From the Aftermath of the Los Angeles Fire Storms. “Be your own algorithm.” Imprinted on 70s era Dymo embossed tape, that slogan pops up in the promo reel at our local nonprofit movie theater, Vidiots. A place dedicated to both art and creating community, I’m thrilled this gem moved into my neighborhood just in time to help me process . . . . ::gestures wildly:: . . . whatever is happening right now. We go to Vidiots for creative therapy a lot, so much that I’d begun to tune out that promo reel. Until, that is, we sat in the darkened theater one evening last January as winds howled outside. We’d come to see The Porcelain War, a documentary by three artists (and their dog) torn between making art and making war to defend their homeland from Russia’s violent invasion. Two of those artists, Slava Leontyev and Anya Stasenko, and their dog, attended the screening and shared their personal reflections after the film. The angry roar just outside the theater walls provided an apt “it’s dangerous to be here” ambiance for their harrowing tale. This was January 7, 2025, the day after Congress certified the election of our new king […]