It is a word meant to distinguish the feeling of warmth one feels by the sun from the feeling of warmth one feels by air alone.

— Shiv Kotecha

Signalling networks of inspiration and influence, mentorship and friendship, coterie and community ties, this issue collects writing and art that explores the valences of the word dedication as it relates to both relations and creative practice. 

Featuring Gerry Shikatani’s “Journal from Roy’s,” a poem dedicated to his friend Roy Kiyooka, interspersed with newly commissioned images by Henry Tsang; a conversation between Gerry Shikatani and Literary Editor Deanna Fong on poetry and performance; new drawings dedicated to the “non-optimized” by Vida Beyer; a conversation between Deanna Fong and Gail Scott on non-linear writing practices and the event of language; an extended art folio on land and lineage guest-curated by Nasrin Himada and featuring work by Rhayne Vermette, Malena Szlam, Basel Abbas and Ruanne Abou-Rahme; and new writing by Francesca Bennett, Hanako Hoshimi-Caines, A Jamali Rad, Douglas Kerr, Shiv Kotecha, Suvendrini Lena, Gail Scott, and Hannah Azar Strauss.

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