Noah Thomas (he/him) is an acrylic painter based in Chicago, IL. Noah has been painting since 2011 and started doing art shows in high school in 2013. He has been influenced by surrealism and expressionism within landscapes for his pieces. His pieces immerse the viewer in new landscapes normally unseen by our human eye while exploring the solitude felt in isolation. You can find him on Instagram @acting_sorn

Born and raised in rural Illinois, Lexi Leach (she/they) developed a deep appreciation for nature from a young age. Growing up alongside horses, she and her sister spent countless hours riding and training under the guidance of their mother, forging a strong bond rooted in their shared love for animals, the outdoors, and dedication. Seeking new horizons and opportunities, Lexi moved to Chicago in pursuit of a place she could truly call home. With a passion for understanding the natural world, she embarked on a journey through academia, currently serving as STEM Department Head at a secondary school while pursuing her graduate studies in biology and GIS. Her focus lies in ecology, particularly investigating how human interactions impact aquatic ecosystems—an area where her dedication to conservation and sustainability shines through. Inherited from a paternal lineage of poets, Lexi finds peace and expression in writing poems. Through her verses, she carefully weaves narratives that capture the essence of her experiences, blending the scientific curiosity of the natural world with a lyrical touch. Lexi continues to embrace her everyday life through poetry—a life where the rhythm of hoofbeats that once pounded in her being are now replaced by the bustling sounds of urban life intertwined with faint typing of her keyboard.

Taylor Thornburg (he/him) is an author and essayist based in Chicago, Illinois. His fiction explores strange yet humane ways of being. His other fiction can be found in the Garfield Lake Review, Thirteenth Floor Magazine, L'Esprit Literary Review, Valley Voices, Heartwood Literary Review, and elsewhere. You can find him on Instagram @midwesttaylor

Emma Younger (they/them) is a poet originally from Portland, OR, now living in Chicago, IL. Past work includes chapbook Stone Fruit Girls. Online in Hooligan Magazine, Stone of Madness, Rookie Magazine & beyond. You can find them on instagram @emmarain27.

Cassidy Kulhanek (she/they) is a visual artist, writer, and comedian living and working in Chicago, IL. She holds an MFA in Studio Art from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a BFA in Studio Art from Auburn University, both with a concentration in Printmaking. She was named the third best comedian in Chicago in 2023 by the Chicago Reader. Her prose has previously been published in the Blue River Review and she has zines in the permanent collections of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Michigan State University. You can find her on Instagram @heavenlygrandpa

Liam Lynch (they/them) is a writer of surrealist poetry based in Chicago. Their poetry utilizes teachings of eastern philosophy and spirituality to explore emotion, confusion, and care. Liam is currently pursuing a graduate degree in Buddhism-Informed Counseling at Naropa University.

Megan Moore (she/her) is a Chicago based multimedia artist. Her work emerges as a visceral regurgitation of the found imagery she uses to weave together images. As Moore puts it; “This body of work emerges as a visceral regurgitation in response to the pervasive influence of gender stereotypes within our culture. Through the appropriation of found imagery and collage, I navigate where femininity is both constructed and consumed.” You can find her on Instagram @megxmoore or her website https://megxnmoore.info/

Lizzie Ferguson (they/them) is a Chicago based poet and activist who writes and performs in an attempt to transform complex human emotions and personal memories into art. Previously their work has been published in Gardy Loo Magazine, Secret Restaurant Press, New Feathers Anthology, and Tiger Moth Review. Their chapbook I Never Leave Lost Teeth Under My Pillow was published in 2022 through Bottlecap Press. They can often be found at open mics and readings throughout the Chicago land area, on a run, or spending time with their cat and partners.

Dizzzy Turek (he/him) writes in Chicago, but is originally from Ohio. Right now, he is reading The Fold by Delueze, I Am the Truth by Michel Henry, Fantastic Fictions by Sam Pink & Moby Dick. Right now, he's watching Twin Peaks and working through all of John Cassavetes's movies. Find all other writing @dizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzyy (26 zs) on Instagram.

Eli Sugerman (he/him) is a writer and illustrator based in Chicago, Illinois. His short fiction has appeared in Mangoprism, Helicon, and Two Headed Press. His drawings can be found on Instagram at @eli_comics.

Justin Finley (he/him) is a writer, painter, and Cancer from Chicago. He changed his plans to join the US Air Force after military school to obtain a Creative Writing Degree at Columbia College Chicago. Justin is color blind but enjoys the effect this has on different shades of orange and pink. His favorite time is 8:32 PM on Fridays. Justin looks to his dreams when writing fiction and to his diary when creating non-fiction and poetry. You can find him on Instagram @justincasef.

Sazzy Hughes (they/them) is a Chicago based multidisciplinary artist from New York’s Hudson Valley. Sazzy draws most inspiration from friendship, love, and home while primarily focusing on community-based art; art for the purpose of bringing people together in the real physical world. You can catch Sazzy making art with Freak Society Collective and Cloud Community College.