symbol, artist, awakening.

I have been hesitating to share these reflections because ‘ego’ and ‘this avatar’ but my thoughts are my thoughts and I will never be able to clearly articulate what I am creating if I do not begin.

as a young student I always hated when my art teachers tried to get me to explain my work— I’m like “I am making this because I cannot explain it. This creation is how I make sense of it.”

now you can go interpret it however you like and let me proceed with my work. Lol.

That said, part 1 & 2 were both recorded one year ago, March 2021 just before the equinox during my first trip to Senegal.

there is a portion edited out due to the personal nature of what I am discussing as well as my children being present and visible.

feel free to email me if you have direct questions or love to share. Atum@ciarabird.com

Additional reflections after — perhaps it is not taught in schools because the families have such a strong foundation and sense of their own history and identity that it is passed down by the griots. Not at school, but in life and through their culture directly. Through ceremony and sacred ritual.

Things I may never truly understand, things maybe I am not meant to. 

But perhaps my sons will know.

Perhaps their wives, or their daughters and their sons.

All I can do is remove my children from the illusion and bring them to the light. 

tua ntr
cb