You Will Think Of Me

Gabriella Grinbergs

When the wind rushes past my hollow ears,
it reminds me of the space I took,
a prize I felt the need to earn.
It tells my seashell ears all of its secrets,
louder, faster, until the tall grass hisses its name.
Coddling my skin like a newborn, roaring in my head like a mother
– echoing off calcerous cave walls between my ears.

Insects curl up inside and burrow against the storm.
They feel a warmth I’d forgotten,
buried, and burned.
You never found it there until it erupted.
They make their own
and teach me to do it again.

Fungi weave through every pore, muscle, and bone,
Flooding the jagged molds of your greedy hands,
reaching to my rotted core,
content to fill the fractures
left behind by your careless touch.

And when all is said and done,
the bugs will finish their work,
flowers will sprout from my bones,
and they will be grateful.

The Earth will claim the inevitable toll,
and when there is nothing left for you to demand
of my unsatisfying body,

you will think of me
– a tight ringing in your ears.

It will fade over time as ideas often do,

until I am nothing

but the air

you

breathe.

Brooke Jennings

Biography: Brooke Jennings is a fourth year Psychology and Studio Art student at Oregon State who has combined a love for art with a passion for exploring new ways to be creative. Through practicing outside their signature mediums of drawing and painting during their time at Oregon State, Brooke has had the opportunity to explore new forms of expression, which include mixed media, collage, fiction writing, poetry, sculpture, digital media, installation and more. Before moving to Corvallis, Oregon, Brooke was born and raised in Southern California, where they began their enthusiasm for creativity and the world of art. Since moving to Oregon, they have had the opportunity to be involved in multiple art installations, including their own group installation at the local Joan Truckenbrod Gallery. Brooke has also had the opportunity to be a club and leadership member of “Montage” Fine Arts Club at OSU, which has further connected them with the amazing Corvallis art community. They look forward to the future of sharing their art with others and are very thankful for the support expressed by other artists and friends in the community!

Artist Statement: My goal for my art, regardless of medium, is to evoke a powerful sense of emotion and connection that resonates within individuals from any audience. A large inspiration for me is the concept of empathy, and how understanding and sharing the feelings of others can cultivate a strong connection between yourself and the world around you. My art is a reflection of the “roots” of who I am, which I feel connected to most when I explore and share my inner thoughts and experiences. While I’m in the process of creating a new piece, I value the ability to explore limitless creative freedom while drawing inspiration from these roots. I consider the process by which you create art to be an art form in itself.

Gabriella Grinbergs

Biography: I am currently a senior at OSU, earning a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing, but have been writing since I was in the fourth grade. After college, no matter the career I end up in, I hope to carry my love for literature wherever I go.

Artist Statement: This piece began as a free-write from this past summer, and grew into this final revision, in a moment of reflection on my self worth and how events from my past, for better or worse, made me who I am today, and who I will be in the future.