It’s always a pleasure when I get to talk about sacred art and history, and it’s always a pleasure when I get to talk to a fellow devotee of African Traditional Religion. Therefore you can imagine my great joy when I got to visit the studio of Mahalia Stines. Stines is a Brooklyn based multi-disciplinary artist and designer.
We spoke in depth about veves, the ritual drawings of Haitian Voudou. In my post Voodoo Veves Sacred Cell Numbers For the Gods I write “veves set the stage for the communion and communication with the divine. ” About her own use of veves, Stines comments ” I am revisiting one of my favorite sources of Inspiration: Veves. The Veves are rituals diagrams associated with Haitian Vodou, they are also used by many artists and artisans in and outside of Haiti, they can be found everywhere from paintings, to beaded flags to home decor items… the designs are so beautiful that they beg to be applied to everything… the best part is that what one creates also becomes a part of someone life….”
Video : The Fire + Spirit of Artist Mahalia Stines
Please watch the following video. In it we discuss the spiritual, personal, and also historical journey she took in her work Ayiti Toma: The Genesis. This multi-dimensional and powerful quilt depicts the birth of Haiti. Stines begins with Langinen (the Ancestral Motherland) and moves through to the declaration of Independence in 1804. It tells the story of the powerful ancestors. Artfully illustrating the struggles and triumphs they underwent to bring us to where we are today.
As always if you have enjoyed this video, please check out our youtube channel for more videos about veves, Vodou, ritual art, and magick. Lastly please remember to like, comment, and share !
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