Our Story
What is a Smudge? A smudge is the threshold through which everything passes, the liminal, the place where anything can happen. A smudge is a site of liberation, the place where colors, cultures, aesthetics, traditions, blend, merge, and build. A smudge is a demarcation of transformation, the in between, the pupa and cocoon between caterpillar and butterfly. A smudge can become anything. The smudge is us.
Smudge was founded in 2021 when a group of students discussed the frustrations of cultural misunderstandings in the writing workshop, especially during critiques. Smudge was created to prevent further misinterpretations, to provide a safe space for writers and artists of color where they feel like their work will not be undervalued and misjudged.
Our name comes from a poem, “Smudge” written by Malachi Jones who won the Golden Portfolio Award from Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. The final line of his poem captures Smudge's presence on campus: "A black mass against a bright canvas." Rather than hiding away, Smudge takes pride in this presence.
Check out our video “The Story Behind Smudge” here.
President, Head of Marketing
Heyo! I’m Sato and I’m from Portland, Maine! I’ve been cooking up videos for Smudge since freshman year, and can’t wait to make great memories this semester.
Adrian (Soo Min) Rhee is a Psychology major with a lifelong love of writing. They love writing about the minutiae of emotions and everything in between. Outside of writing, Adrian enjoys video games, crocheting, and talking.
Editor in Chief
Head of Design & Layout
Hi! I am Almudena and I love to walk around the city, urban sketch, read, and watch movies. In the future, I wish to study archeology and travel to the Mediterranean and study their architecture and art. This semester, I hope to travel more often to Museums and third spaces!
Treasurer, Editor
Kiara is a Neuroscience and Computer Science double major at Wheaton from Mumbai. She loves creating and reading poetry, and has a soft spot for pink skies. She misses the tropics, but New England is slowly helping her fall in love with the cold.
Secretary, Illustrator, Layout & Web Editor
Lili is a sophomore and Design major at Wheaton from Vermont. They are a big fan of sandwiches, beabadoobee, and watching movies in bed.
Social Media Manager, Editor
I’m Nico! I’m a biology and visual arts major. Some of my favorite art mediums are printmaking and painting. I especially love how all forms of art bring people together. I’m a dancer who loves going out into the city or to the beach, and I talk about my cats whenever I can.
Editor
Bella is a nerd from a decently-sized town who’s really into writing! Cat fanatic, chronic reader, professional fumbler and aspiring romance novel writer.
Editor
Angel is a New York based Writer, Thespian and lover of all things creative and imaginative. First generation kid born from Mexican immigrants, I hope to uplift the human experience through a marginalized lens and share stories that otherwise are forgotten or overlooked.
Interested in joining the team?
Email smudgemagwc@gmail.com and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can!