Assata Goff’s Connection to Ancestral Wisdom through Art
Image by our very own Madylin Nixon-Taplet
This month, we were inspired by Durham-based artist and TBP’s Artist Coordinator Assata Goff’s traveling exhibit installation, “I Am an Ancestor Too,” and felt empowered this month to explore ancestral wisdom, archival work, and reflective writing. We sat down with her to get more insight into the inspiration behind her exhibition and learn more about Assata the Artist.
How would you describe yourself as an artist?
I would describe myself as an evolving artist and visionary. I am a very curious person and art never ceases to fascinate and inspire me so my art practice is always changing and growing with me. Change has been the way that I discover new passion, replenish my creative energy and develop my empathy which aids me in my conceptualization of pieces. I describe myself as a visionary artist because I take a lot of inspiration from my imagination and I envision my pieces in my mind before I create them. I also want to create work that gives folks hope and a viewpoint into a loving renewable future.
What is the inspiration behind your exhibition's title I Am An Ancestor, Too?
The inspiration behind the title of my exhibition comes from a poem I wrote. The poem came to me while I was thinking about how my physical body is a roadmap and compilation of my ancestors. And the idea that we have never not existed and energy never dies. I was pondering on all of these thoughts while painting a self portrait and I wrote this poem:
“Before my Awakening
I Bloomed
made of Dreams, silenced by vipers
I forgot how to Speak the Ancestors Language
Cocoon yourself, Emerge a new
Time is an Illusion
Lucidly I Remember
I Am An Ancestor Too”
Can you describe a piece from your show that you love and describe your process in creating it?
I hold so many of my pieces close to my heart. One of my pieces — that feels like my baby — is titled “I Bloomed”. It is a black cracked vase that depicts my body hugging itself with dried flowers emerging from the neck. Creating this sculpture was a challenging process filled with many hurdles and disappointments that all lead to one of the most amazing pieces I’ve ever made. It was my first time making a sculpture to this scale, before I made coil and pinch pots and small sculptures but nothing over a couple inches. I began by using the coil method but I quickly realized that it was not the most effective method of constructing the piece. So I went back to the drawing board and made a miniature version of the sculpture by carving the shape out of a block of clay. After that was a success, I carved out the larger sculpture out of a 80 pound chunk of clay. That process took about 3 weeks. When I finished shaping it I went to a local ceramics studio and fired it in their kiln. Unfortunately, the vase broke and burst in the kiln. The hand came off, a large hole burst in the lower area and there were cracks all over it. I was so devastated but I quickly had to pivot and find a solution, but I did go home and cry after. I attached the hand back on with glaze and fired it for the second time. The glaze melded the hand back into place. I added moss and dried flowers my grandma gave me for my 22nd birthday. The vase breaking in the kiln ended up creating a piece that was more beautiful and complex than I imagined.
What do you hope people will gain after witnessing your exhibition?
After witnessing the exhibition, I hope people will feel the urge to look inward, to practice loving all aspects of their mind, body and soul. I hope the exhibition encourages people to embrace empathy, spread love and find their own definition of beauty. I would love for everyone to leave the exhibition with their imagination filled with new possibilities, ready to dream and treat themselves like a garden.
Learn more about Assata and their art at @assatasmagic.
