Digi Chivetta Welcomes Garden State Art Week

I have been an avid reader of Hyperallergic for years, so you can imagine my shock when they listed my show as one not to be missed at New Jersey's inaugural Garden State Art Week!

The first show I participated in this year was Contemporary African Spirituality at Seton Hall University in South Orange, in the school’s Walsh Gallery. Atim Annette Oton curated the show, which "examines the transformation of spirituality from the lens of visual artists." I was honored to have one of my prayer boxes selected to be a part of the show.

I meticulously carve my prayer boxes out of avocado seeds and use jewelry closures to transform them into tiny boxes. You can write your deepest desires on a piece of paper, close it up inside the box, and then lay the box on your altar so your prayers will be focused on their manifestation. The hanging charms act as a rosary and allow you to keep track of mantras or incantations that need to be repeated a certain number of times.

If you can't visit New Jersey to see my work in person, you're in luck! They have also created a 3D virtual tour of the exhibition. You can check it out here.