On sex work as an art form, why I love San Francisco in spite of its many flaws, and how it all ties in to the complex relationship between art and mental health
Well I don’t think locals actually go there and take photos. I’ve lived here 17 years and walked on it twice. 🤣 but yeah it’s super well know that that’s a thing. There are signs on the bridge about suicide prevention. And for many years there been debate about adding a net which last I heard is moving forward. And there’s the documentary The Bridge which most people I know here have seen. 💙💙💙
Thanks for sharing this, Kathryn - fascinating to learn more about Gigi and her work! So much art owes such an important debt to sex workers, it's brilliant to see this being acknowledged and explored in depth, and I especially love this consideration of how that interacts with place and the evolving identity of the city. Gonna put Gigi's book on my list to look out for once it's out!
Gigi is really smart and thoughtful in her writing and research. Lots to appreciate there and lots to explore in general about the role of sex work in art, especially performance art but even dating back, of course, to the history of sex workers used as models by painters
...what an awesome and thoughtful reflection on change...i have to agree that so much has changed since i arrived (thinking of the loss of so many great artist warehouses in the east bay R.I.P.), and that so much will change...but what is unchangeable to me, and why i have tried my best to stay firm footed and here is the spirit and character of those that LIVE here...not the folks transferring from business schools and cohorts to chase the next big TEK think, here for only as long as it makes them too much money...but the folks who despite streets covered in feces, despite housing ever increasingly inequitable, seeking ways to stay put and keep building and keep changing themself...the bay feels like growth to me, and sometimes growths are zits waiting to be popped, and sometimes they are glamorous wavy locks of hair...
...this was a really cool article and a great introduction to Gigi and her book, as well as a sweet thoughtful reminisce to your love of SF...thank you!...
Yes, the people who live here are what doesn't change - and those people can be new here if they have the spirit of the city/area in them. It's not an easy city to make it in - especially as a creative - so you really have to love the place to stay here and the people who love the place do so much here to make it amazing.
I admit that because I live in SF I don't know Oakland as well as I could but I do know that it's got a creative culture of its own but is also very Bay Area. I feel like each place here has its own flavor that's part of the whole soup of the place.
Well I don’t think locals actually go there and take photos. I’ve lived here 17 years and walked on it twice. 🤣 but yeah it’s super well know that that’s a thing. There are signs on the bridge about suicide prevention. And for many years there been debate about adding a net which last I heard is moving forward. And there’s the documentary The Bridge which most people I know here have seen. 💙💙💙
Yes definitely.
Thanks for sharing this, Kathryn - fascinating to learn more about Gigi and her work! So much art owes such an important debt to sex workers, it's brilliant to see this being acknowledged and explored in depth, and I especially love this consideration of how that interacts with place and the evolving identity of the city. Gonna put Gigi's book on my list to look out for once it's out!
Gigi is really smart and thoughtful in her writing and research. Lots to appreciate there and lots to explore in general about the role of sex work in art, especially performance art but even dating back, of course, to the history of sex workers used as models by painters
...what an awesome and thoughtful reflection on change...i have to agree that so much has changed since i arrived (thinking of the loss of so many great artist warehouses in the east bay R.I.P.), and that so much will change...but what is unchangeable to me, and why i have tried my best to stay firm footed and here is the spirit and character of those that LIVE here...not the folks transferring from business schools and cohorts to chase the next big TEK think, here for only as long as it makes them too much money...but the folks who despite streets covered in feces, despite housing ever increasingly inequitable, seeking ways to stay put and keep building and keep changing themself...the bay feels like growth to me, and sometimes growths are zits waiting to be popped, and sometimes they are glamorous wavy locks of hair...
...this was a really cool article and a great introduction to Gigi and her book, as well as a sweet thoughtful reminisce to your love of SF...thank you!...
Yes, the people who live here are what doesn't change - and those people can be new here if they have the spirit of the city/area in them. It's not an easy city to make it in - especially as a creative - so you really have to love the place to stay here and the people who love the place do so much here to make it amazing.
I admit that because I live in SF I don't know Oakland as well as I could but I do know that it's got a creative culture of its own but is also very Bay Area. I feel like each place here has its own flavor that's part of the whole soup of the place.