What We Carry
Curated by Yanaminah Thullah
As our cityscapes and seasons rapidly shift, we hold a deep sense of grief for what has been left behind and awe for the renewal still to come. The community knows this all too well. Little Jamaica feels it in its bones. It is within this duality we understand the weight of both what we gain and what we have lost. It’s spring time again. Transformation is palpable and multiple truths can exist at once.
In this exhibit, we tend to the beauty within it all.
SELF REFLECTING
Ella’s Precision
Acrylic on canvas
A piece for my past, present and future self. Creating this piece allowed me to start the process of introspection. I often go through phases of disconnection with my art and desperately search for external inspiration. Endless scrolling and insight from peers only pushed me deeper into feelings of monotony.
By allowing myself to sit in silence for longer periods of time, I was able to tap into expressive habits that I often utilized as a child. Silently working through Introspection has been extremely valuable to my craft
RAY
Ella’s Precision
Acrylic on canvas
YEARS OLD
Ella’s Precision
Acrylic on canvas
My goal for this piece was to depict the feelings that come with accepting your age/the shifts that come with your age post pandemic. Although there’s only one man standing, I used a two tier cake to reflect the weight of responsibility he now holds as a man. The numbers on the cargos reflect the age you were when the pandemic started vs the age you are now. I mimicked the camouflage print using numbers to illustrate that blur between time. Years fly by and before you know it, everything has changed.
FOCUS
Ella’s Precision
Acrylic on canvas
My depiction of who you are now vs who you desire to be.
HER GUIDING LIGHT
Ella’s Precision
Acrylic on canvas
The greatest navigator is the one that resides within. “Listen” to the feelings that emerge from the heart. They’ll show you who you truly are & where you’re meant to be.
A Breath of Fresh Air
Ella’s Precision
Acrylic on canvas
Reflective of my development as an artist, “A Breath of Fresh Air” is an abstraction of what exploration feels like to me.
Soca SUnday
Ella’s Precision
Acrylic on canvas
“Soca Sunday” captures a universal Caribbean experience: waking up on Sunday morning to the vibrant sounds of Soca, reggae and dancehall, as you prepare for a thorough house cleaning. Incorporating elements of my Trinidadian roots, this painting highlights universal feelings of freedom and pride that can only be expressed in the comfort of our own homes. This tradition is a cherished memory of home that encompasses the simpler joys of Caribbean culture!
