me ft. new tings & photo prints for sale
less treading of water and more floating / swimming
It’s been quite a while since I’ve provided some form of a cohesive update. I’ve been a bit all over the place, experiencing a move, first-time teaching, and challenges in transitions across different parts of my life all while the world continues to be on fire for many communities across the globe. I haven’t felt much motivation since finishing my degree a year ago and as I reflect I’m realizing and taking away a few things:
The people close to you and those who invest in you will show up accordingly for all the woes and moments where you engage in reciprocity and care.
I be doin way too much, and for what?
Slowness is a skill to be cultivated and nurtured.
Since starting my job in August ‘23, I haven’t had much time to slow down between moving, starting teaching, navigating red tape at work, trying to get my MS under control while moving, and engaging in imbalanced energy exchanges over that time. These pertinent moments helped me realize some of the ways I can better take care of myself and give back to myself in a way that allows me to get to what I need, which is weird that a move and completely restarting will do that at times. Tenure track roles are not designed to support those who are disabled, have chronic illness or those dealing with anything at any point in time, so I’m thankful for my folks who have helped me get through.
There’s been some positives during that time too, I won a couple of awards for my dissertation work and scholarly work. Lennie is really happy here in Chicago, despite my struggles with the heat. I and others have multiple papers and projects ongoing and about to be put out there into the world, I’ve been able to lean into my true joys such as doing art, running in the US Paralympic championships, birding, and being by water as much as I can. I’ve been able to build community out here while still doing dope stuff in Seattle with Sawhorse Revolution and Estelita’s Library. I’m also lucky to have family and chosen kin who stay winning as well.
On a more organizing note, I am planning to make some of my prints available for purchase finally. The funds collected via the print sales will go to supporting a family in Gaza through some organizing efforts with a group titled Creators for Gaza. Below are the 9 prints I will be printing and shipping to folks on a case-by-case basis. All prints will be 5x7 and/or 5x5 if they are square-cropped. Images below:
Here’s the link to the family’s Gofundme I will be sharing screenshots from the donations.
My venmo is @kaleb-germinaro-1 and cashapp is $kalebgerminaro. Folks can reach out for other means of payment. When choosing image(s) please message the number associated with the image(s) and the address you would like them shipped to. All prints are $20 too.
With that said, feel free to stay up with some of my work that I’ll keep uploaded on my university page as well as this newsletter, I’m gonna try and be better about tracking things here.
-kg