Art Explosion! Huzzah! Spring!
It's possible I had an afternoon coffee.
Hello there. I type to you from a secret location, wearing a robe, contemplating chemistry (a.k.a. hair dye). What shall occur? Who can say? Perhaps I shall transform into an Easter bunny, a seder plate, a belated Holi color explosion, or a daffodil turning her face to the sun.
I guess this is how I write when the Prozac works and the coffee kicks in. ANYWAY, here are some things I’ve enjoyed recently.
Recommendations
All the Beauty and the Bloodshed - This documentary by Laura Poitras, and the various promotional stills featuring artist Nan Goldin, prompted dozens of friends and strangers to say, “You look like her.” Is that why I watched the documentary? Maybe! OR MAYBE NOT. At any rate, nobody could stop sending me this image in particular, of a young Nan in the bathroom with her roommate in Boston.
Look, I get it and I appreciate it. I could only dream of having as much talent as this photographer - and, as I learned from this documentary, I can only dream of having so much chutzpah, bravery, and willingness to put my ideals into practice.
However, I do have the hair. Or I’ve had the hair in the past.
In all seriousness, as a sober person who has friends in the harm reduction training world, I wanted to see where the seemingly disparate worlds of groundbreaking portrait photography and Sackler-backed pharmaceutical malfeasance intersected.
It’s a beautiful film. Watch it if you can. Goldin’s sister died by suicide when both girls were quite young, and the film is an elegy for Barbara Goldin and for all the biological and spiritual siblings we’ve lost to seemingly insurmountable pain.
I’m trained through the American Red Cross in CPR and First Aid for Severe Trauma, but the documentary made me realize I need to do naloxone training.
Naloxone training through the CDC - There are various options, depending on whether you wish to take the full module or just want to learn more. These appear to be designed for healthcare professionals, but it seems anybody can take them. Lots of local community groups do the trainings in person, too.
The following photos of my cat - She’s really doing the work.
The old romcom “Dave” - I have not seen it in decades but that did not stop me from buying this hat on eBay.
This is your fourth and final SARATONIN of the month. I hope you had a good March. I hope April is even better. Happy Trans Day of Visibility, and may we all be blessed with love and support in our lives - and may we all help provide it for others. 💜