Pieces of the Past

Pieces of the past are a collection of African Caribbean ceramic objects that reimagine historical objects of the material culture in the Caribbean to construct a new future. The series begins with reimagine Yabba pots from Jamaica history of objects from the Caribbean Yabba I, II, III, Port Royal I & II and Ayawa is a series of terracotta pots, in collaboration with Jamaican potters to reimagine yabbas as coveted objects that recall memories from the past and inspire us to dream of the future. The exterior of each pot is hand-carved or embossed with unique patterns using the maps of Port Royal, Jamaica before and after the historic earthquake of 1692 that killed thousands. Amongst the casualties were the first groups of Akan potters enslaved in Port Royal. These pots honor the Akan ancestors who decorated the yabba shards found after the earthquake. Those shards were the last few pieces of decorated pottery that archaeologists can connect to West African pottery traditions. The inside of each yabba is a rich blue glaze that pays homage to Cecil Baugh, a Jamaican master potter famous for his Egyptian blue glaze and indigo-dyed West African textiles.