Bio:   Sandra Lynn Hutchison serves as editor-in-chief of e*lix*ir, which she founded in 2015 to showcase art that celebrates the power of spirit. She is the author of a memoir, Chinese Brushstrokes (Turnstone Press), numerous essays, as well as two books of poetry: The Art of Nesting (GR Books) and a forthcoming volume, The Beautiful Foolishness of Things, which was a finalist for the Poet’s Corner Chapbook Contest in 2022. Hutchison holds a Ph.D. in English literature from the University of Toronto and has been the recipient of various academic and literary awards, including the Emily Dickinson Poetry Prize from Universities West Press. She lives in Orono, Maine, where she teaches scriptural exegesis and mentors writers in the courses in creative writing she teaches through the Wilmette Institute in Chicago. She also serves as faculty for the BIHE (Bahá’í Institute for Higher Education).

Bio:   After years of studying, performing, and teaching music, I have taken, in retirement, the opportunity to explore the joy of its creation. Having played classical and jazz piano, orchestral French horn and percussion, and having also performed jazz, blues, choral and world music, I have found many fresh vistas for exploration and improvisation. I believe that music has a unique ability to communicate deeply-held beliefs and emotional truths — the “things that are not seen.” By expressing this interior landscape through sound, my goal is to touch others deeply and encourage them to grow in a positive direction, beyond the level of conscious understanding. In this way, I strive to make a difference in the world, using the blessings I have received from the experiences of a lifetime.

Bio:   Inger Gregory is a former Art Educator, now retired and enjoying creating artwork from her home studio in North Hampton, New Hampshire. She has always considered herself an advocate of the arts and has served on the boards of various art associations. Currently, she serves on the board of an organization called Artists Building Capacity as World Citizens. Using the medium of alcohol inks, much of her current work is inspired by the beautiful spiritual metaphors found in the Bahá’í Writings. In her work, she has evolved over the years from realism to more abstract modes of expression. Her work with alcohol inks expresses a sense of awe at the mystery and beauty of all that surrounds us in this life. She believes that the fostering of creativity should be an integral part of education and that the arts are one of the best means to deepen understanding of diverse cultures and build empathy and respect for all people.