the beauty of origins. visual arts portfolio
Back of the Bus
date. 2018
medium. charcoal and graphite
size. 16in x 20in
Description: This piece was done mainly with charcoal, using it to add in the really dark values, as well as graphite to add layers of lighter values + specific details. I was really intrigued by the way the inside of the bus continued to the other buses and flowed along a curve. I specifically liked this piece because in the original scene, the inside of the bus was such a stark contrast of dark blacks and grays compared to the light, foggy day outside that it made it seem like I wasn’t in a bus, but instead in a train station or subway. I thought it was very
interesting how certain perspectives can make viewers think in different ways.
The title references the history of black people not being allowed to sit in the front of the bus and the unique perspective they had.
Traditional Nigerian Udu Drum
date. 2019
medium. handbuilt clay, ceramic glaze
size. 7in x 6in x 8in
Description: For this piece, I wanted to show a symbol of African culture that was positive, and music created by the Nigerian Udu Drums is a staple of the culture there. Music can tell a lot about traditions, as well as symbolize a strong connection to one another and the world around them. This drum is a more advanced design than a common udu drum, and I chose it because I wanted to challenge myself in making an interesting structure while still making it functional as well. When you hit the drum on the playing hole with the palm of your hand, due to the size of the drum, it will result in a bubbling noise, or described as a babbling brook.
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African Water Jug: A Heavy Load
Description: This piece was meant to be a commentary on the literal and figurative weight on the shoulders of mothers in African communities and how this "weight" can be passed to the next generation. The detailing was designed based on traditionally weaved food baskets, while it is constructed in the form of a water jug typically seen in Africa.
date. 2019
medium. handbuilt clay
size. 12in x 8in x 8in
weight. around 5lbs
This represents the figurative pressure to support their families with food and water, as well as the literal pressure due to the weight of those items carried over tremendous distances. I constructed the water jug so it could have the weight that the meaning described.
The Investigation Continues: Runaway Slaves Ad
date. 2019
medium. mixed media.
size. 16in x 20in
Description: In this piece, the viewer is looking from the perspective of a “slave bounty hunter” who is tracking runaway slaves to return them to their masters. The hunter tracks specific people because of the rewards that masters are posting in the local newspaper ads for the return of slaves. These ads make up the background of the “investigation board” in the piece. The piece shows the hunter’s progress on a variety of runaway slave cases, as well as patterns they notice from the different cases. The red string allows the viewer to track that the runaways are typically moving north for the possibility of freedom. This piece comments on the dangers that runaways faced, and the effects of laws such as the Fugitive Slave Act in an interactive way.
I Know Why The Butterfly Spreads Its Wings
date. 2019
medium. mixed media (origami butterflies, acrylic on plexiglass)
size. 50in x 36in x 4in
Description: This piece is about the migration of slaves north to freedom through the Underground Railroad. The panels show the Midwestern strip of the United States and the butterflies form the path through cities that were frequent stops on the railroad. The butterflies themselves are origami, created out of pages from high school history textbooks on slavery practices in the South at the time. Transforming those pages into butterflies symbolizes movement and allows the viewer to see the slaves on the journey to becoming free.
The colors are representative of centers of activity, red being centers of tensions and strife in the deep South and blue being centers of freedom further North. As the colors fade and shift from hot to cool, the viewer can see where different areas stand on the topic of slavery as well as give insight on where runaways may have had more trouble on their route.
Generations
date. 2019.
medium. photography
2020 SCHOLASTIC GOLD MEDAL AWARD WINNER IN PHOTOGRAPHY
Description: This piece celebrates African history and origins and pays respect to the matriarchal way of society in those civilizations. In this photo, the artist's grandmother, mother, and sister are shown wearing African prints and fabrics. The grandmother sits in the center to further symbolize the status of monarch of the family while the mother and sister gather by her side. Each of the women are wearing the fabrics in a different way, getting progressively less 'traditional' across the generations. This directly symbolized the passing of traditions from one generation to the next, and while each generation may interpret a culture and shared heritage differently, it is something that we carry with us as a part of who we are and who we become.
South African Textile Worker
date. 2019
medium. mixed media (african print fabric)
size. 16in x 12in
Description: This piece is made out of African-print fabrics, which symbolize the effort that these workers put in to create the clothing we wear every day as well as the clothes for their children. These women are often
overlooked, never even thought about because so many people don't think about where their clothing really comes from. In addition to this, the fabrics are important as well. Fabrics can unify a community and the work that the textile factories provide can allow many mothers the opportunity to provide better for their own families, including creating the clothing for the children and other basic
necessities.
La Fille de Résilience
date. 2019
medium. colored pencil
size. 14in x 17in
Description: This colored pencil piece (along with a washed acrylic background) symbolizes a resilience that shines in the black community. I wanted to make a statement that despite our adversities and struggles in the past, we are still here and thriving today. This resilience of a people is documented artistically through the bright colors of the drawing; the figure in the drawing is a representation of the current generation of Black people, in particular, the youth. Her pose shows curiosity toward the future as she is looking off into the distance and the flowers in her hair are recurring symbols for the transformation of culture and freedom. The title, translated meaning the resilient daughter,’ shows that the girl is a product of the people that came before her and their strength.