Kara Walker’s Nightmares Are Our Own

Kara Walker, Slaughter of the Innocents (They Might Be Guilty of Something), 2017. Courtesy of Sikkema Jenkins & Co.

Last night, they scaled my walls as I slept. The silhouettes moved closer—paralyzing me—with each flash of yellow light from the street. Some of them danced forward on toe, some ran, others fiddled in place with their shovels, their ropes and lanterns, their dangling snakes, torches, sickles. I didn’t know if they were after me, or if they wanted me to join their brigade. I thought then that I might and suddenly I too was wielding an axe, I too was sneaking along the edges of my room. Not me exactly, but my shadow, elongated with sinister intent. My teeth were long; I could feel them reaching my chin. There was a mirror and in it I saw a drooling beast, me. I woke up.

I doubt this dark dream was caused solely by Kara Walker’s show, but it was certainly  related.