May 22, 2022
Beloved Snaggletooth readers—
I am so proud of this issue. It’s definitely my favorite issue of Snaggletooth I’ve worked on to date, and for good reason—there is so much beauty in the art and writing featured in this year’s issue, and it finally feels like the magazine is getting its legs after being uprooted by the pandemic in its infancy. We received a record number of submissions for this issue, including several Spanish poems (Oliver Barrera, Miguel Ángel Pacheco) and one written in Mandarin (Diana Yuanrun Zhou). There is so much I want to highlight, but you’ll see it all for yourselves in a second, so I’ll restrain myself. Ellie Boyle’s “Satisfaction Brought Her Back” serves as both a fictional story and a love letter to the wordless bonds formed between animals and humans. Evan Antonakes’ “Approximately Market Street,” which opens this issue, also features cats, this time “lying on windowsills, [watching] intently dawn drooping / over rooftops, faces blowing down the street…” Much of the work in this issue relates closely to memory: alex tan’s “swear jar,” for example, is an ode to a beautifully foul-mouthed elder, and Olivia Dimond’s “Petersfield” grapples with questions of aging, death, and family. The written portion of the issue concludes with Maria McEvoy’s meditation on the unresolved disappearance of an old coworker. The “sapphic hedonism” and earnest voice of Maria’s piece will knock your socks off.
Issue 6 features work by writers and artists from all four classes at Bates. I’m especially proud of the freshmen whose work is in this issue. I know how hard it is to put yourself out there as an underclassman, and there is some seriously gorgeous stuff in here from members of the class of ‘25. This is why I say editing the magazine is such a privilege: there is nothing more magical than getting a glimpse into the vast inner worlds of so many of my peers, especially since we’re on the precipice of adulthood at the most ridiculous possible time.
With the publication of this issue comes the end of Christina’s time as my fellow editor-in-chief. It’s been such a privilege to edit the magazine with Christina and I know they’re going to do so many great things outside this place. I will miss them like a limb while working on the magazine next year! Their work ethic and attention to detail is unmatched and I’ve been so lucky to spend so much time with them—as a coeditor, yes, but also as a poet, peer, and friend. This is Christina’s sendoff issue and I think we’re doing her justice. :)
Much love to all of you. Thank you for reading and celebrating student artists and writers. I can assure you that your care and attention means the world to everybody whose work is featured in this issue of Snaggletooth. We will be back with a vengeance next year (with actual hard copies this time, I promise). Thank you so much to Jess and Myronn, our faculty advisors, as well as our wonderful team of editors—Jane, Keira, Maria, Lila, Isabel, Helena, Liya, Talia, and Nicole. You all are the best. Special thanks to Jane and Liya for taking particular time and attention with the prose pieces in this issue. So many people worked so hard to assure this issue shines. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
xoxoxo
Maria
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When I first arrived at Bates in the fall of 2018, Snaggletooth was still in its infancy. At that point, the magazine had only existed for less than a year. I came to Bates knowing that I was deeply passionate about creative writing, but I felt like I was lacking a community to share that with. Yes, I could take English classes, but I yearned for people who I could share poetry with, who loved the same random poets as much as I did, and who would push me to grow as a writer.
Over the past four years, Snaggletooth has served as that community that I so badly wanted as a first-year. I came to the first club meeting freshman year, extremely awkward and deeply intimidated by all of the cool seniors who seemed so sure of themselves as both artists and people. Despite my initial social anxiety, and my fears that I wasn’t a talented enough writer to be in the room, I immediately felt connected to Snaggletooth. The editors managed to see the best in my poetry, while also recognizing that there was much more that my pieces could become. Snaggletooth was the first time I truly understood that my writing deserved to take up space. I knew from that first meeting that I wanted to make creative writing, and this club, an integral part of my college experience. I wanted other creative people on campus to feel like their work was being recognized and celebrated – I finally knew firsthand just how powerful that feeling is.
It has been an immense joy and honor to publish the work of so many talented Bates students. I am so grateful to everyone who has submitted to Snaggletooth for trusting us with their art. This issue, especially, represents just how much Snaggletooth has grown since it was founded in January of 2018. Issue 6 features some amazing artists and writers from a wide range of class years and lived experiences. This issue is such a comprehensive and muscular assortment of work, and I am so excited that it is finally in the hands of the Bates community to enjoy.
Thank you to everyone for reading, and for supporting creative arts at Bates. I love Snaggletooth with all my heart. It’s one of the things that I will miss most about Bates. I can’t wait for what’s to come in the future.
Love,
Christina
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Lastly: if you’re reading this, you’re invited to our Issue 6 reading/release party. Tuesday, May 24th at 4pm at the amphitheater. There will be snacks and an open mic and lots and lots of love.