Thread by @George_Cochrane

In lead-up to upcoming Twitter Space at 6pm EST about 🇺🇦fundraiser we are about to launch, I thought I’d take a few minutes to tell you about me, being an artist on Twitter for more than a decade, & how the war in 🇺🇦 has shaped me since 24/2/22. 1/

2/ I came to Twitter to discover ppl curious about #GraphicNovels, #BobDylan, #artistbooks as my work on my collaborative (w my daughter) GN “Long Time Gone” following its exhibition at @massmoca in 2008. I connected with my heroes like @1michaelgray1. It was great.

3/ later, I began work on an 8 year project to make a new edition of #Dante’s #DivineComedy. I hand-lettered entire poem in Italian (from 3 different MS sources) & illustrated every page. Published in 3 languages (IT/English/German) in 2021. kickstarter.com/projects/newdi…

4/ I met SO many AMAZING people fascinated by #Dante here on Twitter as my project launched. I did COVID-19 era Zoom conferences with @danteinireland that blew my mind! My interests in traditional Italian art materials even found a community here.

5/ then 24/2 (or 2/24). I’d been tracking 🇺🇦for some time, particularly when Trump tried to strong-arm/bribe Zelenskyy & got impeached for it.
Suddenly, my entire focus shifted. Me, a peace-loving lefty suddenly was interested in Howitzers & #HIMARS

6/ (I even have cross-examined my Dad, who served in 🇩🇪& shot Howitzers for 🇺🇸army there for 3 years. He just revealed to me reason he couldn’t visit Berlin at the time was bc he was involved w NATO nukes in 🇩🇪 & was security risk.
Damn, Dad is BASED)

7/ anyway. Twitter provided me w news from frontlines, 🇺🇦voices to amplify, aid orgs to direct my support to, & a community of ppl across the 🌎wanting to help.
Twitter Spaces where I’ve listened to 🇺🇦ppl, military experts, etc fueled my need for more info & need to connect.

8/ #NAFO came into my view in the summer as I saw more Shiba Inu dogs in Spaces & feeds, & wondered WTF?Then @aprilsparkles1 had a space all about how to become a #Fella in July & I quickly became one on 16/7/22.

9/ for a while I hung back as others “Bonked Vatnicks” until I realized I too, could throw sand in the gears of 🇷🇺disinformation machine. I started to collect memes, get inspired by heavy-duty bonkers getting thrown in the Twitter slammer, & I started to bonk too.

10/ essential to being a #Fella is giving aid to 🇺🇦 & was SO delighted to get my #Fella from the amazing forgers. I literally cried when I saw myself like this.

11/Tonight, after lots of behind-the-scenes work by @TheLimpCrane @georgian_legion & many others, I have the chance to increase my impact in the war with all of your help. I’ll be talking about it all in about 30 minutes… thanks for reading.
#SlavaUkrainii #HeroyamSlava

12/ my website for the curious georgecochrane.net