I II III IV

V VI Prologue

I

Dev Thompson (Beekman Street, South Cumminsville) // Wed, Apr 14, 2021, 2:45 PM (EST)

Once upon a time on tha corner... He has Risen.

Ellis Johnson (somewhere in the in-between) // Sun, Apr 18, 2021, 11:24 PM (EST)

"I never met a transient that demanded attention"

Kyle Mace (Cincinnati, Ohio) // Fri, Apr 23, 2021, 11:43 AM (EST)

Dev Thompson // Sun, Apr 25, 2021, 1:16 AM (EST)

Sam Drake (Salton City, California) // Thu, Apr 29, 2021, 1:27 PM (EST)

Michael Sweeny // Sun, May 2, 2021, 9:00 PM (EST)

Kearston Hawkins-Johnson // Sun, May 9, 2021, 10:36 PM (EST)

Kyle Mace (Cincinnati, Ohio) // Wed, May 12, 2021, 11:33 PM (EST)

Kyle Mace // Wed, May 12, 2021, 11:33 PM (EST)

Ellis Johnson // Mon, May 17, 2021, 2:49 PM (EST)

Kearston Hawkins-Johnson // Wed, May 19, 2021, 11:33 PM (EST)

Michael Sweeny // Sun, May 23, 2021, 4:11 PM (EST)

Sam Drake (Ludlow, California) // Tue, Jun 1, 2021, 3:49 PM (EST)

Sam Drake (California City, California) // Tue, Jun 1, 2021, 3:49 PM (EST)

Sam Drake (Fountain Avenue, Los Angeles, California) // Tue, Jun 1, 2021, 3:49 PM (EST)

Sam Drake (Hollywood, California) // Tue, Jun 1, 2021, 3:49 PM (EST)

Ellis Johnson // Tue, Jun 29, 2021, 10:26 AM (EST)

We shed our skin in favor of something less worn. Every season we are somebody new in a new world, no matter how many times we walk the same path.

↑

II

Ellis Johnson (a structure containing the great equalizer) // Wed, Apr 14, 2021, 11:53 PM (EST)

Kearston Hawkins-Johnson // Sun, Apr 18, 2021, 7:34 AM (EST)

Michael Sweeny // Thu, Apr 22, 2021, 8:04 AM (EST)

Ellis Johnson // Mon, Apr 26, 2021, 9:10 AM (EST)

Dev Thompson (CVSU Stepdown Unit, The Christ Hospital) // Thu, Apr 29, 2021, 7:43 AM (EST)

Sam Drake (Pasadena, California) // Mon, May 3, 2021, 1:20 AM (EST)

Kyle Mace (Cincinnati, Ohio) // Sun, May 9, 2021, 9:16 PM (EST)

Michael Sweeny // Wed, May 12, 2021, 7:15 PM (EST)

Kearston Hawkins-Johnson // Mon, May 17, 2021, 4:06 PM (EST)

Kyle Mace (Cincinnati, Ohio) // Thu, May 20, 2021, 12:39 AM (EST)

Kyle Mace // Thu, May 20, 2021, 12:39 AM (EST)

Kyle Mace (Cincinnati, Ohio) // Thu, May 20, 2021, 12:39 AM (EST)

Sam Drake (Griffith Park, Los Angeles, California) // Sun, May 23, 2021 11:47 PM (EST)

Dev Thompson (Model: Yahezequiel Walker, Grill by Main Street Jewelry) // Wed, May 26, 9:27 AM (EST)

Grill 4 Grill

I love seeing black men smile, it’s important. So important some of us throw gold on it. Shine young man, show the world how beautiful you are.

↑

III

Kyle Mace (Jordan with iPad–Cincinnati, Ohio) // Sun, Apr 18, 2021, 9:29 PM (EST)

Sam Drake (I-10, California) // Thu, Apr 22, 2021, 9:24 PM (EST)

Sam Drake (Badwater Basin, California) // Thu, Apr 22, 2021, 9:24 PM (EST)

Kearston Hawkins-Johnson // Mon, Apr 26, 2021, 12:31 AM (EST)

Ellis Johnson (Eden Avenue, Cincinnati) // Thu, Apr 29, 2021, 2:19 AM (EST)

"Certain bad things that happen make you realize that you've been here a lot longer than a whole lot of people thought you were"
—Gil Scott-Heron

"Dev Thompson (Pictured L-R: Marcus Alan Donaldson, DJ Rah_D, Dev, Ginger Beer, Maria “Sug” Todd, Lance EL, Terrell “Posh” Middleton) // Mon, May 3, 2021, 12:21 AM (EST)

We belong out here, word to Harriet. She showed me how to lead people out of their comfort zones, even when we’re comfortably living in fear.

I take joy in seeing my people feeling confident in the woods. We’ve been told all our lives that black people shouldn’t go into the woods. They say it’s not safe for us.

Today they found peace, today we laughed, today we thanked our ancestors for taking those steps into the unknown so we can roam freely across this beautiful land.

