#tom kirsch

[offeringofsky]

Image: "Gennie Messages" at Manteno Illinois State Hospital, Artist Kristyn Vinkour. Photographed by: Tom Kirsch. Source: Ruinationstation

The Gennie Experiment

1944 the locked gate Opened for you

The college girl who just couldn’t be free From family entanglements

Would never be free

No pathological signs and portents

Of whom they Would Break You Into

You were just Gennie before The ice plunges The scalding dips

Being held under in Insulin comas

Shuddered by shocks

Tinkered with skull open

Made mute Made incontinent

No longer an inconvenient daughter Just fully unraveled matter

Long dead and the ward closed

Someone stirs the dust of Manteno State Hospital Raising the first echoes of you

Speaking with some of your own words Finally setting you free.

—Skye

[year-of-the-rabid-dog]

|The Hole|

Photographer; Tom Kirsch

[streetlifemanifesto]

Just a few pictures of the DeJarnette Sanitarium in Virginia. This building is still standing in Staunton, and while being technically closed offed, it’s more than possible to get onto the grounds, as well as inside.  (these aren’t my pictures. I got them from opacity.us)  More history on the DeJarnette Sanitarium to follow, as well as it’s founder  Joseph DeJarnette

[ludivinedix]

Oxidized. Tom Kirsch. 2006.