Dug Up from Kitchen Weeds

Date2014

Maker Ebony Patterson Jamaican, born 1981

Label TextA hidden presence lurks in these ornate weeds. Look twice at the stripes to uncover the presence of a person lying facedown. Ebony Patterson says this scene refers to bling funerals, an increasingly popular occurrence in Kingston, Jamaica. There, she says, “the glitter and bling shines light on things,” referring to the attitude of “You may not have noticed me when I was alive, but you will damn well see me before I leave.” The agonies of unsung deaths are a mainstay in her vision. Throughout her career, Patterson has staged performances and involved communities in parades and observances of what she calls the “invisible presence” of those living in the margins.

Object number2016.6

ProvenanceThe artist; [Monique Meloche Gallery, Chicago, Illinois]

Photo CreditPhoto: Elizabeth Mann

Exhibition HistorySeattle, Washington, Seattle Art Museum, Remember the Rain, August 18, 2023 - October 14, 2024 [on view August 18, 2023 - April 15, 2024].

Credit LineBill and Melinda Gates Foundation Art Acquisition Fund

Dimensions62 1/2 x 91 1/2 x 2 1/2 in. (158.8 x 232.4 x 6.4 cm)

MediumMixed media photo collage on paper