The Ziz Files Vol. 4
THE ZIZ FILES VOL. 4
May 2020
The Ziz Files is a monthly series featuring snippets of delight and education from the visual landscape of everyday life, the kitchen, lectures from the greats, a plant of the month, and some of the globes finest tunes.
Sharing a slice of what inspires me, from my kitchen to late night YouTube'n.
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SEE
Adrian Piper, What Will Become of Me, 1985-ongoing
"Since 1985, Piper has collected her hair, skin, and fingernail parings in the honey jars shown on this shelf, periodically adding to their contents. What Will Become of Me will be completed upon the death of the artist, with a jar containing her cremated remains. Flanking the shelf are two documents: an account of Piper’s experiences when she started the project and a notarized statement of her intention to donate the work to The Museum of Modern Art. The work is yet another—and, indeed, will be the final—iteration of the artist’s body as a work of art."
Gallery label from Adrian Piper: A Synthesis of Intuitions, 1965–2016, 2018
A TALK
Cornel West, What It Means to Be Human
Angela Davis, How Does Change Happen?
WATCH
The Color of Fear directed by Lee Mun Wah
Serpico directed by Sidney Lumet
READ
Artist Kandis William's READER ON reparations, available through Cassandra Press. Download or purchase here. Do check out all the other titles too.
all about love by bell hooks
DOC
The Black Power Mixtape 1967–1975 directed by Goran Olsson
Black Panthers directed by Agnes Varda, 1970
TASTE
Pineapple Tea
Turn your pineapple scraps into tea. A recipe I learned from the brilliant kitchen crew at Punta Mona in Costa Rica.
After cutting up a fresh pineapple, toss all the scraps (everything but the top) into a big pot, cover with 2-4 quarts of water depending on how much you want. I like to use a gallon (4 quarts) and keep it in the fridge to drink throughout the week. Bring the pot to a boil, turn off the heat and leave covered for an hour or two. Strain and stick it in the fridge in quart jars, a pitcher, or a reusable gallon jug. Feel free to add other herbs to the pot, a few of my favorites are Tulsi, Lemongrass, Ginger, or Linden.
TOUCH
Rose (Rosa spp., Rosacea)
Roses to soothe the emotions and heartache, for nervous system support, and to nourish the skin. They're calming and can soothe the mood during moments of uncertainty, grief, and emotional stress. Topically, rose petals are astringent and anti-inflammatory, healing irritated and inflamed tissues. I use roses as a medicine in the form of tea, tincture, glycerite, and infused in oils for topical or aromatic use. I love pairing roses in herbal formulas with tulsi, kava kava, lemon balm, chamomile, lavender, & passionflower. A few of my favorite rose formulas from the grocery store are Organic India's Tulsi w/ Rose tea and rose water spray (the pink bottle one from the health food store). Spray rose water throughout your room, on your face to refresh and calm the mind during the day (also supports the skin), and on your pillow before bed.
Find Roses in Zizia's 11 Flowers Tincture, Relax Tincture, 5 Flowers Face Mist, Face Serum, and Cleansing Toner.
HEAR
Funkadelic, Maggot Brain, 1971
Nina Simone, Pastel Blues, 1965
A few of the many artists and voices I turn to, learning and reflecting on the work that must be done to fight systemic racism from within myself, community, and as a collective. Learn, unlearn, donate, volunteer, vote, educate your friends and family, and join in to fight for the safety, freedom, equality, and respect for Black lives and communities.
Xo,
Abbe