I don’t know about you, Dear Reader, but for me, October felt like every single molecule in existence was in retrograde. Maybe it’s the political tension of the midterms, maybe it’s the break in weather which makes New Orleanians awaken as if from some fever dream and start running around like fire ants, or maybe it really is the stars and heavenly bodies pushing and pulling us in every direction. Whatever it is, can we slow this ride down just a tad? I’m getting a little carsick.
Speaking of the midterms, I’d like to thank everyone who reached out to us about our latest Voter Education Guide, whether that was through your generous and 100% voluntary donations (*cough* @antigravitymag for Venmo and PayPal *cough*), sharing it around online, or telling us in person how much it means to you. The actual election results are always—at best—a mixed bag, but the enthusiasm and passion of our local electorate is forever a source of great inspiration to me and the ANTIGRAVITY crew. For that we thank you with the utmost humility and gratitude.
Full disclosure—after publishing a 22,000 word Voter Guide, your AG crew is stumbling towards this finish line like Winona Ryder at the end of Heathers, a little blasted but not broken! So I’m going to keep this month’s intro short because we have a lot to get to in this issue, whether it’s repairing the world one radio or pant leg at a time, welcoming back the mighty Fringe Fest, digging into the plot behind forcing the Ten Commandments into public schools, or getting jerked around by Twisted Teens. Ah New Orleans, you never fail to disappoint, even when you do.
I like to think that every issue of ANTIGRAVITY is one hell of a potluck, and this month—especially this month—is no different. Thanksgiving is such a complicated holiday, kind of like a Passover Seder held by the Egyptians, but our beautifully diverse society has reinvented this conqueror’s banquet as a time to come together and celebrate our loved ones, both those we share DNA with and those we’ve chosen as our family. This country is at its best when we are able to make traditions like Thanksgiving our own, serving whatever dishes bring us comfort and a sense of home while sitting alongside people we care about and who hopefully care about us.
Here’s to hoping the stars and molecules settle down a bit in November, and—because I write to you still in the last gasps of October—that Halloween is scarier than the election results. Be safe out there. —Dan Fox
About the Cover
I have always felt that November was one of the most magical months of the year, so it was very exciting to make a cover illustration in its honor. For this illustration, I wanted to play with the idea of the veil growing thin and a cavalcade of spirits waiting eagerly on the other side. The swamp with all its flora and fauna is my favorite thing to draw these days, so of course I had to set the story there. In this scene, swampy little familiars await the spirits with candles and marigolds, which are frequently used in Día de los Muertos ofrendas. My drawings tend to be like pages from an I Spy book: The longer you look, the more you find. My drawing method is simple but notoriously time intensive. I start with a pencil sketch and then go over that outline with Faber-Castell pens. Next, I build in shadows using pencil and COPIC markers, followed by a final layer of stippling in ink. One day, I hope to figure out my DPM (dots per minute). White ink is then used to add highlights. Lastly, I fill in the background with black acrylic paint, meticulously going between every blade of grass and heron feather. From there, I scan the illustration and clean it up using Lightroom and Photopea to polish any rough spots. —Laura Frizzell
top illustration by Airily Arts
