Beading from Bed

I’ve been struggling with my chronic illnesses lately and spending a lot of time in bed. But I’ve been creating art even while I convalesce! Beading and embroidery are some of my favorite projects to do when I’m feeling ill. The meditative nature takes my mind off of the pain. These gloves will be part of an upcoming exhibition at the Fitchburg Art Museum. Since I’m going to be an Egungun masquerade dancer, I decided to bead these vintage leather gloves, which were a gift from my mother.

Traditionally, Egungun masquerade dancers wore full-body costumes to conceal their identities, and gloves were frequently a part of these ensembles. The dancer was obscured because the focus was meant to be on the spirit the dancer was channeling.

I am decorating the gloves with the Adinkra symbol Hye Won Hye which means “That which doesn’t not burn.” It is a symbol of imperishability and endurance. It is also the symbol assigned to the Aries zodiac. As an Aries and someone who has faced death many times due to my chronic illnesses, I felt it was a fitting insignia. My life has been composed of a series of panicked trips to the ER from which I have always emerged, able to make art another day.

I added cowrie shells to the design of the gloves because they have great significance in Yoruba Orisa spirituality. Cowrie shells are commonly used on Yoruba Orisa shrines because it is believed that a certain number of cowrie shells are required to gain entrance to heaven. These shells serve as a sort of ticket to heaven, allowing the spirit to hear your prayers and communicate with you from beyond the veil.