Hey there!
Welcome to THE LAB, a space where experiments happen on a weekly basis, creativity runs rampant, and we occasionally (read: always) lose our wits over over up-and-coming writers, artists, and creatives.
Heartbreak and Honesty with rlyblonde
“Make art because you want to, because you have something to say, not because you expect anything from it. You can wake up any day and change your life or your identity. There’s so much time in the world to live and create art, you don’t need to rush.”
Building the Foundations with Raynestorm Productions
“No matter what happens, adapt to the challenges and find a way to overcome them. Look back to where you were a few years prior and see the amazing growth you’ve made not just in yourself, but in your career.”
Appreciating “Ugly” Art with Taylor Webb
“It’s important to make “ugly” art because it allows us to distance ourselves from the idea that everything has to turn out in a way that we consider to be perfect, or for that unachievable standard we set: if we can’t reach that level of perfection as an artist, we might never be happy with…
Existing on the Page with Sophia Kunkel
“I kept telling myself that no one would read [my work], and if they did, they wouldn’t enjoy my writing. But my mentor pushed me to leave my comfort zone…I realized that my book didn’t have to be perfect. This was the story I needed to tell.”
Field Notes & Family with Christyn Refuerzo
“In that first draft, no one can judge you. No one has to see that first draft. You do not owe it to anyone to show it to them. Keep that first draft sacred. Just let go and write.”
Pushing Boundaries with Micah Dawanyi
With your personal art, you can do what you want. It’s 100 percent up to you. So be brave, be weird, and push all of the creative boundaries possible.
On the Power of Words Left Unsaid: Saoirse
Negative space as a technique has a long history of use in visual art and I think poetry is particularly conducive to its use. What do we communicate via what we leave unsaid? Which realities is language incapable of capturing authentically? Who’s articulate silences are we ignoring? These are the questions that keep me up…
Problem Solving and Exploration with Erin Halligan
“I had an art teacher who told me that art is all about running into problems and finding a way to solve it- hearing that has helped me when I’m feeling too perfectionistic. Both writing and drawing has given me the ability to understand more things about myself, which has always been so interesting. Growing…
Leaving the Abstract Space with Yusra Usmani
“An idea that hasn’t been introduced to the world of reception and criticism is only half-baked. It needs to leave the abstract space of your mind and become something tangible. And that’s only the beginning.”
Writing as the Act of Doing: Kwame Daniels
“My creative process is simply the act of doing. I like to just write. I like how it flows from my fingertips, how each poem is an act of grace in concert with myself.”
From QR Codes to a Poetry Debut: Creating the intimate, distant, and exacting with Emily Marie Passos Duffy
“My favorite part is the flow, presence, and devotion that comes through making. There is lots of doubt, sure, and also a surrender — to a hope that no matter what happens it’s going to turn out as it’s meant to.”
Eliza Kent: Writing the Striking and Impassioned in Her Poetry Debut “You Were the Graveyard”
“I’ve always been pretty good at noticing little details, and throughout the years I would jot down little things that seemed important. Oftentimes, I would come back to them years later and just write and revise them until I found something I liked…Some would come on very quickly, others simmered in my mind for years…
Writing the immersive, haunting, and raw with Pushcart Prize nominee Bryana Lorenzo
“Essentially, I’m inspired by the unheard, by those with a story to tell but who are often ignored or forgotten or even villainized for doing nothing but existing… Rage against justice not done and rage against the burying of stories untold is the true lifeblood of my work.”
Dissecting the Heartfelt and Humorous with Caitlin Andrews
“In my opinion, every single good piece you’re going to write is going to be vulnerable. Even if it’s humorous or tackles a serious topic in a light-hearted way, it’ll probably cut close to the bone for you emotionally when it’s released, which is why it’s important to start leaving the self-doubt at the door…
Musical Escapism with the “Drifting” Christina Nicole 
“The most inspiring things in life are sometimes not obvious. I will often see things in public that seem cool to write about. I’ll take out my phone and write a very brief note of it to pull inspiration out of later, for when I am ready to sit down and write. There is always…
Tedx Talk(ing) with Sidney Muntean
“I am moved by works that are the purest form of humanity. I want to read about your tragedies and your losses, but I also want to hear about your triumphs and moments of personal growth. I want to hear about places where you lost yourself and found yourself. I want to read about the…
Shattering Monotony with Lena Fine
“One of the first songs I wrote that felt like a real track was ‘Boy in the City.’ I think it was really good for me to be 14 and full of angst and kind of only having one place to put it, which was music. I had been singing for a while at that…
The Liberating Power of Words: Ann Lilly Jose
“My favorite part [of writing] is when it all starts making sense. That moment when the story seems to have purpose and starts flowing freely, when it unfurls and reveals details about the characters and the setting, when the story seems to write itself.”
Exploring “What If’s” with Callie Reiff
“‘What If’s’ is about relationships and the ups and downs that come with each decision we make. I wanted the production to have a certain ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ feeling melodic as the lyrics are pretty dark. As I was producing the song, I also realized how it related to the pandemic…
On dream jobs and unexpected paths: Chloe Turner
“It is important to love art and what you are doing for the joy it brings you and anything extra is an added bonus. If I didn’t get the odd commission or go to craft fairs and sell a few prints I would still paint and have a personal collection because art is escapism for…
Breaking Boundaries with Alma Grace
“Representation is important and it’s vital to tell stories that don’t just traditionally fit the mainstream pop narrative. I’m telling the story of my own life, and I happen to come from a very mixed, multicultural background. If I can help others feel seen and heard by telling my own story, it will all be…
Exploring the Magical Symbolism in Art and Daily Life: Trinity Lester
“Seeing the world through the eyes of someone else is so often an emotional experience and that is essentially the task that we take up when we attempt to read into art. One of the reasons that I love art so much is because of its capacity to inspire feeling and whenever I am reminded…
On Making Glistening, Multi-layered, and Millennial Music: Anna Shoemaker
“Write what you know and tell your own story.”
A coffee chat with the leaders of the Pegasus Film Festival: Grayson Micaela, Daviah Harrison, CJ Camot, and Lucy Roberts
“There is always enjoyment in judging all of the films and seeing how creative the filmmakers are. The work that is produced is truly amazing, and being hands-on is just the icing on the cake.”
Reimagining Reality with Dominika Jezewska
“It was only natural that I ended up at Parsons, where I continued to develop my skills and curiosity, and experimented with new things like wearable tech, VR/AR, and digital art, which are at the core of what I do now.”
Writing, Reading, and Language-Learning with Addie Barnett
“I have become more self-loving towards myself and more lenient – I have stopped pushing myself to write a minimum word count and take days off whenever I want. If I don’t want to write in my book one day, I don’t write!”
Interested?
Think you’d be a great fit for THE LAB? Fill out the form below, and our scientists will get right back to ya.
NOTE: If our form is closed, it means that we are currently collecting submissions and putting together one of our flagship issues. Please do not send us unsolicited emails about interviews. Because of the volume of submissions we get, unrelated messages about THE LAB requests will be deleted. Once the form is open, we will announce it on our Instagram so you can express your interest. Thank you! 🙂
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