This post is in praise of St. Louis Effort for AIDS, an outstanding organization that provides education about the disease and social services for those who suffer from it. I took this picture at the Pridefest parade a few weeks ago. It may not get much attention through the CDPB portal. The meaning is in the details.
Those details are in strange balance. This woman was a volunteer for EFA, distributing information and free condoms. I don't understand the skull and crossbones on her pants. It could be an out-there symbol for the disease. It could just be her style. In her right hand is a clutch of miniature plastic handcuffs with cards that say "Don't get caught without a condom!" and a red or blue packet containing one. Read those elements as you like. What makes the image a little more strange is that her arm also holds what I think is a rolled-up tee shirt, a bottle of water, a bag of potato chips from Whole Foods and a red rose with the thorns removed. There is poetry in here somewhere.
Those details are in strange balance. This woman was a volunteer for EFA, distributing information and free condoms. I don't understand the skull and crossbones on her pants. It could be an out-there symbol for the disease. It could just be her style. In her right hand is a clutch of miniature plastic handcuffs with cards that say "Don't get caught without a condom!" and a red or blue packet containing one. Read those elements as you like. What makes the image a little more strange is that her arm also holds what I think is a rolled-up tee shirt, a bottle of water, a bag of potato chips from Whole Foods and a red rose with the thorns removed. There is poetry in here somewhere.
It is a colorful photo and I would never have guessed it was somehow related to aids. From the portal I assumed it was about flowers.
ReplyDeleteForgive the "coarse" language but when I saw it on the portal, I thought it was about boobs. Good for this volunteer; AIDS is a scourge in too many lands!
ReplyDeleteI thought the same thing as Kate. Maybe this lady is just carrying a snack and some water. I think the skull on her buckle is just her style but I could be wrong. Anyway, it was nice of her to volunteer.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't have said it, but since Kate already did, and Barb agreed, I'll admit that I had the same thought! Probably because of the Mardi Gras beads around her neck -- those are what they are, no?
ReplyDeleteZ - you are right. We have developed an odd tradition about the beads. We have a small but boisterous Mardi Gras celebration (St. Louis was founded as a French trading post). The beads have been distributed there for years, as in New Orleans. However, this year I saw people on floats throw them to the crowds at the St. Patrick's Day and Fourth of July parades. People scream for them. Does this happen in other cities?
ReplyDeleteThis is a very interesting photo...to have captured so many things in one close up...
ReplyDeleteLavender - thanks for your comment. I asked this woman if I could take her picture and shot some 3/4 length. The light (or my use of the light) was bad - harsh sunlight with sharp shadow lines. In time, I decided that what was interesting was this collection of symbols so I cropped one of the photos.
ReplyDeleteThe details are interesting indeed but perhaps there is no meaning behind some of them., e.g. the skull. I think that's jsut her style, but of course here getting a different meaning ... And: thanks to all those volunteers who are so busy.
ReplyDeleteI was wondering, with her tummy being a little pooochy if she might be pregnant and that was her reasoning for volunteering to pass out the condoms --
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