The relationship between each artwork was seamless, with the pieces playing off one another to tell a unified and powerful story. As a viewer, the significance of the exhibition’s title, Sumud—steadfastness—became clear. The Palestinian people are resilient and unwavering, a theme not only conveyed through the artists’ powerful storytelling but also through the thoughtful curation.

It’s been almost a month since the screening at Rich Mix but THINGS I SAID I’D DO has stayed in my mind on loop. By the time I sit to write this article, I have watched the film seven times – perhaps to my own detriment as it is an incredibly intense experience. As I listened, I couldn't help but reflect on my own litany of unfulfilled intentions, the small and large promises that have slipped through the cracks of daily life. THINGS I SAID I’D DO serves as a mirror, reflecting our collective struggle with the gap between aspiration and action. 

“I really believe in the power of intersectionality, and have seen it take fruit in the evolution of my work. There is not ever just “one thing” in the existence of mediums and subjects. There are always nuanced relationships in advocacies, organizations, people, and things. A person, for example, is a conglomerate of experiences, knowledge, and time that would take time to fully unfold and understand. That is the beauty of our new and evolving world. Sure, it can be at times more complicated, but it is also what makes it extremely special.”

An Ode to Works in Progress is a testament to community, an archive of affect and memory, vibrancy and variation.