"The way the story told itself to me..." Zora Neale Hurston
This series is an family portrait trajectory beginning with immigration to the United States moving toward the present day. Through this exploration I aim to dissect the perceived identity of both myself and my family. Each drawing presents a moment taken out of context, aggrandized and distorted memories which I am further interpreting. How do we perceive history which is neither cohesive nor truth, and what affect does it have on our identity?
The title of this series is a quote from Zora Neale Hurston’s autobiographical work, Dust Tracks on a Road. I use her words with respect and honour and indeed this series is just one ripple moving outward from Hurston’s courageous and spectacular voice. With this half a sentence she offered a creative experience which resonated true to my own and Hurston’s words shaped a curve in my path of being an artist. No one creates in a vacuum. I honour the warriors who trampled and skipped this road ahead of me. Within creative practices awaits rich spaces of intersectionality. Here we can find our allies, our roots, and we might remember that we are not alone in this struggle for and towards dignity and truth.
