the Sacred Stick

Immigrant of Japan, Citizen of Detroit, Remembered Like an African

2022

24 x 12 x 8.5

Zelkova & Aluminum

The Sacred Stick was created based upon the African belief that trees are to be revered because our ancestors are in the trees. This belief is often viewed by the "developing world" as primitive. Due to scientific advancements during the age of enlightenment, these beliefs were labeled as superstitious and useless products of an undeveloped society.

If a child is only taught scientific facts and finds themselves standing before a field of grass they may stomp through the field without a care because their thought is, "It's only grass." However, if a child is taught wondrous stories about spirits and fairies that live amongst the grass, the child may be apt to tread light through said fields with the thought of protecting the spirits and fairies. If a society believes their ancestors souls are housed in the trees would they reconsider when and if they should cut down such beings?

The Sacred Stick conveys the holiness of souls housed in the Zelkova trees by elevating a stick of wood on a shrine made from that very tree. As I worked with the tree and learned the histories of Detroit and Western African traditions, the pieces began to form ethnic connections that display motifs of the immigrants of Japan (the native land of the Zelkova) (represented by the Shinto Torii gate), citizens of Detroit (Represented by forms inspired by Detroit’s historic art deco skyscrapers), and the remembrance of Africans (represented by the repitition of the diamond form commonly found in African ironworks).

D.Tree Studio Fall 2021

Featured

D. Tree Exhibition
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History 7/21/2023

D. Tree Exhibition
CCS Galleries
3/18/2022