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(c) 2009 Ella Maria Ray Hand-built clay sculpture and storytelling serve as the portal through which the general public and I can theory-build together. In some instances, I use a mask’s face to liberate deep and complex messages from the Unseen. At other moments, I look at bottle trees and wonder if southern African American people once hung glass bottles in tree branches to memorialize ancestors, while simultaneously documenting their family history. And, still, at other times, akua’ma figures help me embrace the power and resiliency many Africana women exude. In all my work, I blend low-fire glazes and post-fire finishes to explore a piece's aesthetic power. I, also, rely on Akan adinkra symbols to address questions of meaning and purpose.
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