Homeward Bound

Kae Ranck

4/12/24-

He nods absently, waving the Father off as he turns back to the statue.

It takes a lot to bring a demon to its knees, but he sinks to his in an instant. Not a proper kneel, mind you, his knees parted, shoulders slumped as his tail lays behind him, taking up space, but a kneel nonetheless.

A quiet whispering begins to slip from him in a cloud, his eyes closing gently.

Candles flicker to life in the church, each flame dancing softly with light.

Grief.

Each foreign word is soaked in it, longing piercing through the blue emotion in bursts.

He leans down, his horns a curving arc in the air as he presses his forehead against the ground before the Mother’s feet.

“…I pray to you mother, for he was just a boy. He was your son. Not His to take. I’m your son too, aren’t I? Do you weep for me, mother? I pray for you to hold me again.

…Can I come home, mom?”

He whispers into the earth, his clawed, blackened hands shakily reaching to graze the feet of the statue, exhaling slowly.

It’s quiet in the church tonight.

Bella Soth

Biography: Hi! I’m Bella, an OSU student that is majoring in graphic design, with a minor in studio arts. Art has always been a big part of my life, and I love incorporating my love of writing by creating different worlds and characters. A lot of what I work on dives into the concept of “found family”, or finding close relationships where one might not. Character design is something I’m really fascinated and passionate about, so a lot of my work takes on a more cartoon-ish, stylized approach. I get inspired by a lot of graphic novelist, cartoons, and other artists with more animated styles. I hope you enjoy my work!

Artist Statement:  “Frutiger Aero” is a design aesthetic that was popular in the early 2000s-2010s. This art piece was self indulgent to make, as it delves into the “roots” of my childhood. I remember when technology felt so organic, clean, and had a lot to do with fish for whatever reason.

Kae Ranck

Biography: I’m just a college art student living at home with their parents who happens to love creating pieces that help me express my emotions and what I see around me.

Artist Statement: My submissions for Roots reference my exploration of my own roots, my family and the deeply personal core aspects of myself that build the foundation of who I am.