Dear Reader,

Abstract expressionist painter Hans Hoffman said "the whole world, as we experience it visually, comes to us through the mystic realm of color." Really, color is just varying wavelengths of light, reflected and absorbed by surfaces in our world. That's all. Why then, is it so hard to define color? Mystic, maybe; certainly mysterious. Color manifests itself in every aspect of our daily lives.

For some, color represents money, a flickering flash of gold hidden in a riverbed. For the great Pacific Northwest Orca whale, color is an evolutionary tool of stealth and survival.

Maybe you've never considered why certain foods are certain colors and how those colors are important. Or maybe you see color as a more abstract essence, an emotion, like the redness of rage or hatred.

In today's society, even with the election of our country's first black president, discussion of color often focus on race and ethnicity. This issue explores the varying meanings of color, whether as lighthearted as a card game, or as heavy hitting as race. As you read this issue, I implore you to keep in mind that every American has a right to share their point of view and show their true colors, even if those colors represent ignorance and fear.


Angelo Spagnolo
Editor-In-Chief