60 Second Docs

Kerry Soraci (@kerrysoraci) from St. Louis, Missouri is a tattoo artist and many of her clients are breast cancer survivors and post-op mastectomy patients who want to reclaim their bodies after losing their areolas and nipples. So this “tit-too artist” tattoos mandalas, flowers, or butterflies on their breasts. Soraci’s body-modifying art challenges our notions of aesthetics and feminine beauty standards. In her own words, Soraci is “going to rewrite what beautiful is.” . . . #cancer #cancersurvivor #breastcancer #tattoo #womeninbusiness #nippletattoo #areolatattooing #mastectomytattoo

Morgan (@Moremallum3) and Madison from Nebraska have been competitively clogging since the age of five. The pair have won national awards for their talents in clogging. The sisters push their boundaries and get better by trying to out-dance one another but in the end, they’re stronger together. . . . #dancing #clogging #cloggers #clogger #tap #dancingsisters #choreography

From doorstep to doorstep, Mathias Svalina (@mathiassvalina) delivers something special. Each morning he bikes around town to drop off surrealist poems he has written inspired by his dreams. He has hand-delivered over 16,000 dreams to subscribers all over the country. . . . #dreams #poetry #poems #documentary #surrealism #literature #art #writing #writer #poet #biking

For their daughter Rebecca, a visually impaired toddler who has Usher Syndrome Type 1B and will eventually lose her vision, dad Jake (with a background in engineering) and mom Beth are developing a pre-Braille toy called the BecDot to help children with blindness learn Braille. Their mission? To adapt the world to their young daughter. #60SDRewind⏪ . . . #braille #toys #blindness #innovation #learningtoys #parenting

Wife and husband duo Shannon and Phil Kirkman (@shannonkirkman and @philipkirkman) created and photographed the New York City Taxi Driver calendar (@nyctaxicalendar). NYC taxi drivers provide an essential service and 90% of them come from immigrant backgrounds -- yet most passengers never seek to know them beyond the transportation they offer. To challenge this paradigm, the Kirkmans celebrate cabbies from January to December, showcasing their personality and humor. A portion of their sales even benefit University Settlement, a resource for 40,000 immigrant and working individuals. . . . #nyctaxi #newyorkcity #taxi #wildnewyork #ilovenewyork #photography #nycphotographer

BOOM doesn’t go the rat. In Tanzania, rats are trained to detect landmines leftover from times of political unrest (@herorats). Unlike humans, a rodents acute sense of smell and lightweight frame allows them to safely detect landmines without triggering an explosion. The army of TNT sniffing African Giant Pouched rats save lives. #60SDRewind⏪ . . . #rodent #ratsofinstagram #rat #rats #animals #swat #tanzania #military #africa #explosion

Miles Kilburn (@miles_kilburn_design) of Loughborough University in England is the designer of Breathe, a gender affirming chest binder for trans men and non binary people. Chest binders compress breasts making gender identity expression easier to present. But traditional binding methods can lead to shortness of breath, overheating, and breast tissue injury. Alternatively, Breathe has an accelerometer that adjusts tightness using just a button, for a safer experience. Kilburn’s hopes more gender affirming products will enter the market, changing more lives. . . . #transgender #nonbinary #genderfluid #transman #trans #ftm #binder #agender

In 1998, lawyer Rob Bilott discovered evidence that a local chemical company wanted to bury. DuPont chemical had released an unregulated chemical, PFOA, into the drinking water. The synthetic “forever chemical" is impossible to break down and killed 190 cows in the West Virginia area. DuPont’s negligent water pollution caused countless cases of cancer, thyroid disease and possible birth defects, and poisoned the world for the last 40 years. . Inspired by true events, @darkwatersmovie, starring Mark Ruffalo, Anne Hathaway, Tim Robbins, Bill Camp, Victor Garber and Bill Pullman, is now in theaters. Link in bio. . . . #darkwaters #pfoa #pfas #cleanwater #environmentaljustice #pollution #waterpollution @markruffalo @annehathaway @timrobbinshere @therealvictorgarber @focusfeatures @participant

Sam Barsky (@sambarskyknitter) is no ordinary knitter. He’s earned his celebrity status by knitting famous landmarks as inspiration for his travels. After knitting a sweater version of a landmark, he travels to the actual location and poses for a picture, often with fans. His 140+ unique designs have earned him countless followers. . . . #sweater #knitting #knittersofinstagram #landmark #longsleeve #travel #aroundtheworld #unique

#60SDRewind⏪ Olivia Mead (@LoisLaneofYoga) started Yoga for First Responders after seeing how yoga helped military veterans with PTSD. Now, she teaches classes to law enforcement, firefighters and EMTs to improve breath control and mental health -- you may not be able to control the environment around you, but you can control what goes on inside you. . . . #yoga #firstresponders #firefighters #mentalhealth #control #health #yogapractice

In 2008, a group of nuns located in Kathmandu, Nepal were granted the right to train in martial arts by the head of their Buddhist lineage school. Jigme Yangchen Ghamo, and her group of “Kung Fu Nuns,” (@kungfununs) mix meditation with Chinese martial arts to protect their nunnery, strengthen their faith and keep their bodies healthy. They travel across the Himalayas, training and teaching other women about empowerment and self-defense. . . . #Kathmandu #nepal #nunnery #stupa #temple #buddhism #martialarts #kungfu #drukpa #Himalayas

At the Pig Preserve (@thepigpreserve) in Jamestown, Tennessee, pigs live free to run, swim, or sleep to their hearts’ content. Farm manager Afton Hughes rescues and helps pigs adapt to a new safe living situation after being abandoned, abused, neglected, or having escaped from factory farms. She believes that every pig deserves to be treated equally and lovingly. . . . #pigs #piggies #farm #labanimals #documentary #animalrescue #animalshelter #sanctuary #farmanimals #piglet #hogs #boars

