This past September, I created my first back strap weave for a materials and processes course. For the project, we were tasked with incorporating any objects we wanted; the only criterion was that the piece must reflect something about us or hold some meaning for us. For my weave, I chose to insert bows, ribbons, and hair pieces from my childhood hair box that my mom had kept since I was a child. On a visit home, I noticed that the pieces were preserved, but were sitting in a box in the back of my closet, untouched. These hairpieces meant a lot to me because they remind me of the one choice of expression I had when I went to a school where uniforms were required. I also wanted to incorporate them with pieces of leftover braiding hair I have acquired from various hair appointments and styles I have had over the past few years.
This piece holds a special significance for me because it reflects my relationship with my hair, as well as an ode to the experiences of black girls and their hair. I felt a sense of nostalgia creating this piece and am glad to have found a use for so many hair accessories that I often overlooked. This project is a step towards creating a larger body of work for my portfolio, which will feature a consistent theme of perception through memories. I am also excited that my work is hanging in the CIA building this month!
By: Ava Stephens
Comments
Post a Comment