Rhyse

RHYSE (pronounced rise) a 9x12” hand carved linoleum block print made on 11x14” Stonehenge paper in the color Kraft in Black oil-based ink with a hand-painted golden halo. RHYSE features a Black woman with a detailed "koroba" style braid design in her hair. Koroba braids trace their origins back to the Yoruba Tribe of Nigeria, West Africa, where they have been a part of traditional hairstyling for centuries. In the Yoruba language, 'Koroba' translates to 'Calabash/Basket,' and this hairstyle emulates the shape of an inverted calabash, beginning at the crown of the head and extending down the sides. Braids with swirl variation added to the ends is called 'Kipetaka' and the style originates from Madagascar, an island country in southeastern Africa. Several adaptations involve integrating beads, shells, or vibrant threads, rendering each 'Kipetaka' a unique and personalized masterpiece.   To be a Black Woman in the US is to be forced to rise beyond expectations and into oneself constantly