Editor’s Note

For three decades now, Baily’s Beads has been a hub for talented artists, writers, and photographers alike. From those in the Bradford community – the catalogue of work is one of great diversity.  

Pitt-Bradford is set in a nature-rich area of PA. There is beauty everywhere you look. When the University launched the new brand campaign Pitt Forged. Bradford Inspired, we looked at what Bradford Inspired meant to us; we thought of the beauty around us. But when you think of nature you can’t just think of the life and new growth that spring brings. You must appreciate the beauty of nature in its entirety. That means life and death and everything in between. 

Everyday our students and faculty face challenges ranging from pressures of midterms and finals to navigating day to day challenges of relationships, school, work, and personal life balance. So, in this year’s issue of Baily’s Beads, we want to share some inspired art, fiction, non-fiction and poetry full of Life…Love…Death….and Heart Stompers 

This edition of Baily’s Bead contains our newest special feature: “Heart Stompers.” This year, Baily’s Beads staff were honored to receive submissions from art to prose capturing the most vulnerable moments in our relationships: gut-wrenching stories of friendships gone awry; poems of romance ended prematurely; artists capturing the feeling when the heart “breaks.” Paired alongside accompanying art, “Heart Stompers” pulls your mind from the cycle of nature to wallow in another’s romantic misery, tensely anticipate the end of a friendship, or live through the dreaded moment where heart “ache” turns to heart “break”.  

Creating this edition of Baily’s Beads has been filled with laughter, joy, frustration, and a lot of hard work. Overall, it was an overwhelmingly rewarding experience that could not have been completed without the help of many. Thank you to our Baily’s Beads staff, our art advisor, Professor Daisy Wiley, Communication and the Arts Division Chair Kevin Ewert and former Division Chair Jeff Guterman, Writing Center Assistant Director Catherine Kula, Communication and the Arts Division Administrative Assistant Shelley Whitman, Gina Prosch and Lohman Hills Creative, LLC, Pat Frantz Cercone Executive Director of Communications and Marketing and finally, our advisor Karen Bell and former advisor Prof. Nancy McCabe. Dr. McCabe had been the advisor to Baily’s Beads for many years before Karen took over while she was on sabbatical. Since then, Karen has worked to ensure that all information was communicated between our class and the faculty. This edition would not have been possible without her hard work and determination. And to Dr. McCabe, who has always ensured that our publication remains successful, thank you for another year of diligent work.  

I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity that was granted to me in becoming the editor-in-chief of this edition of Baily’s Beads. I truly hope everyone enjoys it as much as I enjoyed having a hand in creating it.  

-Angelique Burns