Dreams have always been interesting to me. While we sleep, our mind cobbles together stories out of our daily lives and half-buried memories. Some of these are so disturbing we're shocked awake in a panic. Others are so delightful we wish we could sleep forever. When we're awake, our minds escape our mundane tasks by creating fantasies out of our hopes and fears, childhood longings and present experiences. Although they are intangible, our culture's fascination with dreams is memorialized in movies like Inception and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind; in Dr. King's “I Have a Dream” speech; in more songs than could possibly be listed here.
This month Status Hat explores the ethereal world of dreams, daytime and nighttime, wanted and unwanted, celebrated and dismissed. In “Oils,” TF Rhoden examines the
toll living one's dream can take on family life. Poet Lois Elaine Heckman reminds us of the ambiguous nature of dreams, which become sweet and sour memories in our waking lives. Also, Pedro Ponce offers a much-needed service for those dreams we'd rather not have. Visually, we have two exciting offerings this month. Psychedelic video DJ and cartoonist A. Minor shares a few illustrations depicting actual dreams she's had. We also take a look at the imaginative world of children's illustrations from Italian artist Gaia Bordicchia.
I hope you enjoy this diverse look at dreams as much as I do.
Liz McCollum
Guest Editor, Fall 2011
