Deeper Than Indigo

I am happy to be able to say that my piece Three Sisters was selected for inclusion in the Contemporary Fibers exhibit held in conjunction with the Deeper than Indigo Southeast Textile Symposium at Flagler College. The co-organizers are my former professor, artist, and friend Laura Mongiovi and curator Elizabeth Kozlowski. "This symposium provides an opportunity, on the eve of Flagler College’s Fiftieth Anniversary, to investigate the rich history of St. Augustine and the Southeastern United States through the lens of the Indigo trade and the repercussions of slavery and colonialism.  We are offering an occasion to rethink the historical narrative related to the Atlantic slave trade through shared voices across a multitude of artistic practices and pedagogies. Please join us as we explore our history through the hues of this fascinating and widely revered natural dye."

Below are some links I found from Laura Mongiovi's blog post that deal with indigo plantations and the slave trade in Florida.

https://www.unf.edu/floridahistoryonline/Plantations/plantations/Indigo_Cultivation_and_Processing.htm -outlines specific details relating to indigo cultivation and production on land that I drove by many times without realizing its' history.
http://www.dejaelaine.com/plantations.html- I used to walk by the Old Slave Market all the time when I was living in St. Augustine, though I was (again) unaware of its' history at the time.
https://www.floridamemory.com/photographiccollection/photo_exhibits/plantations/plantations2.php

Pictured above is my piece, Three Sisters. From left to right their names are: Kibibi, Violet, and Augustina. I made Augustina specifically for the open call for this show, as her skirt is made of muslin dyed with indigo in the shibori method. Kibibi's skin was dyed with sumi ink and her skirt with avocado dipped in an iron after bath. The beads on both the skirt and around her wrist are made of glass. Her hair is white alpaca roving from Bell House Alpacas, a farm right up the street from where I live. Violet's skirt is dyed with logwood and she has flaxen mane. Augustina's skirt is dyed with indigo and the ribbon in her is indigo dyed Japanese silk. Her skin is dyed with coffee and her hair is brown alpaca roving from Bell House. All the dying was done by hand and with natural dyes, save for Augustina's skirt which was dyed using a synthetic indigo from a kit I bought a few years ago.

Violet was the first doll of the three that I made, it has probably been over a year now. Initially she had synthetic violin bow hair. But she got a new 'do at the end of the summer when I was given some flax. I then made Kibibi, who initially started out being inspired by the concept of the Crone in the Triple Goddess concept. She went on to take a moon like quality in my opinion. Augustina, was made specifically for entry into the open call for this show. Flagler College is my alma mater, and I feel a deep connection to the city of St. Augustine and wanted to pay homage to the Spanish influence. Thus her skirt was dyed indigo. I had initially named another one of my pieces Three Sisters (Violet was also in that) but decided to refer to this piece as Three Sisters. I came up with the name because they, in my eyes, are just that, three sisters. However, I remembered the phrase having a Native American significance. After researching I found that the "Three Sisters" refer to corns, beans, and squash, three important agricultural crops to many different Native American tribes. They were planted together because they thrived together-like three sisters. A legend of the phrase can be found here . I felt like it was fitting to have this association with the piece because the area that present day St. Augustine is part of, was(is) Native American territory and that is crucial heritage. Here are some links about the tribe(s) native to the area     https://www.nps.gov/casa/learn/historyculture/timucua.htm and https://www.visitstaugustine.com/history/matanzas/timucua-florida.php . If still thinking about the piece in terms of the triple goddess aspect, Augustina would be the 'maiden' aspect, representing the new moon, youth/frivolity, and springtime; Violet would be the 'mother' aspect, representing the full moon, fertility, motherhood, obligations, and summer into early fall; and Kibibi would be the 'crone' aspect, corresponding to the dark/waning moon, wisdom, and the stillness and clarity of late autumn and winter.

Thank you Laura-and Elizabeth-for all your hard work in putting this symposium and show together.