Each issue of Wild Onions has a theme. I have the honor of introducing this year’s theme: “Touch.”
Touch has different meanings depending on the context. At a basic level it is the physical sensation of an object and perhaps another person conveyed through our bodies. Touch has always been a place of connection. The laying of hands has been an expression of care from the earliest of times of our individual lives and from our time as a species. In this era of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen how the absence of touch has created great suffering for so many. However, touch extends beyond the physical to the emotional and the spiritual. Everyone has had the feeling of being touched by a poignant experience or by a powerful work of art. This collection represents a gathering of submissions from our Penn State Health and Penn State College of Medicine community, powerful words and images that share a vision of touch.
As you will see in this year’s edition of Wild Onions, the talent possessed by this community is immense.
I want to applaud all of the contributors for their willingness to vulnerably share the works they have created. Now these talented artists touch us.
An incredible team of faculty, students, and staff are responsible for creating the 2022 edition of Wild Onions. Thank you to Elias Harkins and Haley Hartman, co-senior editors; Editor-in-Chief Daniel R. George, PhD; and Deborah Tomazin and Kerry Royer, managing editors. It is clear that Wild Onions is a labor of love for those responsible for its publication. It has been an honor to serve as the guest editor this year.
We hope you enjoy this edition of Wild Onions!