Abundant

ABUNDANT is a 4x6” linoleum block print made in gold oil-based ink on black Stonehenge paper. The print features a design of a flower made of textured cowrie shells. 

ABUNDANT is an offering connecting the long history of African diasporic communities to Cowrie shells.  It is often thought that cowrie shells were used as currency in many tribes across the continent of Africa and some even say that cowrie shells were brought to the America's during the transatlantic slave trade and acted as talismans to resist enslavement. For me, cowrie shells have always connected me to my family and culture; from cowrie shell jewelry decorating all of the women in my family to their obvious connection to Queen of the Sea, Yemaya, and other water goddesses/gods.