Maci Bellefeuille and Sarah Horner, Editors in Chief, 2023
This year’s theme, “Patchwork,” focuses on joining ideas, methods of expression, and people—particularly in an incongruous or unexpected way. It calls on creativity and togetherness to mend the self, form something new, or make connections. When faced with messy emotions, Patchwork encourages one to see artistry as a method of healing.
When thinking of the word Patchwork, images of quilts, collages, or clothing may come to mind. One may imagine the sewing together of squares or fabrics to create a unique design, fixing something that has been torn apart, or repurposing something unwanted or broken. As a theme, Patchwork invites writers and artists to explore the unraveled pieces of the past as a way to heal. Patchwork emphasizes that we are not one dimensional. Our inner workings are chaotic; there is no singular word to express an experience we have had or to define a complicated set of emotions. Patchwork is often intriguing, colorful, memorable, and flexible. It contains multitudes of creative techniques, and may pair seemingly unrelated concepts together in order to create something new.
Patchwork calls upon the eclectic style that shapes the feeling of home. Home is a concept with a boundless definition. One can think of home as something that provides comfort and security or immense chaos. Patchwork invites writers and artists to examine relationships, experiences, and emotions in a way that embodies their own definitions of home.
Patchwork also serves as a connection between different cultures or geographic locations. Throughout the world, the art of Patchwork can take on many different forms, such as the Baijayi, or “Hundred Families Robe,” in China or the Khayamiya found in the Middle East. These, as well as other works of Patchwork art, have historically been used to uphold cultural traditions. In choosing Patchwork as the theme, the The Tower staff hopes to unify people from and make connections across diverse backgrounds and geographical locations. The 2023 edition of The Tower will work toward this unification by opening up submissions to undergraduate students across the country for the first time. When selecting the theme, the staff wanted to make sure it reflected our new “opening up” and emphasized the importance of diversity, togetherness, endurance, and more.
The possibilities of Patchwork are endless. Whether it is a photo of a quilt, a colorful painting, a poem that plays on structure, or a story that conveys an emotional experience, The Tower staff hopes to encourage creativity. We look forward to seeing the artful submissions that embody what Patchwork means to you.