KINSHIP

KINSHIP is a 40x36 mixed media work on canvas made with found b&w photos from the 1850's-1950's. Four modern color photos were also used and color enhanced with markers, paint pens and acrylics. Each was copied and hand-colored with acrylics, photo dyes, pens, paint pens, and/or markers. Photos were then enlarged, cut out, and glued to the stretched, painted canvas. The handmade KINSHIP nameplate is carved 1/2 inch painted pine. It is attached with velcro.
The portraits move from women of the 1800's at the bottom to modern women at the top. Most of the older women in the bottom rows were born into slavery. They were photographed in the 1930's as a WPA project. With one generation building a firm foundation for the next, KINSHIP pays homage to the kinship and strength of women of color.

The flowers represent plants from Africa including cotton and forget-me-nots. The improbable clouds are a reminder of ones unseen by the chained captives in the hull of the American-bound ships.

The surrounding names were all used on slave ships. All but one is a woman's name. Many slave ships were named after the daughters and wives of the ship's owner. The exception is JESUS, a 700 ton ship owned by Elizabeth I, and one of the early transports.