The Ink Unveiled: A Celebration of Student Art and Writing

At Cannon School, the arts are essential to our community, and one of the most anticipated celebrations of our vibrant arts culture is the annual release of The Ink, the school’s literary magazine. This year, the magazine cover will be unveiled at Arts Jam on April 26. 

Born out of a desire to showcase student writers and artists, The Ink is now in its sixth year, a continuing permanent record of the talents of Cannon’s creative community.  

Since 2020, a senior art student has designed the magazine each year. Past designers have set high standards for the publication’s look. This year’s designer, Ava Cardwell ’25, has brought her vision to the 2025 edition. 

Ava reflected on her experience, saying, “The design of The Ink really helps showcase student art and writing pieces. It helps the reader visualize the emotion or tone behind specific writings, and the art helps visualize the story.” She explained how every design selection plays a pivotal role in shaping how the reader interacts with the content. “Every color, every image, and every design choice helps guide the reader’s emotions and shape how they experience a piece. Even the placement of text and images can direct the reader’s eye across the page.” 

This year’s magazine features 28 writers and 26 artists. The selection process involved careful review by students, with Ava pairing artwork to enhance the written pieces. She noted how being involved in The Ink deepened her understanding of how design can impact storytelling and helped her grow as an artist by learning new skills in digital design tools. “Although I’ve been in Studio Arts for the past three years, I didn’t know much about media arts before this. After being the layout designer for The Ink, I’ve learned so much about tools like Photoshop and InDesign, and I’ve come to see that art can take so many forms.” 

The result is a stunning celebration of Cannon’s best student work. As Ava eagerly anticipates the reactions to the magazine, she says, “I’m really looking forward to seeing people’s reactions when they see their art and writing in The Ink. I think it’s really special for writers to see their words brought to life visually, and for artists to see their work used to represent written pieces.” 

The Ink is more than just a publication; it’s a celebration of student creativity and collaboration. When text and image come together, they spark emotional and intellectual connections, and we hope it inspires further creativity within our community. 

We extend our deepest thanks to CAFTA (Cannon Advocates for the Arts) for funding the printing of the magazine. Without their support, this tradition would not be possible. 

Join us on April 26 at Arts Jam to celebrate the exceptional work of our students in this year’s edition of The Ink!