Firelei Báez

"Tracing the history of social movements in the United States and the Caribbean, 'Bloodlines' presents a series of new works by Fireli Báez (b. 1981, Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic) inspired by lineages of black resistance. Best known for her large-scale works on paper, Báez makes connections that further our understanding of diasporic experiences by interweaving the lives of 18th century black women in Louisiana and the Cuban roots of the Latin American azabache, with symbols used in the U.S. during the tumultuous 1960s. 'Bloodlines' showcases paintings and drawings specifically depicting textiles, hair designs, and body ornaments, linking traditionally loaded symbols with individual human gestures."