SRV Study Group: Fire Through Dry Grass

Join us for a live screening and an in-depth discussion on the documentary Fire Through Dry Grass, an exposé that reveals the harsh realities faced by residents of Coler Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic. This powerful film tells the story of a group of disabled artists and residents who courageously stood up against the City of New York to protect the lives of over 500 vulnerable nursing home residents on Roosevelt Island in New York City.

The film invites us to think again about the current realities of institutionalization, abuse, neglect, deep woundedness, and expressions of these wounds. Nursing home residents provide first-hand accounts, documenting the horrifying scenes inside Coler with their cell phones. The creators used every creative resource available to them to resist devaluation in all its forms and to advocate for life – for themselves and others at Coler Hospital.

Through the lens of SRV, we will explore how this film uncovers both the historical and ongoing devaluation of vulnerable populations. We will discuss practical applications of SRV principles demonstrated in the film and consider how art and valued social roles, as exemplified in the film, can counteract devaluation and shift our perceptions and attitudes toward people behind nursing home walls.

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