Memories from Stagebarn Crystal Cave

Mackenzie Williamson
Wed, 29 Apr 2026 13:45:42 PDT

My thesis aims to capture moments from my childhood through an exploration of place, nature, relationships, and growth. From the time I entered the Master of Fine Arts program at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, I knew my thesis would revolve around my family's property and the cave we own in the Black Hills of South Dakota, though the complete thesis has greatly evolved from what I originally envisioned. I never wanted my work to cover only one topic, be written in one style, or appear in one form. The nonfiction essay collection that follows is a mixture of collage, braided, experimental, flash, and hybrid essays that could function as standalone pieces, but work together to continuously build an image and understanding of the people and places discussed. My childhood memories are embedded in pine trees and coneflowers and turtle-filled creeks, so talking to family members and thinking of home allowed memories to spark, kick-starting the writing process for each essay. This process involved finding a strand of memory, following it as far back as it went, and then letting it work its way onto the page. Though the experience of owning a cave is perhaps unrelatable to the masses, childhood and relationships are something everyone can find connection to. My hope is that through my essays, readers will be able to find themselves walking down the same gravel roads I once did and feel a deep-rooted connection to home.