Minneapolis was my home for ten years and many of my family and friends still live there. I live in Duluth now, so watching the violent ICE occupation, abductions, and murders from afar is maddening. I’ve been searching for concrete ways to help. As an artist, one resource I have is an inventory of pretty cool stuff that I’ve made. 

 

Back when I lived in Minneapolis, I did a lot of bookmaking, binding blank journals with unique covers. One of the coolest series I did was in collaboration with my aunt, who is a mixed-media painter, a series we called the Lunar Fish Collection. She created these gorgeous covers that I then sewed into book covers and bound onto journals. Each of them is one of a kind and the books are handmade start to finish. 

 

By some miracle, I still have some of these journals, and am rereleasing them to raise funds for an individual who lives in Minneapolis and is, like so many of our neighbors, deeply affected by the occupation happening right now. For obvious reasons, they asked for anonymity so I will just call them J. 

 

J, who legally immigrated here 40 years ago, does not feel safe leaving their home while ICE occupies Minneapolis because they have brown skin and an accent. On the occasions when they must go out, J only does so when they have these two things: their passport proving their citizenship and a white friend to go with them. Please, please let the horror of that sink in.

 

To raise funds for J’s living expenses, food, and supplies, I’ll be auctioning off these journals through the link above.

 

If you would like to support J and at the same time get a really beautiful journal handmade by two Minnesota artists, the auction will run until 2/5/2025. Place your bid and share the auction with your friends. 100% of the funds raised will go to J.

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Thank you for your kind support <3