the action issue

When we launched Gigantic magazine this past spring, the pandemic had taken hold of the world and our mood was contemplative. Now, some six months later, the pandemic still very much has us all in its grip, but the vibe has shifted. There’s movement, and even though so much is still uncertain and at risk, it feels thrilling. That momentum is what led us to bring you this, the Action Issue. We’ve brought together 11 artists to inspire you, spark conversation, and remind you of your power.

In his pictorial, “Using Food to Effect Change,” RJ Shaughnessy highlights FoodCycle LA’s efforts to address rising food insecurity during the pandemic. “Sometimes [people are] choosing between paying the rent and feeding their family,” executive director Nancy Beyda tells RJ. In “My Chi-Town,” Marcus Smith celebrates leaders working at the grassroots level to support their community, like Jahkil Jackson, who at age 8 began distributing what he calls “Blessing Bags” to provide the homeless with essentials like toothpaste and sanitizer.

While photographer-led, Instagram-based print sales for a cause are now the norm, when Jake Stangel launched FFS in 2018, the concept was still new. In “The Photographer Who Gave a F*ck,” he talks about his project, which raised money for progressive candidates during the pivotal midterm elections. Justin Fantl ponders the prison industrial complex in “High and Low.”

Jessica Antola offers a meditation on climate change with her lyrical “All the Activity of the Natural World.” And in “Hello, Gorgeous,” Grace Rivera presents a stunning portfolio of fashion portraits that support an inclusive representation of beauty.

Clearly, the artists in our Action Issue are not afraid to take a stand. Jessica Pettway makes the case for why Black women should consider “Rest as Resistance.” And in “Beirut: An Appreciation,” João Canziani pens a bracing and beautiful tribute to the historic city, which was shattered in a blast this past August. “Beirut will rise again,” writes João. “And I can’t wait for these depraved old bastards—our incompetent stewards of the world—to die off, because this brand new day belongs to the youth.”

For our cover, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to resurface Myles Loftin’s smart, incisive multimedia project, “Hooded.” It’s a disturbing cliche that the vision of a Black man in a hoodie equals danger, and Myles explores just how pervasive and damaging it is—and presents a short film and a portrait series that counter the stereotype.

Music is in Gigantic’s DNA, so we’re pleased to bring you “Action Reaction,” a playlist curated by Dustin Aksland, who also designed the album artwork. And we would be remiss if we didn’t remind you to take action and vote. I made a short video piece called “Very Fine People” to help get you motivated.

Kristina Feliciano
editor and creative director
October 2020