About

Palms are not Trees. (Baskets, vessels, and all of my Jars)

Starting from a place of appreciation and the act of collecting, my work takes on themes of impulse and reclamation. Interested in the negative of an image, the language of line becomes more of a singularity and guiding point, informing the construction of the basket itself. 

Inversion of the image removes the background context, and a grid-like system remains. This system lacks coordination meant for direct representation. It changes and is coherent to articulate a line that weaves and deconstructs the basket in a single moment. 

Ultramarine paint and notions of indigo dye are inspired by the evening's twilight hour, though it echoes a history of exploitation. "Blue Hour" commemorates a reclamation of ease. A yearning to be at ease. Through the labor of interweaving and interlocking material, of imitating the actions with a brush, it commemorates an act of ease and a comfort with repetition.                                       

My work draws influence from my family's West Indian heritage through painting, printmaking, and assemblage. With these methods, I engage, study, and display my appreciation for culturally significant objects, specifically the basket. Originating from New York, I work from a place of longing and investigation, as I have yet to travel to the Caribbean. I'm interested in what will happen when I do. Jute, linens, and found objects are my tools and references. Together, they gauge ideas and thoughts on shared experiences and allow for embodying a generational craft and adornment.

Rhesa holds a BFA in Fine Arts from the School of Visual Arts.