TOTEM NO. 2
This large-scale assemblage was exhibited in two juried exhibitions in 2021: “Threads That Bind” at Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition and [second exhibition name].
I’m delighted that viewers have shared how Totem No. 2 evokes their own cultural and spiritual rituals—from temple trees and Shinto ōnusa to Native American kachinas and Tibetan prayer flags.
Materials and meanings
Thread — the thread of the spirit
Hand-sewn milagros — healing
Cyanotype-printed prayer flags — peace, strength, and wisdom
Various fibers with ritual knotting — infinity, good luck, and good energy
Copper-leafed sycamore branch — strength, protection, eternity
Repurposed fabric worn with the remnants of a Shinto holy tree
Repurposed cotton — luck, healing, and protection in Native American culture
Tomato stands — sacred astronomy, moving into a new phase
Repurposed Sunday hat — faith and cultural identity
Bells — the voice of spirit, communication with ancestors
Repurposed bubble-wrap crown — power and dignity