The Faith of Harriet Tubman

Details

I painted young Harriet Tubman with foraged Southern stones and bones, ground into powders and mixed with binders. This was out of respect for her years of slavery here in the South. Her skirt was created from scraps of paper I gelli printed with acrylics in greens and browns. I wanted to represent the connection she must have had with nature, traveling and surviving through forests and farms, and also exaggerate the patterns on the skirt she wore in this classic photo to resemble block printing, like seen in so many African fabrics. The three birds represent the Trinity/her higher power- that she accredited to leading her way with SO much faith. I am inspired. She was able to escape slavery after the death of her master in 1849 and travel 100 miles on foot to freedom. But we know it didn’t end there. She had the faith and courage to turn around and go BACK to save others! And then she risked her life to do it again, and again ... THIRTEEN more trips, 70 lives directly brought to freedom because of her leadership (see tallies?) and indirectly hundreds more.

Print is available on ARCHIVAL MATTE PAPER in sizes 18x12" and 36x24" or on on POSTER PAPER in size 24x16".