Textural collage, hand embroidery, art print, freedom art, art editions, custom frame, handmade collage, mother's day gift

BRAIDS TO FREEDOM PRODUCT SIZES: **SMALL Artwork: 5.5 in W x 8.5 in H **MEDIUM: Artwork: 8.5 in W x 11 in H Frame size (inside): 8 in H x 10 in W **LARGE: Artwork: 13 in W x 19 in H Frame size (inside): 18 in W x 24 in H You can custom frame your art piece in these finishes: white, washed wood, dark wood, and black. All these pieces are hand embroidered and framed by me in my studio in Brooklyn, NY. Illustration by: Luisa Velez Artwork intervened by: Catalina Escallon Due to the handmade process of this product (paper and embroidery), some variation in the paper and embroidery may occur due to the inherent nature of it. If you ask me, this is what makes them all beautifully handmade unique art pieces. After creating a collection of one-of-a-kind pieces, I wanted to make this type of art more accessible to people with all budgets. These editions are a great way to buy handmade pieces, and high-quality art without breaking the bank. They make great gifts and also excellent additions to any gallery wall you have around your home. Mix and match with design and sizes, our editions all tell different powerful stories and fantasies. These beautiful handmade editions are made in collaboration with various artists. The idea of this series is to tell various stories through a combination of color, illustration, fantasy and thread. Each illustration is finished with a detail of an embroidered pattern. All the pieces are printed in a handmade paper made with threads of yarn to give it additional texture and tactility. Each piece is hand embroidered and custom framed by me, in my studio in Brooklyn, NY. ABOUT THIS COLLECTION Collaboration is in our DNA. We created a series of illustrations that merge everything we love. Each piece is made in handmade paper and finished with embroidery. They all tell a different fantasy; freedom, dreams, and a search for discovery are some of the themes explored by the artists. We are inspired by touch and thread. We wanted to incorporate thread from the start so our handmade paper is made with strands of loose yarn. Materiality at its core is what we are about. THE STORY BEHIND IT … This collage is inspired by the oral history of San Basilio de Palenque, the first free African town of the Americas founded in a remote part of the north of Colombia. During the years of the fight against slavery, African women would memorize escape routes when they went out with their masters and then braid them as maps on the heads of other enslaved men, children, and women. These braids or cornrows were also used for hiding seeds, which were then used to plant the first crops of free slaves. Some others hid gold while working in the mines, which was then used to pay for their freedom if caught while trying to escape. In Africa, these braids were a cultural expression. In the “New World,” they were a path to Freedom Luisa is from Colombia, and this is part of the history of her country and many of my fellow countrywomen and men. However, as someone with light skin, this wasn’t the history of her family, neither do I know from experience the struggle of living as a black person in the Americas. The resilience, courage, and creativity of these African women and men inspire and move me. This is a homage to them. To their legacy and their memory. May all people be free. We hope this piece inspires you, awakens positive emotions and brings you as much joy to you and your home as it gave us making it. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.