Daughter Warriors
This series is entitled “Daughter Warriors.” My daughters’ ancestry includes Mali in western Africa, and I’m using its rich history of art and culture as inspiration to create pieces that I hope will provoke conversations with my daughters about their heritage as well as their potential as women.
The vessels in my “Daughter Warriors”series are heavily influenced by the shapes of gourds, clay pots and baskets, with designs taken from the traditions of the ethnic groups that make up much of Mali. I’ve chosen to use a tripod base when hand building these pots because it is an ancient and sturdy form, and every time I push out the clay from the inside to make a bowl it takes on a personality of its own. It speaks to my vision of a woman warrior as an individual standing strong.
My wall hangings are inspired by the beautiful silver jewelry of the Tuareg people of northern Mali. The engravings on their jewelry intrigue me and I’m challenged to replicate them in a three dimensional way.
Each piece is armed with a shield. The idea of a shield that protects the individual, the family, or the community communicates my vision of the woman warrior both in history and in the modern world. These shields often take on the look of jewelry and echo the ethnic inspiration intrinsic to their form.
Now more than ever, it is imperative to understand the importance of cultures not acknowledged in our written western histories, and the role of women in advancing all of the great cultures of the world. The name of each of my pieces is important to the conversation I wish to have with the viewers, challenging them to learn more about Mali and to measure the importance of women and cultures in new ways.
A Skewed History
The Legend of Sologan
The Gele of my Ancestors
Dahomey Mino
Tin Hinan
Bamako
The Legend of Sogolon
Takamat
The Sun, The Moon, and the Stars
Pagne