Interwoven into the rich, complex history of the South is a deep-rooted tradition of sweetgrass sewing by descendants of West Africans. Originally for functional use on plantations, this tradition is now a consumeristic symbol of tourism in the Lowcountry. Gullah land is being replaced by five-star hotels and the once prominent basket stands seen on Highway 17 into Charleston are fading away.

This piece depicts a young man wearing a baseball cap sewn from sweetgrass. He stands earnestly as his culture is threatened by outsiders. Created from leather, burlap, and cotton he is a product of past generations. Weaving the brittle sweetgrass through the cloth, I’m reminded of the fragility of this culture that has embraced modernity and evolved in a way that doesn’t remove contextual meaning.