Are athletes more like artists than we think? Can coaches teach athletes to be critical thinkers through sport? These are some of the questions artist, activist, and educator Dania Cabello asks in her new “Game Recognize Game” art exhibition on display at the SOMArts Cultural Center in San Francisco.
Representing a deep inquiry into the power and potential of sports as a cultural platform for social change, Cabello curated the exhibition in partnership with the Oakland Castlemont football team, Soccer Without Borders, and Senda Athletics. In an effort to create an immersive, experiential environment for intergenerational hands-on activities within the exhibit, audience members of all ages were encouraged to play inside the gallery walls.
The works from Cabello and fellow artists Arjuna Sayyed, Cece Carpio, Ed Ntiri, Yonas Tesfai, Miguel “Bounce” Perez, and Yvan Iturriaga explore the historical precedents and contemporary context for athletes like Colin Kaepernick who are leveraging sports as a platform for social change. Interactive installations, such as basketball hoops and soccer setups, invite gallery visitors to discover how play can transform public spaces and break down barriers that keep people separated. From the walls of a gallery to the border wall, Cabello wants visitors to imagine play as a physical language that can create space for greater freedom.
GOOD spoke with Cabello about why this unique exhibition matters — especially now.
What inspired this exhibition?
I’ve been working for many years at the intersection of social justice and sport. I teach physical education teachers at St. Mary’s College and do a breakdance-soccer-tricks hybrid called freestyle soccer. The possibility of sport — there’s a lot there — but there was this moment of practice where the theory and practice came together to create something I had never experienced before. I wanted to create something that looks at our current political moment and how we look at oppression, especially how joy could be used as a form of resistance.
The name “Game Recognize Game” came from the idea there’s a shared value and shared way that my friends who are artists and I live and move in the world. Some are athletes and some are artists — but they’re playful in their art or playful in how they work. We wanted the subjects to reflect us — not an “othering” that happens in art spaces. And we wanted to honor the past — athletes who have used their platform explicitly and also propose a new way to think about our physical movements and how that can be used.
Why was it important to make the installation interactive?
I built the 50-foot installation with another contributing artist because through our own research and studying the borders between Palestine and Israel, or the U.S. and Mexico, children will reimagine these barriers as a place to play. The hope is that you don’t just come and kick and play as a metaphor but actually think about how moving our bodies in playful ways in public spaces could create change. There’s really no structure — we’re not facilitating anything — the play just comes naturally.
What has the response been so far?
The response has blown me away. There have been two different camps — one, those who had not previously thought of sport as a space of critical reflection, that it was just reproducing violent masculinity. And two, those who understood sport but found a new liberating element to it. From every generation — babies crawling, elderly folks — they’re moving, dancing, drawing. Opening night was a euphoric, joyful manifestation. You can’t really tell people to move like that. It just happened. I’ve also finally been getting offers to reach larger audiences and to work with sports organizations and others on policy change.
How can art break down barriers that sport cannot and vice versa?
Sport in its purest form is one of the most beautiful artistic expressions. There’s something inherently artistic about the movement of bodies. Playing and performing is extremely creative when you remove the lines and boundaries of sport. For me, my work has been about not just highlighting that but rethinking how the artistic part can influence the instruction of sport. Could it not just be Kaepernick using it to make a political statement, but could all athletes be educated to be critical thinkers? And could coaches and athletes consider not just the act of playing but the intention with which you’re playing, such that instruction is improved to prevent the perpetuation of gender inequality and other types of injustice?
There’s an artistic expression and performative part of play. Kaepernick inspired the narrative, and he’s an important figure, but it’s about us. The change is going to come from us as the masses.
Wiman hiding her face behind a bunch of cashCanva
A mansion and its reflection in the swimming poolCanva
Salzburg at nightCanva
Fancy homeCanva
Happy volunteersCanva
Parents of young children get more time with them if they work from home.Photo credit: Canva
Juicy subject matter
Giphy from The Blacklist.
We could start a rumor.
Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.