Art from the borderlands

A very important art reception this evening, curated by Jess Lagunas. That’s Jess in front of the drums, welcoming an audience of people deeply concerned about the policies being implemented at the southern border of the USA. The paintings are by four artists, and in their work cages, walls, butterflies, borders, crosses, death, water and the lack of water, and (my favorite) hummingbirds all figure prominently. The art by Janie Lowe in the extra is entitled “You Can’t Cage the Soul,” and a card beside it reads as follows:

“In Latin America, the colibri (hummingbird) is a symbol of strength, hope, and migration. It is also believed in many cultures to be the messenger between the living and the dead. In my painting, each hummingbird represents a child who has died in U.S. detention.”

The photograph taken under fluorescent light doesn’t come near doing justice to the work. It really does seem illumined from within. 


Otherwise it was a day of many errands. The new migraine medicine, Aimovig, costs $600 a month and is not covered by Medicare, so I won’t get it. I read the reviews online and it causes hair loss, bloating, fatigue, weight gain, and severe constipation. I can let that go without a bit of regret.