Reclaimed Materials Sculpture Honors Role of Black Women

November 19, 2024 | Published by Senija Davis

“Umama, and so she sows“ is sculpted primarily from reclaimed materials found and sourced in the community of Richmond, Virginia.

“Umama” was born out of the eight-week Atlas Artist Summer Residency Program facilitated by ART 180 and in collaboration with the Ebenezer Baptist Church and the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia. This one-of-its-kind program offers 10 high school students a paid opportunity to experience mentorship and creative development alongside their peers and two professional working artists, with each young artist dedicating over 100 hours to the creation of “Umama.”

This sculpture was skillfully crafted by South African muralist Xolani Zivunda and Petersburg-based sculpturist Nastassja Swift. Xolani focused much attention on the face and hair of “Umama,” using mosaic tiles from pieces of glass and marble, telephone chords and paper, and pieces of loose brick that were found out in the community. Nastassja contributed heavily to forming the Styrofoam base and using reclaimed materials to form the sculpture.

Sionne Neely, a multifaceted creative and community facilitator, provided additional support by connecting both resident teaching artists to the cultural significance of weaving together the complex histories of oppression in Richmond, Virginia and Cape Town, South Africa. Supporters helped to honor the figurehead as a tribute to the presence of Black women in building community.

This collective effort would not be possible without the dozens of community members who played a role in donating, gathering, and building the structure from recycled and repurposed materials. Can tabs were hammered down and painted over with printed images of people who contributed to this artwork. The Styrofoam base was covered with a concrete paste, and adorned with recycled bottle caps, repurposed plastic cups and bags, metal wire, and other objects that would’ve otherwise ended up in a landfill.

ART 180 offers enrichment programs open to creative high school students, hosting programs in middle schools, and supporting community organizations such as the Boys and Girls Clubs. Their Flipside Fall program is currently in session, with an ecological focus to repurpose and transform discarded materials, while developing a sense of environmental awareness and conscious upcycling as it relates to artistic expression. Projects such as these showcase the many possibilities we see in reducing and reinventing solid waste in our region.

“Umama, and so she sows” was unveiled in August for ART 180’s First Friday Exhibition Opening. It will remain on West Leigh Street between Ebenezer Baptist Church and the Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia through the beginning of the new year.

Learn more about “Umama” and Art 180’s Atlas Residency Program.

To read more about the community collaborators, visit www.art180.org/umama

Category: Ashland, Charles City, Chesterfield, Colonial Heights, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, Hopewell, New Kent, News, Petersburg, Powhatan, Prince George, Richmond