monday night

kendall and i attended the whitney museum's member night and had a fun time sketching.

martinmas and members' night

"each of us is one small light, but together we shine bright."

the sunlight fast is dwindling,

my little lamp needs kindling,

its beam shines far in darkest night,

dear lantern guard me with your light.

happy martinmas on this beautiful evening of a frosty full moon.

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 there was a members' event at the rubin museum this evening, celebrating the opening of a new exhibit: shahidal alam, truth to power. alam is a renowned bangladeshi photographer and social justice advocate who was recently jailed in august 2018 for supporting the students' road safety protests (two young high schoolers had been struck by a bus and died which compelled other students to protest and demand safer roads and stricter traffic laws). he was released in november and was one of time magazine's persons of the year.

 before we went upstairs to view the exhibit, there was an introduction by the director of programs. they also offered food this evening, and we had buckwheat noodles, steamed vegetables with humus, small slices of pizza with veggies and feta cheese on top, and dumplings with sweet sauce and vegetables inside. there was also complimentary wine and mineral water, and musicians playing the keyboard and cello.

 alam is from dhaka in bangladesh, and many of the photos were taken there in the 80's and 90's, documenting the people's struggle to bring democracy to their country.

creating support institutions for those who are misunderstood and/or ignored and misrepresented is important to alam. several of the photos were of young students at his drik media library and gallery and pathshala south asia media institute, working with cameras and film.

 above is a radio made by his fellow prisoners when he was incarcerated so he could listen to the news. the sign next to this display reported that the free shahidul campaign that began after he was arrested proved just as meaningful to his fellow inmates as it was to him, as a fight against social injustice.

greg waited patiently for me to finish perusing the photographs so we could go home.

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i put up a post about the first two days of our florida trip, and a post about halloween in connecticut.