Category: Inspiration

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BookClub: Water Graves by Valerie Loichot

Water Graves by Valerie Loichot is a profound exploration of the ocean as both a literal and metaphorical grave, particularly in relation to the Middle Passage and the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade. Loichot examines how water serves as a site of memory, mourning, and transformation, holding the weight of untold histories lost beneath its surface.

One of the book’s most powerful themes is the duality of water as both life-giving and destructive. Loichot delves into how the ocean, while capable of erasing physical traces, becomes a vast memorial for those who perished in its depths. Her poetic reflections on the ocean’s capacity to obscure and reveal offer a nuanced understanding of how water embodies loss, survival, and cultural resilience.

Loichot captures the tension between water as both a destructive and life-giving force. This duality inspires my Lost and Found series, where I use marine waste—objects abandoned or displaced by hurricanes—as materials to create sacred vessels. Just as Loichot discusses the ocean as a space of burial, mourning, and sometimes recovery, my art reclaims these discarded objects from the water’s aftermath, transforming them into symbols of resilience and memory. With this series, each piece I create is a tribute to those lost in the Atlantic, while also reflecting on the environmental and cultural devastation left in the wake of these storms.

Loichot’s discussion of water as a boundary between life and death, presence and absence, resonates with my own artistic exploration of memory and spiritual protection. She writes about how water can obscure and reveal, how it holds the stories of the past even as it erases physical traces. This is something I aim to reflect in my work—the idea that what is lost in the water isn’t truly gone but rather transformed, just as I transform marine waste into something meaningful.

Loichot’s work is essential for anyone interested in how environmental and historical forces converge in the symbolic and real-world power of the sea. Through Water Graves, she reveals the emotional depth of the ocean’s role in shaping cultural identity, memory, and history.

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Exploring Banana Leaf Mordanting: A Sustainable Dyeing AdventureBanana Leaf Mordant?!

I’ve been diving into the world of natural dyeing, and I’m especially intrigued by banana leaf mordanting. This innovative and eco-friendly method uses the tannins and plant-based compounds in banana leaves to help dyes bind to fibers, creating subtle and earthy color variations. It’s a beautiful way to combine sustainability with creativity, and I can’t wait to try it out for myself!

To make this happen, I’m planning to grow my own banana trees. I’m in the process of choosing the perfect spot in my yard—a sunny area with well-draining soil is ideal since banana trees thrive in warmth and humidity. I also need to make sure the location is sheltered from strong winds to protect their large, delicate leaves and promote healthy growth and fruit production.

This is just the beginning of the journey, and I’ll share more updates as the planting season progresses. I’m looking forward to the day when I can harvest my own banana leaves and experiment with their dyeing magic! Stay tuned.

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DIY Kumihimo Braiding Tool Using Pharmacy Pill Blister Packaging

In our increasingly waste-conscious world, finding creative ways to repurpose everyday items can inspire both art and sustainability. One such project is crafting a Kumihimo braiding tool from something many of us have lying around: empty pharmacy pill blister packaging. This unexpected material makes for a sturdy, flexible, and recyclable tool to create stunning braided cords.

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Book Review: In the Shadow of Slavery: Africa’s Botanical Legacy in the Atlantic World

I’m currently reading In the Shadow of Slavery: Africa’s Botanical Legacy in the Atlantic World by Judith Carney as part of my research into the folklore surrounding Provision Grounds on St. Croix. This book is a rich resource, not only for its deep historical analysis but for how it weaves together the botanical, cultural, and social legacies of enslaved Africans in the New World. It provides a vital context for understanding how African knowledge systems, particularly around agriculture and medicinal plants, played a crucial role in survival and resistance during the transatlantic slave trade.

The book does a remarkable job of showing how African botanical knowledge traveled across the Atlantic, taking root in the Caribbean, the American South, and other regions. What I found particularly compelling is the examination of Provision Grounds—small plots of land where enslaved people were able to cultivate food. These spaces became sites of autonomy and resistance, where African agricultural practices flourished despite the oppressive conditions of slavery.

