rome. Eva Giovannini, Italian author and journalist, spoke to me about her new graphic novel, \u201cOriana Fallaci: il Vietnam, l\u2019America e l\u2019anno che cambi\u00f2 la Storia.\u201d Artisan Laura de Cesare spoke with me about the art of weaving, its roots in the history of mankind and modern innovations and the importance of always following the things that make you dream. \u201cYoung Eagles\u201d by Justin T. Walsh takes us to Amsterdam in a split-second capture of pride, grace and exhilaration. We might all feel a little \u201cSuspended in Midair\u201d this year but as this piece by Sezgi Uygur shows us, what an enlightening state that can be. May we find the \u201cright kind of blossoming,\u201d as in Walsh\u2019s poem, \u201cRise.\u201d It is my greatest wish that this magazine can offer a place of gathering for those out there with the intention to build and create. As Jennifer Lewis pens in her visual poem, \u201cWhy We Create Art,\u201d \u201cWe\u2019re all linked if we have the empathy to see it.\u201d Thank you to all who submitted to this very first issue of Open Doors and welcome to the new year. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[8,20],"tags":[15],"class_list":["post-495","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-from-the-editor","category-january-2021-issue","tag-open-doors-review"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.opendoorsreview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/495","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.opendoorsreview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.opendoorsreview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.opendoorsreview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.opendoorsreview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=495"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.opendoorsreview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/495\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":496,"href":"https:\/\/www.opendoorsreview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/495\/revisions\/496"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.opendoorsreview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=495"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.opendoorsreview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=495"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.opendoorsreview.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=495"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}