11-year-old Crochet prodigy Jonah Larson (@jonahhands) discovered his passion at the age of five. An aspiring surgeon, Jonah's meticulous experience with hooks and yarn serves as necessary experience for his future career. Even as a crocheter, he has respect for knitters too. #60SDRewind⏪ . . . #crochetersofinstagram #yarn #crochet #crochetblanket #crochetlove #crocheted #fiberart

Habiba Nowrose from Dhaka, Bangladesh photographs from the lens of women’s rights. Her portraits are rich with motifs that signify personality, from bright flowers to colorful garments. But the most identifying aspect of the Nowrose’s subjects are missing -- her models’ faces are covered with fabric, leaving only an outline of a figure behind. Her series “Concealed” reflects on women’s personal sacrifices to meet societal expectations. This assimilation leaves the faceless subject anonymous to themselves, and their viewers. . . . #bangladesh #photography #textiles #genderidentity #femaleartists #portraitart #womenartists

Bees4Vets (@bees4vets), a nonprofit organization for vets, gives former military a chance to focus on life outside the war zone and help combat their PTSD. In caretaking hundreds of bees, veteran beekeepers like Burt Crapo maintain a symbiotic relationship through bee therapy. #60SDRewind⏪ . . . #bees #veterans #beekeepers #soldier #marine #therapy #ptsd #ptsdawareness

Every weekday in North America, 46 mothers find out their child has some form of cancer. So each year, in solidarity with their children, moms like Courtney Moore gather to shave their heads at the "46 Mommas" event. Through these head-shaving events St. Baldrick’s (@stbaldricks), the organization behind “46 Mommas”, has raised over $2.2 million. The event and network raise awareness for pediatric cancer, but most importantly these moms honor their children who are in remission, still battling, and those they have lost. (@gofundme) . . . #46mommas #bald #baldhead #cancer #childhoodcancerawareness #childhoodcancer #cancersupport #stbaldricks #motherhood #gofundme

Manhattan artist Shungaboy (@shungaboy) first got interested in the world of nudism when he and a fellow artist posed for each other’s work. He began searching for other nudist activities and came across nude drawing. He recognized the power imbalance between the nude model and clothed artists and started his own group where all participants were naked. Through Men’s Naked Drawing Group, artists and models can build body confidence in a safe space. . . . #art #artist #artistsoninstagram #modeling #malemodel #portrait #sketching #drawing #representation #selfesteem #bodyconfidence #nudeart #nudemodeling

Former fashion designer Liina (@liinaklauss) from Germany seeks to promote more conscious consumption, creating stunning installations from plastic straws, cups, flip-flops and more -- building a rainbow of reasons to reconsider plastic waste. #60SDRewind⏪ . . . #rainbow #upcycling #recycle #inspiration #ecofriendly #zerowaste #color

Freya Jobbins (@freyajobbins) from Sydney, Australia is a contemporary artist, dissecting and reconstructing figures and faces. The “plastic surgeon” cuts off arms and legs from children’s dolls and plastic toys to assemble unsettling and uncanny semi-human works of art. Her pieces challenge notions of identity and dissimulation, leaving some amused and others disturbed — her job after all is “to get responses from humans.” . . . #dolls #artist #babydoll #plasticsurgeon #dollstagram #identity #uncanny #surreal

6-year-old Gavin Hazelwood from Melbourne, Australia gave Meghan Markle a homemade macaroni necklace. After his exchange with the Duchess of Sussex went viral, people from all around the world wanted to buy his gold-painted pasta jewelry. Now, Gavin sells his necklaces for charity and has raised over $15,000 to support research for stillborn babies. #60SDRewind⏪ . . . #melbourne #pasta #gold #research #jewelry #babies #necklace

Chanel Rhodes (@cowgirl_chanel)is changing up the sport of horseback riding by hand-making wigs that celebrate afro-centric hairstyles. Rhodes hopes that, through her wigs and presence in the space, more black equestrians will feel confident to pick up the traditionally euro-centric sport. Her work is also helping connect black equestrians all over the world. . . . #horses #horseback #documentary #cowboy #diversity #representation #inclusion #horsebackriding #pony #blackbusinessowners

When Eva Sweeney (@crippingupsex) was a teenager, there were no sex-education programs catered to her — Sweeney is queer, has cerebral palsy, uses a wheelchair, and is non-verbal. So for the past 15 years, Sweeney has been teaching the mobility-specific sex education that she always wanted to learn. The advocate educates from assisted masturbation to talking to aides about dating, and when she’s not teaching, Sweeney runs a sex toy review blog through an accesssibility lense. Sweeney’s goal is to help people with disabilities learn how sex can work for them. . . . #disabilityawareness #accessibility #sexeducation #inclusivity #documentary #shortfilm #accessible #inclusive #representation

Kids are building schools from plastic bottles in Antigua Guatemala, Guatemala. Through the nonprofit Hug It Forward (@hugitforward), students lead efforts to transform, and “recycle,” plastic bottles into eco-bricks to build schools. To date, they have upcycled 950,000 bottles to create over 100 schools. #60SDRewind⏪ . . . #upcycle #guatemala #recycle #inspiration #ecofriendly #zerowaste

Margaret Taormina from Tampa, Florida is a certified dog massage practitioner. Human clients come to her to remedy their dogs behavioral health issues, treat injured or traumatized dogs — and sometimes hyper dogs who just need a nice pat to calm down. The power of Taormina’s scratching, petting, and touching can help animals relax to live a more comfortable life. 14/10 would do this job. . . . #dogs #therapyforanimals #helpanimals #massagetherapist #massage #animalmassage #dogmassage