A Botanical Celebration of African and Indigenous Cultures in the Atlantic World.
It all begins with an idea. Plants connect people across all space and time.
Indigenous people of New England and those of West Africa have always had knowledge of plants across many areas, and as they came together across the sea they combine knowledge, work to retain it and adapt to new environments and emergent challenges.
We are choosing 3 categories to highlight: medicine, food and textiles, and our goal is to demonstrate how the many botanical contributions from peoples of African and Indigenous descent have been integral to the overall development of the Atlantic World, although they haven’t always been correctly credited by the history.
The exhibit is intended to be multi-sensory and participatory, with a strong focus on demonstrations, experiences and hands-on learning. While there are multiple categories for the sake of organization, none of these exist in isolation and all are connected to each other.
Categories are also constantly moving, changing, adapting and evolving; plants don’t stay in a static position, and neither do people.
Color Scheme: “Riotously Colorful”
The colors used should be rich and bright and evoke the vibrant and varied world of plants. Care should not be taken around the mixing of patterns or “matching”. A hint of visual influence from magical realism, Afro-futurism and Black Speculative Arts should permeate the overall feel. Some imagination is expected of the attendee,
Designer
Jane Jingyi Huo Rhode Island School of Design
Curator
Traci Picard Brown University
Plants are part of the maritime experience, past and present. They are always with us. They defy categories and borders.
Plants are part of the maritime experience, past and present. They are always with us. They defy categories and borders.
Plants are our constant companions, across land and sea. People of African and Indigenous descent continue to exchange and build upon their ancestral plant based knowledge, using diverse tools of art, science and love.
Plants are our constant companions, across land and sea. People of African and Indigenous descent continue to exchange and build upon their ancestral plant based knowledge, using diverse tools of art, science and love.
These communities have kept plant knowledge alive through many challenges, and innovate new ways to use them.
These communities have kept plant knowledge alive through many challenges, and innovate new ways to use them.
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FIBER
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FIBER: BELONGINGS
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FOOD
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MISCELLANEOUS BELONGINGS
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THE DARK SIDE OF PLANTS
