The Cherokee Gardens

Being inspired by the migration of black women to the Caribbean and Native American women through America, I created the sculpture in the travels and patterns within not only the roots in which the woman and the men have traveled within my roots and culture, but also the patterns in plants and nature which inspires the Native American and Caribbean Culture found in nature. The spirals represent the ocean in the path within the hurricanes how many arrive at Turtle Island (Modern day America) and also migrate through to the many organic terrain. The cornrolls in my head sculpture during slavery we were used to showcase the routes to get out of the plantations. Many women work these patterns into their children's hair and families’ / communities’ hair to help them escape and find their way to freedom. Hair places such an important part in my name American culture as my hair was not appropriate “ain’t even legal to wear out naturally”, even in a professional sense. The Crown Act committed it illegal to discriminate against natural hair at the workplaces, at schools, and in businesses. To wear my curls means so much more to me as a woman, and I’m glad that my generation can explore this hairstyle. Curls and braids in the unique expression of black women's hair and native women's hair are expressed in the sculpture with the main different colors and textures as well as braiding styles and charms. My mom would always braid my hair as a child, symbolizing my Cherokee roots and adding protection to my natural hair and the spiritual essence of my hair. Centuries ago in Europe, black women wore their Afro and adorned them in jewels, feathers, and charms, but due to the enemy of white women and authorities of power, they were told to cover up with a head scarf, but we still rocked it though. In 2025 Native American and Black women are wearing so many different styles and expressing their hair and unique ways that are unique spirituality to their identity, including dying their hair, wearing their natural curls, even wearing different braiding styles, including cornrows and twist locs, as well as even adding extended hair to make ourselves feel more divine and create that long extension to our spiritual selves and ancestors naturally. Our hair is the magnet that can connect us to all things spiritual and scopes us into a rea and l holy being as it reflects to gods and goddesses before and after us.