6.

"I write this letter while..."

Dec 08, 2023

I think about this graphic by artist Mazen Kerbaj every day. Appropriately enough, he captioned it, “daily routine.”

The large, bolded words GAZA IS BOMBED are surrounded by smaller statements of daily routines: “I read a book while…, I go to work while…, I kiss my partner while… I laugh at a joke while…”

I write this letter while Gaza is bombed. I don’t know if there is much more that I can articulate, but I offer a link to free, downloadable Palestinian liberation artwork in the “drawing” section; a list of novels written by Palestinian writers, a comic about grief and witnessing, and a poem from Palestinian poet Mosab Abu Toha in the “reading” section; and other resources on the fight for Palestinian liberation in the “learning” section. In other sections, I write about sunsetting my graphic recording practice at the end of the year, some things about my forthcoming book, and a tarot exercise—I understand if you skip those sections.

Sending love and rage to you and yours. Palestine will be free.

🌅 sunsetting 🌅

At the end of this month (and year), I will be sunsetting my graphic recording and illustration practice, Radical Roadmaps. I have been reflecting on this transition and been in conversation with some co-conspirators and collaborators for the past few months, and here are a few of the things that are prompting this change:

I am shifting attention to creative writing and teaching: I graduate with my MFA in January and my first book will be published in March. I have felt a pull to use some of my “free” time to focus on teaching creative writing classes while I also finish my novel and work on a graphic memoir project.

I want to make space for others: there are so many brilliant graphic recorders out there who can support the projects that I’ve had the opportunity to support over the past 4 years. I keep a list of folks on my website (that I will keep up in some form or another) and will continue to update it. I look forward to see how others brilliantly interpret, synthesize, and visualize the work for our collective liberation.

My capacity is limited: As I mentioned in my last letter, I started a full-time job at the beginning of 2023. As that has taken up more of my capacity than I previously imagined, this transition will allow me to center my other creative practices. However, I have already been in contact with some of the folks I work with in this position about how to support them to incorporate graphic recording and visual note taking practices in their local organizing practices. I am very excited about this.

I want to do this work in my communities: I am ready to take so much of what I’ve learned, especially about transformative justice and transforming harm, back into my local context. I have been working on some things with amazing people and I look forward to what we are building (slowly and intentionally) together.

What does this mean? I am currently finishing up all the work I’ve agreed to do/have been contracted to do by the end of the year. I will not be taking on any paid graphic recording collaborations/commissions/contracts in the foreseeable future, but will continue to organize in my communities and show up as a cultural worker and movement artist when called. I will be retiring the name/moniker, "radical roadmaps,” as it feels like a name that encapsulates the work I’ve done since 2020, but no longer captures the way I see myself as an artist, organizer, or cultural worker.

a few highlights from the past 4 years as radical roadmaps:

Thank you, so much, for the love and support y’all have shown me and my work over the past few years. I am grateful and humbled.

writing

My debut short story collection, A Small Apocalypse…

Has a beautiful cover designed by the brilliant Morgan Krehbiel, who I’m pretty sure read my mind and then made then somehow made something beyond my wildest dreams.
Is now available for pre-order! You can order it directly from Northwestern University Press or anywhere else books are sold. But may I recommend pre-ordering from your local independent bookstore and/or request a copy at your local library?

I also decided to be goofy and made this bumper sticker to promote my book. I ordered about 50 of them as a first run.🪿

drawing

I responded to the call from artist Micah Bazant to donate graphics for Palestinian liberation. You can download these first two images and so many others here.

The third graphic was created after Mariame Kaba quoted this tweet from Dan Berger and prompted an artist to design a poster inspired by it. Moved by Dan’s message, I drew this up. It’s also free to download here.

I hope you download some of the posters Micah organizers and poster your town/school/office building with them, take them to a protest or action, use them a accompany your teach-ins or art builds.

teaching

In the beginning of October, I led a workshop at the James Rivers Writers Conference on “Telling Stories with Tarot.” Among other things, I invited participants to try this journal prompt that I use for my own reflection/writing practice. I offer it to you as well.