Kearston Hawkins-Johnson // Mon, Jun 28, 2021, 6:26 PM (EST)

Come back
to the earth
the fleshy
tactile
heavy dirt
anchoring you to the ground
Come back
to the fire
the passionate
sultry
excited embers
arousing you to action
Come back
to the water

the unconstrained
pulsing
gentle current
carrying all that you need
getting rid of all that you don't
Come back
to the air
the weightless
breezy
delicate breath
gliding you through and with
life

Come back, come back,
come back, come back

Michael Sweeny // Sun, May 9, 2021, 3:20 PM (EST)

Sam Drake (Chinatown, Los Angeles, California) // Thu, May 13, 2021, 6:09 PM (EST)

Sam Drake (Grand Canyon, Arizona) // Thu, May 13, 2021, 6:09 PM (EST)

Sam Drake (Los Angeles, California) // Thu, May 13, 2021, 6:09 PM (EST)

Sam Drake (Arizona) // Thu, May 13, 2021, 6:09 PM (EST)

Sam Drake // Thu, Jul 8, 2021, 1:43 PM (EST)

Kyle Mace (Canfield, Ohio) // Sun, May 16, 2021, 11:26 PM (EST)

Dev Thompson (An Ode to Kyle Mace) // Tue, Jun 29, 2021, 4:48 PM (EST)

Dev Thompson // Tue, Jun 29, 2021, 4:48 PM (EST)

Michael Sweeny // Wed, May 19, 2021, 3:47 PM (EST)

“I sincerely hope that my readers will realize they have more power than they ever dreamed possible. The infinite power of the Universe lies inside each and every one of us. We live on a vibrational planet, and all that exists is simply made of energy. Our Universe is loving, caring, supportive, and abundant; and I passionately believe that we have the ability to shape our own realities through the focus of our thoughts, and if we hold our thoughts on the positive and the good, our lives will mirror that back to us.” —Donna Labermeier

Kyle Mace // Wed, July 7, 6:42 PM (EST)

Ellis Johnson (Looking for Doorways–A Way Out–Cincinnati, Ohio) // Thu, May 27, 2021, 2:04 PM (EST)

↑

IV

Kyle Mace (Cincinnati, Ohio) // Wed, Apr 14, 2021, 9:46 PM (EST)

Michael Sweeny // Sun, Apr 18, 2021, 7:48 PM (EST)

Dev Thompson // Wed, Apr 21, 2021, 7:07 PM (EST)

Kyle Mace (Monument Concealed in Plastic–Pittsburgh, PA) // Sun, Apr 25, 2021, 11:07 PM (EST)

Kearston Hawkins-Johnson // Wed, Apr 28, 2021, 11:39 PM (EST)

Dissociation as protection. Nothing can harm me when I’m not here. But, where am I? Who am I? And what do I need protection from?

Ellis Johnson (Marburg Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio) // Mon, May 3, 2021 4:59 PM (EST)

Michael Sweeny // Mon, July 12, 2021, 10:41 PM (EST)

Sam Drake (Hill Street in Chinatown, Los Angeles, California) // Mon, May 10, 2021, 2:11 AM (EST)

Dev Thompson (Finding Paradise with Shaheen Miro) // Thu, May 13, 2021, 1:46 AM (EST)

Dev Thompson // Thu, May 13, 2021, 1:46 AM (EST)

Michael Sweeny // Sun, May 16, 2021, 6:06 PM (EST)

Sam Drake (East Hollywood, California) // Thu, May 20, 2021, 2:21 AM (EST)

Sam Drake (Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, California) // Thu, May 20, 2021, 2:21 AM (EST)

Ellis Johnson (East Price Hill, Cincinnati, Ohio) // Sun, May 23, 2021, 11:33 PM (EST)

Ellis Johnson (Clifton, Cincinnati, Ohio) // Sun, May 23, 2021, 11:33 PM (EST)

Ellis Johnson (Sydney, Indiana) // Sun, May 23, 2021, 11:33 PM (EST)

↑

V

Michael Sweeny // Wed, Apr 14, 2021, 7:41 PM (EST)

Sam Drake (Ode to Stephen Shore: Alley off Sunset Strip, Hollywood, California, April 18, 2021 (https://www.moma.org/collection/works/167705)) // Mon, Apr 19, 2021, 3:07 AM (EST)

Ellis Johnson (My First Home, Cincinnati, Ohio) // Wed, Apr 21, 2021, 9:17 PM (EST)

"I was okay but these words from you, stating you're sick, made me sick too"
—Ted Hawkins

Michael Sweeny // Sun, Apr 25, 2021, 7:58 PM (EST)

Kyle Mace (Reading, Ohio) // Thu, Apr 29, 2021, 4:04 PM (EST)

Dev Thompson // Mon, May 10, 2021, 7:42 AM (EST)

Gran Bwa means "big tree," and he is the master of the forests of Vilokan, the island that is home to the lwa. He is strongly associated with plants, trees, and practices associated with those materials such as herbalism.Gran Bwa is also the master of the wilderness in general and thus can be wild and unpredictable. Temples often leave a section to grow wild in his honor. But he is also big-hearted, loving, and fairly approachable.

