Divine Kinship Series
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The Divine Kinship Series is deeply connected to the overarching themes of Brush and Focus, weaving together the threads of cultural resilience, community strength, and the dynamic interplay between past and present. This series captures the essence of Detroit's vibrant African diasporic culture, highlighting the wisdom, style, and enduring spirit that shape the community’s identity.
Each portrait in the Divine Kinship Series serves as a visual narrative, honoring the rich legacies of African ancestral traditions within Detroit's cultural landscape. The subjects, whether in moments of deep thought or active engagement, reflect the importance of wisdom and storytelling as tools for cultural preservation. The portraits emphasize the significance of the "Baba," or elder, as a keeper of knowledge and tradition, illustrating how these figures pass down invaluable lessons and cultural heritage to younger generations. The series brings to life the vibrant exchange between generations, capturing moments of teaching, learning, and nurturing within the community.
Through pieces like “Drum Factory” and “Not Checkers,” the series celebrates the rhythm of communal life and the strategic wisdom that underpins it, evoking the heartbeat of the community and the calculated moves needed to navigate life's complexities. Meanwhile, “Trendsetter” and “Textiles” showcase the bold interplay between tradition and contemporary expression, reflecting how cultural roots inspire and influence modern identities and fashion. The careful attention to textures and materials in “Textile Integrity” further explores this relationship, highlighting authenticity in cultural representation amidst a rapidly changing world.
The themes of Brush and Focus are also evident in the piece “Nkyimkyim - Intergenerational Transactions,” which captures the fluid exchange of wisdom, culture, and goods between generations. This reflects the dynamic process of cultural transmission and the importance of maintaining a living connection to one’s heritage.
Overall, the Divine Kinship Series within Brush and Focus emphasizes the richness of cultural memory and the importance of community spaces that nurture growth, learning, and cultural continuity. By highlighting these vibrant elements of Detroit's African American community, the series encourages viewers to reflect on their own connections to history and identity, and to see the powerful narratives that emerge when past and present are brought into conversation.
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Medium: Acrylic and Gold Leaf on Canvas Print
Year Created: 2024
Dimensions: 18" x 24"
Description: Drum Factory celebrates the role of drums and music in community-building and African culture, inspired by DJ Jungle and the AmaDetroit trio. The piece reflects the sacred, familial energy that music, and especially drums, bring to the community.
Medium: Acrylic and Gold Leaf on Canvas Print
Year Created: 2024
Dimensions: 18" x 24"
Description: This piece captures the strategic care facilitated by community leaders Kalisha Davis and Tanya Stephens through a game of chess, symbolizing the long-term vision they bring to their community advocacy and support.
Medium: Acrylic and Gold Leaf on Canvas Print
Year Created: 2024
Dimensions: 18" x 24"
Description: Baba Speaks honors Dr. Yusef Bunchy Shakur, a profound thinker and activist, celebrating his personal and academic journey, as well as his deep investment in his community. The portrait captures the wisdom and resilience he embodies.
Medium: Acrylic and Gold Leaf on Canvas Print
Year Created: 2024
Dimensions: 18" x 24"
Description: Trendsetter showcases individuals who set cultural trends, blending tradition with innovation. This piece captures the dynamic interplay between past and present, illustrating how cultural roots inspire modern identities. It reflects the energy and influence of cultural pioneers, celebrating those who boldly merge the old with the new, and aligning with the exhibition’s exploration of evolving identity and cultural expression.
Pictured: Ashley Ballard is a proud resident of Detroit, Michigan by way of Los Angeles, California. Ms. Ballard commits herself to serving communities by strengthening the lives of individuals and families. Currently managing family preservation programs in contract between a well known Detroit non-profit and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. She additionally, provides treatment to parents who reside in Wayne County, MI through an evidence based structured intervention for enhanced parenting skills. .
Medium: Acrylic and Gold Leaf on Canvas Print
Year Created: 2024
Dimensions: 18" x 24"
Description: Capturing an interaction between community builder Gabby Knox and a budding entrepreneur at the BabaQue, this piece symbolizes the exchange of knowledge and values between generations, highlighting the process of sustaining community identity.
Medium: Acrylic and Gold Leaf on Canvas Print
Year Created: 2024
Dimensions: 18" x 24"
Description: Andrew Wilson is seen here nourishing the vibes at the BabaQue, reflecting his creative energy and constant support to the community.
Medium: Acrylic and Gold Leaf on Canvas Print
Year Created: 2024
Dimensions: 18" x 24"
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