Community Braiding Circles

Lunder Institue + Greene Block Studios @ Colby College

For the month of November 2021 and February 2022 – I took over the Greene Block studios and hosted braiding circles along with different activities every evening. We had discussions, watched the film pelo malo, and has guest speakers come and talk about Latinx identity in the US. We also focused on forced sterilization of Puerto Ricans in the early 1900s and how this lead to muted stories, stolen histories and a generational gap in identity and culture.

Natural Hair Club

In October 2021, the Natural Hair Club of Colby College invited me to lead a workshop to create artwork for their Expo celebrating hair in the African Diaspora in November 2021.

Indigo Arts Alliance

In March 2022, this braiding circle was at Indigo Arts Alliance – which is a Black and Brown artist residency and studio space that host national and international artists. Daniel Minter also assisted me in creating a comb block print to give to folx who participated in the workshop.

Spindleworks

February 2023 – the folx at Spindleworks, which is a center for folx of all abilities that focuses on adult education and art – assisted me in creating braids. They also worked on weavings which will be incorporated into future sculptures.

The Art Department

February 2023 – The Art Department is a community art studio for adults with intellectual uniqueness. We had a two day workshop focusing on different braiding, weaving and crocheting techniques.