1/ This issue’s steering themes.

2/ Visual & literary inspirations.

3/ Sample writing pitches.

4/ How to join
No. 25 staff.

5/ SPARK’s Zero-Tolerance Policy.

Painting and other mysteries

In the moments before close, the gallery is quiet. Only the noise of air conditioning whirs on with the faint sound of footsteps being rushed outside. I have a few seconds left before the attendant will fetch me too, tell me politely that the museum is now closed. For a bit, though, I have what’s arguably the best seat in the house—a cold black leather lounger in front of Jackson Pollock’s “One.”

Seated upright, shoulders back, I tilt my head one way and then the other. I send my gaze right side up and upside down. I trace the shapes in the paint splatters and then try not to read into them at all. I’ve already moved up close, studied the layers of material and shine. These details are written carefully in my notebook. On the seat now, I’m trying a different approach. I’m hoping distance can offer clarity on why the painting matters. Something past the textual history I’ve memorized for class. So far, distance hasn’t offered too much at all. Ungenerous.

I underline in blue pen beside the listed names of Pollock’s paintings, need to understand and analyze. I add a few exclamation points for good measure. Then I leave before anyone comes to get rid of me.

Painting and other mysteries traces moments of my disenchantment across museums and galleries and finds me wondering at the worth of visual art altogether. I had thought I would spend the rest of my life studying art history—but somewhere during its pursuit, I lost the reason why. How does someone fall out of love with their great passion? And once they have, what comes next?

By Senior Print Editor Anjali Krishna

bells

A girl has a windchime in her room. She’s doing my nails for free, because we’re friends. I can hardly hear her talk over the tinkle of the chimes.

“Where did you get that?” I ask, entranced.

She tells me, and soon another version of it arrives on my doorstep, styrofoamed up in an Amazon box.

I hold it up, and sure enough: tinkle, tinkle, tinkle. My brain goes peacefully and wonderfully blank.

bells will explore comfort sounds — and how they can lead to quiet euphoria.

By Associate Print Editor Ariel Barley

Kabbalah 

I think that I’m going to Hell, but Hell isn’t really a thing in Judaism. Instead, God will send me to some odd purgatory made up of black matter. I’ll spend hours just running around trying to find something. When I finally do, it’ll be award-winning singer/composer/musician/Jew/producer Jack Antonoff. He’ll tell me that I need to name every single song that he’s ever been involved with in order to cleanse my soul enough to ascend to Jewish heaven, which may or may not exist.

Then I remember that I don’t believe in God in the first place. At least, I think I don’t. I feel like God will smite me for saying so.

Kabbalah will explore a vaguely spiritual childhood, my OCD, and Jewish mysticism. It aims to dissect the nonsensical beliefs I hold as a result of their relationship with each other.

By Associate Print Editor Danielle Yampuler 

Original Sin

My dad’s truck is a piece of shit. The speedometer stopped working ages ago, and as soon as I step in, I’m assaulted by the stench of black coffee, cigarettes, and dirt. I practically melt into the worn fabric seats, familiarity easing the stress pent up in my bones.

Drives with my dad are never silent. Either the deep drone of male podcasters discussing Texas’s ability to be this season’s champions lulls me to sleep, or my father imparts his wisdom to me.

“Mija, you are the brightest person I’ve ever met. Complacency is your biggest curse.”

That word—complacency—echoed louder than the podcasts ever could. I grew up a devout Christian, trading the rhythmic bass of popular music for the uplifting messages of MercyMe and Chris Tomlin. The Bible preached humility and diligence, but in my community, the warning against complacency often blurred into something else: the relentless demand to “pull yourself up by your bootstraps.” Faith and ambition became entangled, leaving me caught between the humility of religion and the striving of capitalism, between rest and restlessness.

This tug-of-war of ideals in the South has ripped me to shreds. I no longer know which values I’ve chosen for myself and which have been pressed into me by my culture, my family, and my faith.

In Original Sin, I will examine how these forces intersect—not only in the philosophy of the South, but also in immigrant communities like my own. When does diligence become self-erasure, and when does ambition become idolatry?

By Assistant Print Editor Lorena Tellez

A Poet’s Kitchen

I am a writer in the same way I am a baker.

There is a practiced choreography to it, clearly outlined on the screen I see in my head.

Step one: Take a deep breath. Breathe in the flour and sugar, the nostalgia and longing.

Step two: Set the mood, turn up the playlist. Throw your body against the edge of your marble counters until you have cracked yourself open enough to spill your guts poetically across the polished tile floor.

Step three: Mix everything—all your sorrows, your regrets, your haze-filled memories—until well combined.

Step four: Dust with powdered sugar so nothing tastes too bitter.

Writing is the only time my fingers are allowed to fly. My mind races faster than they can keep up. Quick, immortalize fleeting thoughts before they slip from my grasp forever. Grab trauma by the neck and squeeze, hard—until I’ve milked every last drop to flavor my words with. Sweat my brains out in the oven until a perfect creation emerges.

I take every construct of myself apart until nothing is left for me to turn into words.

A Poet’s Kitchen explores the fine line between preserving your own privacy and imbuing your most vulnerable experiences into your work as a writer. We tell great stories, but at what cost? Is it worth divulging all your pain for the sake of writing a story?

By Assistant Print Editor Jenni Wang

How to Apply:

1/ Complete the application here. You may only apply to three departments and if accepted, can hold a maximum of two positions.

2/ Before you submit, ensure that all Google files have been set to “Anyone with the link can view.” Due to the volume of applications we receive, any application we cannot fully access is automatically disqualified.

3/ Applications close Friday, September 5th @ 11:59 p.m. CST. No late submissions will be considered. If offered a position, keep an eye out on your email inbox for an acceptance letter and immediate next steps by Monday, September 8th.

Terms of Eligibility:

1/ You must be a registered undergraduate or graduate student at The University of Texas at Austin.

2/ You do not need prior editorial experience, but may be asked to produce a portfolio depending on the department-specific application.

3/ Upon acceptance, you must consent to signing a Work Release Form and Liability Release Form. This is so you can work on photoshoots and we can publish your work in print and online!

4/ You must be 18+ years old at the time of application submission.

5/ You must agree to uphold SPARK’s zero-tolerance policy and understand that failure to comply with our standards will result in immediate dismissal from staff.

EDITORIAL

Departments: Print, Web.

Writers concept, pitch, and draft stories for our website, biannual print issues, and sometimes serve as ad hoc copywriters throughout the semester.

CREATIVE

Departments: Modeling, Photography, Styling, Set Styling, Videography, Hair & Makeup.

As members of SPARK’s largest branch, creatives work on- and off-set to produce editorial-level visual assets published on the website and in biannual print issues.

DESIGN

Departments: Layout, Graphic Design. 

Designers are in charge of magazine layouts, digital art, front-end web development, and producing other mixed-media assets for print and online publication.

BUSINESS

Departments: Social Media, Marketing, Events. 

Business branch members plan and host events, manage our newsletter, create and organize SPARK merchandise, work with big fashion/makeup brands, and keep our social media up-to-date.