In the days when slavery was commonplace, those who escaped for freedom would sometimes braid rice or seeds into their hair for sustenance during their travels. They would also braid certain patterns into their hair to be used as maps to help guide the journey. These two facts are part of the basis for this painting.
This piece, dedicated to my mother, is about how I've seen her hold fast to her faith since I was a little girl. It was something she planted inside of me early; and as the years have progressed, those seeds of faith sprouted, and planted roots in the soil of my own understanding and how I approach the world.
In this piece- faith is represented as mustard seeds. You can see the baby playing with the jar of seeds at their feet, while the mother is carefully weaving them into the hair. They are also sitting in a field of mustard plants. Behind them, as almost a halo of sorts, is a unique braided pattern- a nod to the inventiveness of my ancestors, and how faith, the faith my Mama planted, has been-and will continue to be-the map that guides my journey. Matthew 17:20-21