I haven’t felt much like writing lately. Not since the election. Really not since the inauguration. I think we’re in a pretty dark place right now. A dangerous place. It’s hard to keep up with things, move forward with business as usual. Especially with things that may seem frivolous, trivial, or non necessary. Things like art. Things like beauty. Things like spending a few hours in the darkroom with film and chemistry. Watching an image slowly emerge in the developer. Things like magic.
Most people I know don’t really know what to do right now. In years past, in the early days of Orange Julius Caesar’s reign, we were ripe with outrage and protest. Millions of people took to the streets. There was a feeling of united solidarity against what was happening. This time, not so much. I have a theory, that previously, it felt like we were trying to keep the country from going over a cliff. Now we’re over the edge. We’re in free fall. And really, what can you do when you’re just falling? What control do you have? You can twist and contort your body. You can close your eyes and tell yourself its not happening. You can scream til your voice is raw. Does any of it really matter? Will any of it stop the falling? No.
We can check in on each other. We can keep our actions small and close. We can hold hands with the person or loved one thats plummeting alongside us. We can make each other feel a little better. A little safer. With understanding or commiseration, or love, or art, or beauty. Or darkroom magic. Until it’s time to shut it all the fuck down. Prepare yourselves.
This image is the last of the “Print of The Month” subscription series. It went a year. I enjoyed it, having an assignment. I’ll still be printing images and making them available to collectors, but there will no longer be a subscription based model. They’ll be in the Store, periodically updated. I think this is one of my very favorite images I’ve ever created with traditional materials. Eva Luna, in studio, hand study. Going out to subscribers in a 5x5” format, available soon to purchase in the store, printed on 8x10” in a limited edition.
Thank you for the continued support. Thank you for believing that beauty matters.