Juried into Mermaids and Merwomen in Black Folklore: A Fiber Arts Exhibition

I am so excited to have been juried into the exhibition "Mermaids and Merwomen in Black Folklore: A Fiber Arts Exhibition" starting August 28- October 28th at the City Gallery at Waterfront Park in Historic Charleston, South Carolina. Inspired by the folklore and visual history of the black mermaid archetype,” Mermaids and Merwomen in Black Folklore: A Fiber Arts Exhibition” will be the largest showcase of Mermaid art quilts and art dolls ever assembled. “There could not be a more perfect site for “ Mermaids”, than City Gallery at Waterfront Park, as it over looks Charleston Harbor.” Curator Cookie Washington said enthusiastically. Enslaved Africans, carried across the Atlantic in the slave trade, brought with them their beliefs and practices honoring their ancestral water deities. “Mermaids and Merwomen in Black Folklore: A Fiber Arts Exhibit” celebrates the visual cultures and histories of water goddesses. Today, communities of color have reestablished, revisualized, and revitalized African mermaids in their art. The quilting and doll-making traditions have also undergone a renaissance from utilitarianism to fine crafts. ‘Mermaids and Merwomen in Black Folklore’ is a journey of color and inspiration, a visual feast of imaginative expression. The fine craftsmanship in Mermaids and Merwomen in Black Folklore is griot in nature,” says Curator Cookie Washington. She has brought together both critically acclaimed and emerging fiber artists. “Each piece is a storyteller, using color, texture, form and embellishment to express a narrative.” African-American quilting as a craft-form is hardly recent. Long before the advent of slavery on this continent, civilizations of Africa were weaving the backdrop for African-American quilting as they preserved their aesthetic principles, religious and cultural traditions. Women continued the quilting tradition in the American South. Symbolism and meaning continued as a thread through quilts crafted during slavery. Quilts were made and used in a utilitarian fashion, hand stitching scraps together to keep families warm. In some cases, quilts made by elders were the only legacy a family had, preserving memories and events. In a rare collaboration, the exhibit catalogue pairs profound poetry and fantastic photography that will be a lasting reminder of the relationship between fine craft and soaring poetic verse that speaks of the black mermaid. Dive in to this rich, juicy, Mermaid poetry. This vivid affecting, powerful collection accompanies the artwork sensationally. Taken together, you’ll be baptized into the undersea world of the Merpeople. Opening Reception Sept 8th, 2012 5pm to 8pm

Maji the African Mermaid

I am pleased to show you my latest doll project called Maji, the African Mermaid. This doll was created based upon an imaginary mythic African mermaid called Maji which means ocean or water in Swahili. She has been all around the world including Latin America, Asia and Europe. She brings with her peace and hope for future generations. Her beauty is captivated by the colors of magenta, yellow, and white. She swims to remind us that love is where you find it. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Though she is not as well known as other African sea goddesses, she is making her debut and finding her proud place among the sea. Maji reminds women of African descent the false belief system that requires them to find identity and meaning in their lives through their husbands and children. Such a system causes women to completely lose their identity in that of their family. I believe in many cases women today still fall victim by society to have a husband and children in order to be considered completely feminine. Maji represents the total feminine, the emotions and feelings of women today in relation to the various roles they playas business owner, wife, mother, daughter, sister, etc. It's not easy to be all and still be yourself.