Alisse Waterston’s Presidential Speech 2017

An illustration of Alisse Waterston's presidential speech which she gave at the American Anthropological Association's Annual Meeting December 2017.

When she began to speak I was in the audience about to sketch-note it, but I found myself enthralled and wanted to visually comprehend the depths of what she was saying. I knew I didn’t have time in the moment to do what I was envisioning, so instead took as many notes as possible in the hope that I could produce something of value immediately afterwards. I did. The inspiration took hold and I stayed up late drawing into the early hours that night. 

Alisse had spoken from her heart sharing her intimate and valuable understanding of the world which comes not only from her, but from great thinkers and writers of the past and from her own family. Such a haul of personal and academic treasure, so generously framed with honesty and courage caught my own heart. If I were to understand this deeply I had to let it pass through me into a drawing. I had never heard a more truthful and poetic speech, unafraid to acknowledge reality, our own weaknesses, and also the hope we have in joining together.

Alisse and I have since then begun to turn her speech into a fully illustrated book called Light in Dark Times, which has just been published by the University of Toronto Press and is available to buy online at any bookstore in the U.S. and the U.K.

If you would like to buy prints of this work please get in touch.

Giclée printing onto German etching paper:

A4 print: $200

A3 print: $280 

A2 print: $380