The mapou (or silk–cotton) tree is specifically sacred to Gran Bwa. It is native to Haiti and was made nearly extinct in the 20th centuries by opponents of Vodou. It is a mapou tree that is seen as connecting the material and spirit worlds (Vilokan), which is represented in the courtyard of Vodou temples by a central pole. Gran Bwa is often also seen as a guardian and protector of the ancestors who have always traveled from this world to the next.
—Catherine Beyer

Ellis Johnson // Wed, May 12, 2021, 12:31 PM (EST)

Experiences are made for the stop and pause? When you see them, do you? Stop? Pause? Or are experiences made for running...slipping...grabbing? Sediment only stays sedentary if you command it.

Sam Drake (Our Lady of the Rock, California City, California) // Mon, May 17, 2021, 3:34 AM (EST)

Sam Drake (Palisades Fire, Pacific Palisades, California) // Mon, May 17, 2021, 3:34 AM (EST)

Sam Drake (Villalobos Market, Los Angeles, California) // Mon, May 17, 2021, 3:34 AM (EST)

Sam Drake (Palisades Fire, Pacific Palisades, California) // Mon, May 17, 2021, 3:34 AM (EST)

Dev Thompson (Camp Washington) // Wed, May 19, 2021, 11:09 PM (EST)

Kearston Hawkins-Johnson // Mon, May 24, 2021, 11:49 AM (EST)

Kyle Mace (Cincinnati, Ohio) // Wed, May 26, 2021, 11:10 PM (EST)

↑

VI

Sam Drake (North Hollywood, California) // Thu, Apr 15, 2021, 2:51 AM (EST)

Dev Thompson (Eden Park Drive, Cincinnati,Ohio) // Sun, Apr 18, 2021, 4:46 PM (EST)

Dev Thompson (Woodburn Avenue, Cincinnati,Ohio) // Sun, Apr 18, 2021, 4:46 PM (EST)

Kearston Hawkins-Johnson // Wed, Apr 21, 2021, 10:27 AM (EST)

Sam Drake (Borrego Springs, California) // Mon, Apr 26, 2021, 2:09 AM (EST)

Michael Sweeny // Wed, Apr 28, 2021, 6:09 PM (EST)

Kyle Mace (West Salem, Ohio) // Sun, May 2, 2021, 9:17 PM (EST)

Ellis Johnson (You wouldn’t believe the treasure you’d find in the places people throw away.) // Sun, May 9, 2021, 10:09 PM (EST)

Kearston Hawkins-Johnson // Wed, May 12, 2021, 10:43 PM (EST)

Dev Thompson // Sun, May 16, 2021, 8:14 PM (EST)

Say Peace

Art, some will see it. Sometimes it may go over their heads. Stay true to your vision, people will turn back when it gets hard. Create during the dark times, then shine again.

Tangible Dreams

Ellis Johnson // Wed, May 19, 2021, 11:51 PM (EST)

Damaged Goods mean nothing to Calm Waters.

Kyle Mace (Olivia, Firestone Park–Columbiana, Ohio) // Mon, May 24, 2021, 1:47 AM (EST)

Michael Sweeny // Wed, May 26, 2021, 3:12 PM (EST)

↑

Prologue: Pt. 1

Kyle Mace (Over-the-Rhine, Cincinnati, Ohio) // Thu, Mar 4, 2021, 10:06 PM (EST)

Michael Sweeny // Sun, Mar 7, 2021, 9:05 AM (EST)

Kearston Hawkins-Johnson // Mon, Mar 8, 2021, 11:38 PM (EST)

Ellis Johnson // Tue, Mar 9, 2021, 8:03 PM (EST)

Sam Drake (Silver Queen Mine–Mojave, California) // Fri, Mar 12, 2021, 1:04 AM (EST)

Dev Thompson (Dinner with Strangers–Tijuana, Mexico–April 2021) // Sat, Mar 13, 2021, 1:45 AM (EST)

Prologue: Pt. 2

Ellis Johnson (A Warm Place From A Distance) // Thu, Mar 18, 2021, 10:11 PM (EST)

Michael Sweeny // Sun, Mar 28, 2021, 8:04 PM (EST)

Dev Thompson (While traveling I recorded all the audio from public transportation and airports. Beat by LethalNeedle, with permission) // Thu, Mar 25, 2021, 8:43 AM (EST)

Dev Thompson (Irvine, California) // Sun, Mar 28, 2:13 PM (EST)

Dev Thompson (Las Vegas, Nevada) // Sun, Mar 28, 2:13 PM (EST)

Dev Thompson (San Diego, California) // Sun, Mar 28, 2:13 PM (EST)

Dev Thompson (Zion National Park, Utah) // Sun, Mar 28, 2:13 PM (EST)

Even through time travel I couldn’t escape you, On every train, bus and plane I board you're there.

Reminding us how powerful you are Forcing us to hide our faces and keep our distance.

I took you on without a vaccine, rode the thin red line between sickness and freedom. You put the world on lockdown, The Invisible Bully.