When Adrian Brandon starts to color a portrait, he sets a timer. For his rendering of Breonna Taylor, the clock is set to 26 minutes—for George Floyd, 46 minutes, for Tony McDade, 38, and for Aiyana Stanley Jones, just seven. “When the alarm sounds, I am hit with a wave of emotions ranging from anger, to deep sadness, to hopelessness, to feeling lucky that I am still here,” he says.
The Brooklyn-based artist is working on Stolen, a series of partially filled-in depictions of Black people murdered by police. Each portrait remains incomplete as Brandon only colors one minute for each year of the subject’s life that was cut short. “Aside from being able to give the viewer a visual of the various ages affected by police violence, the timer creates a lot of anxiety for me as the artist,” he says, wondering, “’When is the timer going off?’ ‘Will I be able to finish this eye?’ ‘Damn, I haven’t even gotten to the lips yet.’” In a note to Colossal, Brandon expanded on the project:
Although this anxiety may seem minor in that the consequences for me are very low, it does really have an effect on me. Anxiety is a feeling that black people are far too familiar with, and to experience that feeling while illustrating these portraits allows each piece to feel like a performance. A lot of Black people are forced to live with this anxiety and accept it as part of our every day. But these feelings build up and are exhausting. I shouldn’t have to do a prayer every time I see police pursuing a Black person in the streets. I shouldn’t feel anxious when the police are talking to a person of color. I shouldn’t feel so damn anxious that I remove my hat and jewelry when the cops pull me over. I shouldn’t feel so anxious that I would second guess calling the police if I ever needed to. This series is pulling me in, in ways that art has never done.
Brandon has been sharing deeper insights behind the portraits, in addition to timelapse videos, on Instagram.
Saw this on facebook and am keeping the momentum going. I’ve copied all the fundraiser links below, and here’s the link to the original post in case you’d prefer to look at the list that way.
This one has an urgent deadline, August 4th ⬇️
https://gf.me/u/x8y8ak
<p><strong>Short Summary:</strong> I am an individual non-binary pan… Atlas Raymond Ursen needs your support for Disabled Enby Needing Hel
Help me get home, please! $2,324/10,000 《《 high priority
Gender Fluid Human In Need Of Help $1,815/3,500 《《 escaping toxic environment; could use more recent donations
Adopted Trans Woman seeking safety & medical help $17,326/29,000
Shane’s Top Surgery $2,723/7,750 《《 this one has been up for over a year and he’s still waiting
Help J Remove Themselves from Toxic Household $1,667/2,500 《《 needs more contributions
Grace Mwangi’s Gender Confirmation Surgery $3,195/38,000
Nyne’s top surgery $3,016/8,000
Help Grayson start transition $1,236/2,000 《《 keep this going!
Skyler’s Transition Fund €533/3,000 《《 needs more contributions
Londynn’s New Life $8,873/15,000
NYIEMÄ’S GENDER CONFIRMATION FUND $8,795/37,000
Zoeys transition fund £4,667/10,000
Supporting Black Trans Elders cashapp $fakerapper $16,852/100,000
Top Surgery For Yadriel Acazio $1,842/11,000 《《 this one needs a boost
Coco’s Medical Transition Fund $3,500/15,000
Maya’s Transition & Recovery Fund $2,032/35,744 《《 needs more contributions
Help Create Corbyn $2,183/4,000
Flora’s Transition Fund $950/5,000 《《 needs more contributions
Amina Transition And Rent Fund €3,517/5,000
Help Guilly Get Top Surgery!! $3,115/7,500
Atticus’ homeless fund $5,648/10,000 《《 needs a boost
HOUSING FOR TRANS WOMEN OF COLOR $8,217/60,000
Ahren’s Top Surgery $3,976/7,500
Malakai’s Top Surgery $1,444/10,000 《《 needs more contributions
Top Surgery $8,000/8,000 FUNDED!
Community Housing Security $1,147/45,000 《《 needs more contributions
Kiana’s Gender Transition $2,170/35,000
Jacobs top surgery $6,950/8,000
Skye’s Top Surgery $2,057/8,500 《《 surgery is August 10th & he won’t know how much insurance will cover until day of
Hunter’s Top Surgery $5,510/12,000 《《 time sensitive, get this funded before September!
Alexandria’s Transition fund $3,562/40,000 《《 needs a boost
Myles’s Tracheal Shave Procedure $2,990/8,450
Zeke’s Top Surgery Fund $4,544/9,000
help koo start a new life $1,240/25,000 《《 needs more contributions
Landon’s Top Surgery! $1,055/2,000 《《 vital to covering what insurance doesn’t; deadline July 30th (read update)
Donate to Myla’s Breast Augmentation $2,157/6,000
Vanessa L. Naisha needs support to seek justice! $15,000/15,000 FUNDED!
Travis’ Transition Fund $16,845/30,000
Disabled Enby Needing Help For Top Surgery! $3,900/8,500 《《 NEEDS FUNDING BEFORE AUGUST 4TH
Tyler’s Transition Fund $13,918/30,000
Clarabelle’s Gender Affirmation Surgery $10,812/20,000
help deluca get top surgery ! $5,154/7,000
Help Black Trans Woman Transition $19,930/20,900
Wriply’s surgery/ continued living fund $8,832/26,520 《《 this one has been up since 2018. I found Wriply’s socials and she’s still active, still waiting. Let’s get this fulfilled
Help a black trans woman w/ advanced cancer in ATL $22,141/25,000 《《 keep the momentum going
Help Harmony, a Black Trans Woman Survive $7,901/20,000
Help a black trans-man get FTM top surgery! $6,448/15,000
Malikais Top Surgery $4,190/7,500
Finn’s Therapy & Wellness Fund $2,970/7,000
Kyo’s (aka Key) Transition Fund $13,554/25,000
Transition Funds for Dallas $6,930/15,000
Help a Black Trans Woman from homelessness $7,341/10,000 《《 let’s get this goal met asap
Bottom Surgery and Electrolysis $6,449/40,000
Noelle’s Breast Augmentation $11,200/13,000
Aeri’s Moving Out & Transition Fund $15,019/20,000 《《 more than 75%; keep it going
SAVE A TEENAGE TRANSMAN’S LIFE $4,570/25,000
Cody’s Top Surgery $2,758/7,000
Help Kit get Top Surgery $1,845/6,000 《《 needs to be funded before October
Help Erika Begin Her Transition $8,973/10,000
I will periodically update the progress amounts. As the goals are met, I’ll mark them as funded and change the colors from green to pink to make it clear. I’m also tagging the ones that could use more attention with red.
Been hearing a lot about “reparations” lately? Well, this is one way to start working towards that, since those in power certainly won’t.
blakekathryn
areudirty
titsay
