Bitterest Sweet
Community clay workshops
Art installation
Soundscape QR
Community clay workshops
Art installation
Soundscape QR
Bitterest Sweet, 2025 is a site specific art installation dedicated to the enslaved Africans, indigenous Manhasset Indians, and Irish and English indentured servants who lived, worked, and died at Sylvester Manor. Bitterest Sweet, features a walkway in the shape of the Nkyinkyim ‘twisting’ symbol of the Adinkra, which represents the Gyaman people of Ghana and the Côte d'Ivoire.
Twisting is a symbol representing the tortuous nature of life's journey and, also, the toughness, versatility, and dynamism required to thrive in it. It is also a symbol of dedication to service. The wavy line, which forms the main component in the design of Nkyinkyim, depicts the meandering course of life’s journey.
These twists and turns require one to be versatile and resilient to survive and thrive. The proverb associated with this symbol is “Ɔbra kwan yɛ nkyinkyimii,” which literally means “Life’s road is twisted.” This symbol is often associated with concepts such as adaptability, resilience, versatility, and the ability to navigate through life's complexities with wisdom and strength.
Inside the symbol will be terracotta clay sculptures created by the participants of our community outreach workshop events; clay sculpture workshops will be held in May, June and July, as well as a pick up place for anyone who just wants to get a clay and create a sculpture at home and a drop off location. Native flowers and healing plants from Shelter Island will be seeded and planted and will grow around and inside the terracotta sculptures. The installation will grow and change over the course of the 3 months.
In an open area the symbol outlined rope and there will be an audio component. The symbol would be 24 x 28 feet.
Visitors can walk around the symbol and listen on their phone to the accompanying audio work that will be available to be downloaded by QR code. to the sound of water, voices reciting Jupiter Hammon’s stanzas, stories, and see history inside the symbol.
The work will biodegrade into the landscape.
Workshops:
May 13 - Art Department @SBU
May 29 - The Boys & Girls Club of Shinnecock Nation
May 30 - Shelter Island School
May 31 - The studio @Gallery North
June 20 - The Church Sag Harbor
Link to Sound QR code
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1a1OJviypwHOJTent7FoTzUqgt-h8TvpgnjL0Qnlui9Q/edit?tab=t.0
Sylvester Manor from June 14 through September 14, 2025
Excerpt from "Caged Bird" was used with permission from Penguin Random House.
This work is supported by Long Island Grants for the Arts through funds provided by the office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and administered by The Huntington Arts Council.
Twisting is a symbol representing the tortuous nature of life's journey and, also, the toughness, versatility, and dynamism required to thrive in it. It is also a symbol of dedication to service. The wavy line, which forms the main component in the design of Nkyinkyim, depicts the meandering course of life’s journey.
These twists and turns require one to be versatile and resilient to survive and thrive. The proverb associated with this symbol is “Ɔbra kwan yɛ nkyinkyimii,” which literally means “Life’s road is twisted.” This symbol is often associated with concepts such as adaptability, resilience, versatility, and the ability to navigate through life's complexities with wisdom and strength.
Inside the symbol will be terracotta clay sculptures created by the participants of our community outreach workshop events; clay sculpture workshops will be held in May, June and July, as well as a pick up place for anyone who just wants to get a clay and create a sculpture at home and a drop off location. Native flowers and healing plants from Shelter Island will be seeded and planted and will grow around and inside the terracotta sculptures. The installation will grow and change over the course of the 3 months.
In an open area the symbol outlined rope and there will be an audio component. The symbol would be 24 x 28 feet.
Visitors can walk around the symbol and listen on their phone to the accompanying audio work that will be available to be downloaded by QR code. to the sound of water, voices reciting Jupiter Hammon’s stanzas, stories, and see history inside the symbol.
The work will biodegrade into the landscape.
Workshops:
May 13 - Art Department @SBU
May 29 - The Boys & Girls Club of Shinnecock Nation
May 30 - Shelter Island School
May 31 - The studio @Gallery North
June 20 - The Church Sag Harbor
Link to Sound QR code
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1a1OJviypwHOJTent7FoTzUqgt-h8TvpgnjL0Qnlui9Q/edit?tab=t.0
Sylvester Manor from June 14 through September 14, 2025
Excerpt from "Caged Bird" was used with permission from Penguin Random House.
This work is supported by Long Island Grants for the Arts through funds provided by the office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature, and administered by The Huntington Arts Council.
