Last semester, I proposed an idea to the Loyola English department: holding a literary salon. This idea has officially come to fruition and it is all I want to talk about.

 In Bobet 332 on Feb. 24th at 5:30 p.m., writers, artists, prolific readers, anyone and everyone is invited to come discuss what is currently inspiring them. Refreshments will be provided. Ambient lighting will also be present.

Salons have existed for centuries as places for creatives to come together and talk about their interests. Bringing this concept to Loyola, I am hoping to create a space for people to feel comfortable expressing themselves however they want, in whatever capacity they wish. 

Historically, salon culture has centered around a particular topic of discussion. With my salon, I want to switch this up and invite anyone to come speak about their art, creative writing, music, or ideas. Feel free to bring yourself, your friends, your work, or your thoughts.

I’d love to know what gets your gears turning; what keeps you up at night, what subject is racking your brain with such fervor that you must get it out in conversation. Salons all have one thing in common: conversation as a centripetal force, bringing guests together in order to evoke something meaningful. 

My vision for this space is a magical one: I want to defamiliarize you from the prestigious past of salons, dismantle their ivory tower connotations in order to reappropriate the concept into a special third space attuned just for you. 

If you feel inclined to share your work or bring any piece of literature you’ve been excited about recently, the floor is yours to do so. 

Dickinson once wrote in a silly letter to a friend, “I am out with lanterns, looking for myself.” I am out with lanterns, looking for you. Think of this column as a solar flare.