Our First Edition

 

 

Transitions, a Journal of Crossing

First edition published by Pavement Pounders CIC , September 2011

Transitions edited by Maryanne Grant Traylen, PhD, and illustrated with drawings and other artwork by artist David Lay - is a journal of crossings from the edge, Folkestone itself. It explores the archetype of journeying whether real or imaginary, through myth, psychology, personal account, story or poem, and is divided into three sometimes overlapping sections: Ships and Arks, Sea Crossings and Descents and Exiles and Epiphanies.

Ships and Arks asks if the symbol of the ark expresses broad or narrow-mindedness, but looks particularly at what the ark meant to poet William Blake. Endorsing Blake’s view Jungian analyst Jim Fitzgerald unravels the symbolism of the ark which is central also to Annie Webb’s short story, Sunship.

In Sea Crossings writer Sonia Overall’s poem dwells on a sea-crossing hero of mythology while psychotherapist James Bennett’s considers ‘boundaries’. Film maker Nikolaj Larsen has brought to life the crossings of real migrants from Calais. Writer and swimmer Shaukat Khan, a Cross Channel Swimmer, has actually swum it. And writer Maggie Harris lends lyrical voice to her experience as migrant crossing from Guyana.

In Descents James Bennett looks at the psychological significance of mythological descents while Annie Webb fictionalises a Persian descent myth. Maiuko, Afro jazz-singer and artist, describes her experience underground during a Tunnel fire and Annie Webb’s story portrays the Tunnel as allegorical underground.

In Exiles the editor has extracted pieces from Sunjeev Sahota’s excellent novel Ours Are the Streets, published by Picador this year, to demonstrate the loneliness of not belonging.

In Epiphanies in contrast, Julie Crick, a painting conservator restorer, has transformed a painting housed locally, of immigrants arriving on our shores, while artist Gillian White describes a journey that transformed her into a local. In Annie Webb’s two short stories epiphanies are found in words from a poet and from the sea itself.

Contributors:

James Bennett, Julie Crick, Jim Fitzgerald, Maggie Harris, Shaukat Khan, Nikolaj Skyum Bendix Larsen, Maiuko, Sonia Overall, Sunjeev Sahota, Annie Webb, Gillian White.