The book also highlights the resilience of African people, whose knowledge of plants—whether for food, medicine, or rituals—was passed down through generations and became a key part of life in the New World. This legacy is still felt today in the foods we eat, the herbal remedies we use, and the traditions we uphold. The book reminds us that while slavery was a system of immense brutality, African culture survived, adapted, and influenced the world in profound ways.

One of the aspects I found particularly useful for my work is the book’s detailed exploration of specific plants and their uses, which provides a foundation for understanding how these botanical legacies have shaped not only survival but also identity in the African diaspora. For anyone interested in the intersection of history, agriculture, and cultural survival, In the Shadow of Slavery is a must-read. It’s a powerful reminder of the enduring strength of African traditions, especially in the face of immense adversity.

As I continue to work on my own project exploring the folklore and foodways of St. Croix, this book has given me both insight and inspiration. It’s not just about the plants themselves, but the stories and practices that surround them—how they offer a means of connection to the past, resistance in the present, and hope for the future.

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Textile Alchemy Workshop

Take a virtual workshop with me.

Textile Alchemy with Theda Sandiford
Saturday, March 8 + Saturday, March 15 with a midweek meetup

“Textile Alchemy” is an engaging and innovative workshop that combines the exploration of different environments—beaches, urban areas, and even our own closets—to source unique materials for textile art. Participants will learn how to source and creatively utilize found and upcycled materials from diverse environments to craft meaningful and sustainable textile pieces. The workshop emphasizes sustainability, resourcefulness, and innovation, encouraging participants to find artistic potential in the most unexpected places. By embracing a zero-waste philosophy, this workshop invites participants to turn what might be considered “waste” into “wonder.”

Click to learn more

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Book Review: All That She Carried

I recently read All That She Carried: The Journey of Ashley’s Sack, A Black Family Keepsake by Tiya Miles as part of MAFA’s Book Club like a voracious bear. The book tells the powerful story of a simple cotton sack passed down through generations of Black women, starting with Rose, who gave it to her daughter Ashley before they were separated by slavery. The sack, filled with a few precious items and Rose’s love, became a family keepsake that represents resilience, survival, and maternal love.

What struck me most is how Miles uses this one object to explore the broader legacy of slavery and the ways Black women preserved their families’ stories and histories through small, meaningful acts. The book’s detailed research into Pecans ties back to the current research I am doing on Provision Grounds  and really gave me some direction on how I want to craft the storytelling in my own project. It’s a reminder that objects can carry so much more than their physical form—they hold memories, connections, and emotions that transcend time.

This book made me think deeply about the significance of the materials we use and the stories they carry, something I relate to in my own creative practice. If you’re looking for a moving exploration of history, family, and resilience, I highly recommend this book.

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History of Denim

Blue jeans have a history deeply rooted in slavery, as the fabric used to make them—denim—was originally produced from cotton grown by enslaved people in the American South. Cotton was one of the primary crops cultivated on plantations using forced labor, and the profits from this industry fueled the global textile trade. Additionally, enslaved people often wore durable, rugged fabrics like denim, providing the blueprint for the hard-wearing, utilitarian nature of blue jeans. Thus, while today blue jeans symbolize casual, everyday wear, their origins are intertwined with the exploitation and suffering of enslaved Black laborers.

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Inspired by Joyce J. Scott

When I saw Joyce J. Scott‘s Garden Ensconced at the Armory Show, I was completely blown away. I was drawn in from a distance and completely enraptured by the detail of her beading.

Detail view.

Joyce J. Scott
Garden Ensconced
Medium: Sculpture, Plastic and glass beads, yarn, fabric, crocheted fiber, ribbon, stainless steel
Size: 124.25 x 93 x 6.25 in.
Year: 2024