CONTENT WARNING: Parts of this multimedia piece contain themes of substance abuse and suicidal ideation.

A COLOR PHOTO OF A YOUNG LIGHT SKINNED BOY WITH SHORT DARK HAIR. HE HAS A LARGE GRIN. THE BOY’S HANDS ARE BEHIND THEIR BACK. THEY STAND IN FRONT OF A WHITE WALL IN A LUSH GARDEN. AT THE CENTER FRONT OF THE PHOTO IS A LARGE TREE-LIKE PERCH WITH A LONG TAILED PARROT SITTING ON AN UPPER LIMB. ITS HEAD IS TURNED IN A ¾ POSE TOWARDS THE CAMERA.

 

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

— Gabriel Torres

 

Thank you for embarking on this journey within me. I have been wondering what PUSH/PULL means to me–what do I push and what do I pull, what I surrender, what I resist. In 2022, I finally gave up on the irrationality of dealing with substance use disorders and depression on my own. I was arriving at a place where my individual sanctuary (body, mind, soul) and my communal sanctuary (family, friends, guides) were deteriorating. As a cry of help to my mother, and at the suggestion of our therapist at the time, I ended up in a rehabilitation facility in Copa Cabana, Antioquia. In there, I had to go through physical and mental abuse through shock therapy, as a way of “healing” my sickness…

Throughout this edition, you are going to find a cyclical elevation of my journey towards release and recovery. The artists who accompany the writings, or the photographs, or the songs, are artists who have elevated me beyond what I thought could be possible, when I was in a darkened void and artists whose work detonates in me a feeling of serenity, of deep tranquility, of a light pushing me, pulling me, slowly and softly, towards the end of the beginning.

You will find works by Julia Justo, Vanessa Rappa, Irwin Dyson and Dennis RedMoon Darkeem. I would also like to thank everyone who worked in Haus of Dust, and who have made my journey possible, somehow.

 
 

GABRIEL TORRES

Culture Push Associated Artist

Gabriel Torres is a multidisciplinary artist from Colombia and New York. Gabriel’s work deals in the conversations between community engagement, creative placemaking, civic practice, theater making and film. Gabriel has worked in Hong Kong, NYC and Colombia as an educator, documentarian, theater director and community engagement consultant.

Gabriel is currently working in Haus of Dust, a campaign to bring awareness about substance use in latinx queer communities from his personal experience. Haus of Dust is successfully created as a collaboration between Gabriel, Aaron Salazar (Producer) and Kristen Kelso (Marketing and Development director), additionally a collective of 10+ artists and institutions working to bring forth the project. To learn more, visit iamdust.org