100th Edition

The Quarry 2023

98th Edition

This past year has been one of tumult. And yet, despite disruption and distance, we continue to create. Within these pages, you will encounter raw reflections on what it means to love and exist in this moment, as well as hopes for what the future may bring. Each individual work carries its own story; together, they reveal the many intersections of our experiences, both noteworthy and mundane.

This edition of the Quarry speaks of returning to places we once call home, of reckoning with fear and inequality, of coping with absurdity and uncertainty, of seeking joy and connection in unlikely places. Whether you find yourself relating to a particular feeling or gaining insight into a new perspective, we hope you discover a bit of clarity in the midst of these stories.

The 2021 Editors

97th Edition

What can be said of this eclectic collection? There’s shrewd observation in these pages. There’s honesty. There’s an abundance of talent and no small amount of wit. You’ll find people reckoning with the past, grasping at identity, reveling in mystery — people coming of age in a world that’s broken and beautiful and trying to cobble together some meaning.

We invite you to slow down for a few minutes and listen to these stories. Drive a wedge into your schedule and widen the space between now and whatever’s next. Find a nice chair, kick off your shoes, and brew a pot of tea. Let yourself linger here a while.

The 2020 Editors

95th Edition

Meaning is born from difference. It’s how we notice progress; it’s how we appreciate growth. As editors, we have the pleasure of seeing the range of themes that linger on the minds of St. Olaf’s writers and artists from year to year. As we review submissions, we witness the change within creative communities and the individual artists themselves.

Each publication of The Quarry represents a different St. Olaf. Each issue hears new voices, and each new voice takes ownership of personal experiences in divergent ways. The art and writing within the magazine before you represents the change in emotions, the progression of opinions, and the growth of community that took place on campus this year.
The 2018 Editors

94th Edition

Art is a complex public affair that forces us to interact and engage with one another, even on its most basic level. In order to make, to create, to form, to move, we have to find value enough in the life around us. Art is a starting point for change.

The creative arts tell many stories. Each story is a response, a reflection, and an evaluation of the time we live in. These stories not only reflect where we are, but were we want to be. It is in the arts that we find a place where differences can come together. It is a mark of successful art that it engages us in connection and in dialogue. Artists are need now more than ever.

The 2017 Editors