With Forests in Our Mouths
Info
Chapter 12: Black Rope Alamanac
Format: Digital publication
Release date: 18 Jan 2026
Language: Damiá, English
Download: (scroll down for 3 x zip files, 490MB total)



Black Rope Almanac is a digital art publication by ONCE WE WERE ISLANDS produced together with the Damiá speech community. It is the twelfth and final chapter of the two-year constellation artwork With Forests in Our Mouths — Speaking Queer Utopias into Being. Damiá is a Queer constructed language and long-term real-world artwork that has been at the centre of our practice since 2020. It is a unique attempt to find out what it would mean to create a new speech community for Queer people. This durational artistic and political experiment aims to make change in the world and is an act of community building and care, bringing together Damiá speakers across three continents. It is a community in flux. It is both a reality and a potential. It is an expression of a wish to become a diaspora in reverse.

Black Rope Almanac is released in the form of three downloadable zip-files on Sunday 18 January 2026, the first new moon of the year and the first day of Black Rope Year in the Damiá calendar. The format of the publication is inspired by the traditional Finnish Almanakka and reimagined for a Queer future on the far side of borders and nations. The heart of the work is a self-print calendar charting the twelve moon phases of Black Rope Year and the lacuna of the Dark Days beyond. Each monthly folder contains a selection of artefacts created by the emerging Damiá speech community: short essays; poems; photographs; fonts; ephemera; short films; songs and sound recordings. These diverse materials chart a year from winter solstice to winter solstice documenting our collective and individual experiences through the lens of this new Queer language. 

Black Rope Almanac is an invitation to imagine new ways of being together at a time when our old systems have failed us. It is an indirect activism in the form of an example, a blueprint for a new way of relating. It is a time capsule, a strategy, a magic spell. As the final chapter of With Forests in Our Mouths, it also acts as a retrospective on a sprawling multimedia artwork and a bridge to a brand-new future magic. 

Join us. 
info(at)oncewewereislands.com







Concept, text, edit, design: ONCE WE WERE ISLANDS
Contributions: Ar Gogo / Óscar González, Siasta Topi / Maria Laurids Lazzarotti, Zavea Dion / Esther Boles, Iagot Cial / Ruby Louise Rose, Habes Hareg / Olivia Basterfield, Coco Amen / Coco, Sarapa Saipa / Jack Freeman, Retec Hoc / Abby Boak

LIST OF CONTENTS

Introductory essay: GE S’ION MBÉ _ READ ME.txt

Folder: CALTA DABE _ ALMANAC (18.01.2026)

0_1.pdf — full colour .pdf of the almanac at 144 dpi for onscreen reading
0_2.pdf — black-&-white .pdf of the almanac at 300 dpi for home printing
0_3.jpg — photograph of the printed almanac with bulldog clip

0_4.pdf — year cycles 1931 - 1977 in english
0_5.pdf — year cycles 1931 - 1977 in damiá
0_6.pdf — year cycles 1931 - 1977 in tolpata

(all information and images made by once we were islands)

Folder: OOL _ MOONS (18.01.2026)

Subfolder: 01. OOL IAIMÉN _ NEW MOON 1 (18.01.26)

1_1.pdf  — aalelmar tolpa cvera / black rope song (dogai bor / chris gylee)
1_2.mp3 — voice recording of aalelmar tolpa cvera 2’32” (dogai bor / chris gylee)

1_3.jpg — photograph of pies (ar gogo / óscar gonzález)

Subfolder: 02. OOL IADARI _ NEW MOON 2 (17.02.26)

2_1.mp3 — hodentamar daro doosi / recording in the shower 7’55” (ar gogo / óscar gonzález)

2_2.jpg — siee i.1 zeta daz / zine image #1 (siasta topi / maria laurids lazzarotti)
2_3.jpg — siee i.2 zeta daz / zine image #2 (siasta topi / maria laurids lazzarotti)

2_4.pdf — tavla i.1 dasto lo cav / copula chart #1 (tompo gazze / aslan)        
2_5.pdf — tavla i.2 dasto lo cav / copula chart #2 (tompo gazze / aslan)

