Ade Vodun
"Ade Vodun"
The red base of the headdress is made of straw that is most commonly usedin Western hats. However in color and form "Ade Vodun" echoesthe aesthetics of the Yoruba in Nigeria. The color red is associated with"ase", the power and life force and the conical shape is reflectiveof the most sacred Yoruba crowns, the "ade". Embellished withsequins and beads that dominate the ritual garments and altars the Haitianreligion, vodun, the place acknowledges the melding of many different traditionalAfrican beliefs with Christianity that occurred in the Western Hemisphere.The result was a variety of syncretized religions and complex belief systemslike vodun.
"Bristle Sprout"
Esu, the Yoruba deity (orisa) who serves as a messenger between the otherorisa and mankind, is known for his phallic headdress that points towardearth. "Bristle Sprout" was inspired by Esu's headress, his needto be appeased, and his ability as a messenger to help man's desires cometo fruition. The piece also makes reference to the potential in a freshlysprouted plant. The head then becomes both a seed for the growth of ideasand a symbol of the connection between the heavens and the earth, life anddeath, and the cycles of nature.
Bristle Sprout
Duple
The Yoruba of Nigeria have a pantheon of gods (orisha). This place was inspiredby Shango, god of lightening, who is notable for his hot temper and thepoise and coolness or "itutu" his devotees must posess in orderto "carry his spirit on their heads". His symbol is the doubleheaded ax. Duple is derived from the form of Shango's double headed ax andthe West African talking drum which was used to send messenges across greatdistances. One face of duple is made of polished copper and the other ofpatinated copper. The copper is used because of its electrical conductivityand therefore its relationship to lightening. Copper was once more highlyvalued than gold in Africa due to its red color. The red was associatedwith heat, blood and life. The patinated face has been "cooled"turning the redness of the copper to its color compliment, green. The hatsymbolizes the balance between hot and cool. The two faces serve as twoeyes, one that sees outwardly one that focuses inwardly. A rhythm betweenthese forces of opposition is established thus the reference to the talkingdrum and the title of the piece which means two beats to a measure.
Chummy's Charm
My childhood memory of my maternal grandmother, nicknamed "Chummy",is that she did not believe in idle hands. She taught me how to sew withher while sharing stories of her life experiences, world travel and homeland,Jamaica. One of the first things she taught my seven year old hands to makewas the pieces for a yoyo style quilt. "Chummy's Charm" is comprisedof patchwork pieces in the style that she taught me. The piece is made inhonor of my grandmother who is now my ancestor. It uses the conical formYoruba crowns (ade). The shape of the ade connects the wearer to the spiritworld by extending the head up to the heavenly realm.