Born By the River

Love Decoded: This piece is inspired by and honors my kin, the #Aborigine people of the #Piscataway nations. “Piscataway'' translates to "the people where the rivers blend." It is in the blending of culture and love that we feel the true heart of Baltimore. And it is in the love of community that we heal the past and grow a bounty for the future.

The 19 feathers that crown the head of the young, future leader bring us full circle, connecting us to our origins, with 1 symbolizing the alpha (beginning) and 9 the omega (ending). In the background of his life, the future leader, and the viewer, can hear the soulful notes of Sam Cooke’s refrain, “I was born by the river in a little tent; Oh, and just like the river I’ve been a-runnin’ ever since.”