Subfolder: 03. OOL IAATEC _ NEW MOON 3 (19.03.26)

3_1.mp4 — VaSieRo cal lo gved / film for spring equinox 1’11” (tompo gazze / aslan)

3_2.mp3 — aalelmar / song 0’55” (dion zavea / esther boles)
3_3.jpg — siee sicá / photograph (dion zavea / esther boles)

3_4.jpg — sieetamar hartalla lo / scan of ephemera (dion zavea / esther boles)
3_5.jpg — sieetamar hartalla lo / scan of ephemera (dion zavea / esther boles)
3_6.jpg — sieetamar hartalla lo / scan of ephemera (dion zavea / esther boles)
3_7.jpg — sieetamar hartalla lo / scan of ephemera (dion zavea / esther boles)
3_8.jpg — sieetamar hartalla lo / scan of ephemera (dion zavea / esther boles)
3_9.jpg — sieetamar hartalla lo / scan of ephemera (dion zavea / esther boles)
3_10.jpg — sieetamar hartalla lo / scan of ephemera (dion zavea / esther boles)
3_11.jpg — sieetamar hartalla lo / scan of ephemera (dion zavea / esther boles)
3_12.jpg — sieetamar hartalla lo / scan of ephemera (dion zavea / esther boles)        
3_13.jpg — sieetamar hartalla lo / scan of ephemera (dion zavea / esther boles)
3_14.jpg — sieetamar hartalla lo / scan of ephemera (dion zavea / esther boles)
3_15.jpg — sieetamar hartalla lo / scan of ephemera (dion zavea / esther boles)
3_16.jpg — sieetamar hartalla lo / scan of ephemera (dion zavea / esther boles)
3_17.jpg — sieetamar hartalla lo / scan of ephemera (dion zavea / esther boles)
3_18.jpg — sieetamar hartalla lo / scan of ephemera (dion zavea / esther boles)
3_19.jpg — sieetamar hartalla lo / scan of ephemera (dion zavea / esther boles)
3_20.jpg — sieetamar hartalla lo / scan of ephemera (dion zavea / esther boles)
3_21.jpg — sieetamar hartalla lo / scan of ephemera (dion zavea / esther boles)
3_22.jpg — sieetamar hartalla lo / scan of ephemera (dion zavea / esther boles)
3_23.jpg — sieetamar hartalla lo / scan of ephemera (dion zavea / esther boles)
3_24.jpg — sieetamar hartalla lo / scan of ephemera (dion zavea / esther boles)
3_25.jpg — sieetamar hartalla lo / scan of ephemera (dion zavea / esther boles)
3_26.jpg — sieetamar hartalla lo / scan of ephemera (dion zavea / esther boles)        
3_27.jpg — sieetamar hartalla lo / scan of ephemera (dion zavea / esther boles)

Subfolder: 04. OOL IABASAI _ NEW MOON 4 (17.04.26)

4_1.txt — carebmar ‘soro aprieel’ / essay ‘april’ (dogai bor / chris gylee)

4_2.jpg — sieeta cacsel ie ‘cetáerta’ lo / scan of lyrics to ‘cetáerta’ (tompo gazze / aslan)
4_3.jpg — sieeta eb ie tolpata lo / scan of tolpata ligatures (tompo gazze / aslan)

Subfolder: 05. OOL IATASI _ NEW MOON 5 (16.05.26)

5_1.pdf — taat naerta tolpata lo / how to input tolpata (tompo gazze / aslan)

5_2.ttf — dast ‘tolpa cvera’ / ‘tolpa cvera’ font (tompo gazze / aslan)
5_3 Mac.ttf — dast ‘tolpa cvera’ Mac lo / ‘tolpa cvera’ font for Mac(tompo gazze / aslan)

5_4.ttf — dast ‘maná’ / ‘maná’ font (tompo gazze / aslan)
5_5 Mac.ttf — dast ‘maná’ Mac lo / ‘maná’ font for Mac (tompo gazze / aslan)

