After Trump’s inauguration, ANOHNI was compelled to pull a series of books and records from her collection and deface them with the directive “DON’T CRY”. The command was issued to various subjects, depending on the nature of the media upon which it was painted. It was no longer safe to cry.

John Rechy's book Numbers explores the life of a man stalking his homosexual identity in the 1970s amid the societal pressures of a world dictated by anonymity and desire. ANOHNI read this book as a 14 year old and it transformed her ideas about human relationships.

“Don’t Cry, Love” includes an archival flyer from 1996, announcing ANOHNI’s first concert at Le Ciele Rouge on 7th ave in NYC. she accompanied herself on piano for an audience of less than a dozen and sang songs including “Rapture” and “Cripple and the Starfish” and “Bird Gerhl”. Nine years later the broader world woudl hear some of these same songs. Also included: a feather bookmark.