5_6.ttf — dast ‘CALENDARLAT’ / ‘CALENDARLAT’ font (tompo gazze / aslan)
5_7.Mac ttf — dast ‘CALENDARLAT’ Mac lo / ‘CALENDARLAT’ font for Mac (tompo gazze / aslan)

5_8.ttf — dast ‘black rope’ / ‘black rope’ font (tompo gazze / aslan)
5_9 Mac.ttf — dast ‘black rope’ for Mac / ‘black rope’ font Mac lo (tompo gazze / aslan)

Subfolder: 06. OOL IASAT _ NEW MOON 6 (15.06.26)

6_1.mp4 — VaSieRo cal lo cead / film for summer solstice 1’12” (tompo gazze / aslan)

6_2.jpg — siee i.1 sicá gocvaa lo / plants photograph #1 (retec hoc / abby boak)
6_3.jpg — siee i.2 sicá gocvaa lo / plants photograph #2 (retec hoc / abby boak)
6_4.jpg — siee i.3 sicá gocvaa lo / plants photograph #3 (retec hoc / abby boak)

6_5.mp3 — hodentamar i.1 / recording #1 1’00” (retec hoc / abby boak)
6_6.mp3 — hodentamar i.2 / recording #2 0’45” (retec hoc / abby boak)
6_7.mp3 — hodentamar i.3 / recording #3 1’01” (retec hoc / abby boak)

Subfolder: 07. OOL IAVAA _ NEW MOON 7 (14.07.26)

7_1.pdf — vo / directions (tompo gazze / aslan)

7_2.jpg — sarapa / giraffe (sarapa saipa / jack freeman)
7_3.jpg — cielie / tree (coco amen / coco)
7_4.jpg — gvert / mushroom (habes hareg / olivia basterfield)    

7_5.mov — hastel coraces daz / wind from the window 0’37” (ar gogo / óscar gonzález)
7_6.mov — soti coraces daz / birds from the window 0’14” (ar gogo / óscar gonzález)

Subfolder: 08. OOL IABAVAND _ NEW MOON 8 (12.08.26)

8_1.jpg — sieetamar liesta lo ‘fieldguide’ daz / scan of plants list from ‘fieldguide’
8_2.mp3 — hodentamar liesta lo ‘fieldguide’ daz / recording of list from ‘fieldguide’ 1’24”

(aita ten te dalav mie / once we were islands)

Subfolder: 09. OOL IANARTOZ _ NEW MOON 9 (11.09.26)

9_1.mp4 — VaSieRo cal lo aggai / film for autumn equinox 1’11” (tompo gazze / aslan)

9_2.jpg — sieeta carta lo posta / postcard scan (ar gogo / óscar gonzález)
9_3.jpg — sieeta carta lo posta / postcard scan (ar gogo / óscar gonzález)
9_4.jpg — sieeta carta lo posta / postcard scan (ar gogo / óscar gonzález)
9_5.jpg — sieeta carta lo posta / postcard scan (ar gogo / óscar gonzález)
9_6.jpg — sieeta carta lo posta / postcard scan (ar gogo / óscar gonzález)
9_7.jpg — sieeta carta lo posta / postcard scan (ar gogo / óscar gonzález)
9_8.jpg — sieeta carta lo posta / postcard scan (ar gogo / óscar gonzález)
9_9.jpg — sieeta carta lo posta / postcard scan (ar gogo / óscar gonzález)
9_10.jpg — sieeta carta lo posta / postcard scan (ar gogo / óscar gonzález)
9_11.jpg — sieeta carta lo posta / postcard scan (ar gogo / óscar gonzález)
9_12.jpg — sieeta carta lo posta / postcard scan (ar gogo / óscar gonzález)
9_13.jpg — sieeta carta lo posta / postcard scan (ar gogo / óscar gonzález)
9_14.jpg — sieeta carta lo posta / postcard scan (ar gogo / óscar gonzález)
9_15.jpg — sieeta carta lo posta / postcard scan (ar gogo / óscar gonzález)
9_16.jpg — sieeta carta lo posta / postcard scan (ar gogo / óscar gonzález)
9_17.jpg — sieeta carta lo posta / postcard scan (ar gogo / óscar gonzález)
9_18.jpg — sieeta carta lo posta / postcard scan (ar gogo / óscar gonzález)

Subfolder: 10. OOL IAIANT _ NEW MOON 10 (10.10.26)

10_1.pdf — vat t-helia ‘VMT x 6’ / poetry chapbook ‘PFM x 6’ (dogai bor / chris gylee)

Subfolder: 11. OOL IAEMZAR _ NEW MOON 11 (09.11.26)

11_1.txt — carebmar ‘onai’ / essay ‘lonely’ (dogai bor / chris gylee)

11_2.jpg — siee sicá sepáre lo bas vai / photos of a bus journey (coco amen / coco)
11_3.jpg — siee sicá sepáre lo bas vai / photos of a bus journey (coco amen / coco)
11_4.jpg — siee sicá sepáre lo bas vai / photos of a bus journey (coco amen / coco)
11_5.jpg — siee sicá sepáre lo bas vai / photos of a bus journey (coco amen / coco)
11_6.jpg — siee sicá sepáre lo bas vai / photos of a bus journey (coco amen / coco)
11_7.jpg — siee sicá sepáre lo bas vai / photos of a bus journey (coco amen / coco)
11_8.jpg — siee sicá sepáre lo bas vai / photos of a bus journey (coco amen / coco)
11_9.jpg — siee sicá sepáre lo bas vai / photos of a bus journey (coco amen / coco)
11_10.jpg — siee sicá sepáre lo bas vai / photos of a bus journey (coco amen / coco)
11_11.jpg — siee sicá sepáre lo bas vai / photos of a bus journey (coco amen / coco)
11_12.jpg — siee sicá sepáre lo bas vai / photos of a bus journey (coco amen / coco)
11_13.jpg — siee sicá sepáre lo bas vai / photos of a bus journey (coco amen / coco)
11_14.jpg — siee sicá sepáre lo bas vai / photos of a bus journey (coco amen / coco)
11_15.jpg — siee sicá sepáre lo bas vai / photos of a bus journey (coco amen / coco)        
11_16.jpg — siee sicá sepáre lo bas vai / photos of a bus journey (coco amen / coco)

11_17.jpg — siee tai sicá lietveenmar tai / poem and self-portrait (coco amen / coco)
11_18.jpg — siee tai sicá lietveenmar tai / poem and self-portrait (coco amen / coco)

11_19.txt — damiátada ele-ele / two attempted translations (tompo gazze / aslan)

Subfolder: 12. OOL IABAZAR _ NEW MOON 12 (09.12.26)

12_1.pdf — helia iaimén / first story (tompo gazze / aslan)
12_2.mp3 — hodentamar helia lo iaimén / recording of first story 0’48” (tompo gazze / aslan)

12_3.jpg — vambatamar gesiapmar bor vai / rubbing of wood carving (dogai bor / chris gylee)
12_4.jpg — siee sicá maa lo gesiapmar / photograph of carving, front (dion zavea / esther boles)
12_5.jpg — siee sicá iolca lo gesiapmar / photograph of carving, reverse (dion zavea / esther boles)
12_6.txt — cecárebmar gesiapmar lo / transcription of wood carving (tompo gazze / aslan)

Subfolder: 13. AST ESNA _ DARK DAYS (21.12.26)

13_1.mp4 — VaSieRo cal lo tibróg / film for winter solstice 1’11” (tompo gazze / aslan)

13_2.txt — eb siedi lo t-havet getioo damiá / link to damiá modal music machine (iagot cial / ruby louise rose)
13_3.jpg — bascotamar siedi lo t-havet getioo damiá / diagram of damiá modal music machine (iagot cial / ruby louise rose)

13_4.txt — taat sopra cocca lo bazar / twelve cake recipe

Chapters: 1. Like Déjà-Vu But The Other Way Around 2. Thick Time 3. Remembering Colours 4. Helialá — a gathering of poems 5. Palace of Ash & Rain 6. Speech Community 7. Echo Ballads // Pasián Esba & Echo Ballads II 8. The Deep 9. Seedling 10. Field Guide 11. Safehouse